The summer activities of the Salesian Oratory commenced last week. About 800 young boys and girls participate in this event, assisted by the community of the SDBs, with the help of nearly 85 animators of various ages, and in diverse ways also by the entire Salesian Family in Alep.
“Despite the war and the darkness deriving from it, we try to light a small lamp of hope in the hearts of the youth of Alep. With great prudence and care we try to bring the children by bus to the oratory so that they may spend a few hours in joy and serenity”, narrates Fr. Pier Jabloyan, a Salesian confrère from Syria.
The theme chosen for this year’s Summer Activities is focused on mercy, starting from the story of Prophet Jonah. “This is a very relevant theme for us, not only because of the Jubilee year, but because it touches us deeply: our country is in need of mercy, the one that comes from God”.
In this pitiless war, the city lives in utmost contradiction: from one side the people are obliged to live the war fully, in the fear of urban guerrilla warfare and of snipers, explosions, lack of public services, hovering death, diseases… on the other the educative community tries to face day-to-day life as far as possible in peace, starting as soon as possible classes, outings, games, activities… And in this, the Salesian oratory is a true protagonist.
“In all this, we, as children of Don Bosco, try to do our best for the poorest youth. The Lord alone knows how things proceed here. Pray for us, because we are anticipating hard days ahead of us”, concludes Fr. Jabloyan.
https://www.infoans.org/en/sections/news/item/1162-syria-the-war-continues-but-the-salesian-summer-activities-are-back#sigProId14ab2df459
