This year, 68 young people aged between 10 and 18 were accepted and this camp was accompanied by many Salesians working as managers and staff: Salesian priests, Salesian brothers, post-novices, Salesian aspirants and collaborators. Thus it was possible to feel the Family Spirit, a key feature of our Salesian charism, where everyone feels at home, feels genuine affection, receives respect, is jointly responsible for the common mission with a clear mutual trust.
The theme "Holiness for you, too" (Jn 15,11) was taken up by the Rector Major's Strenna 2019. Participants from various parts of Japan (Kyushu, Shikoku, Kansai and Kanto area) were invited to reflect on their vocation to be saints like our God. During the reflections on the theme of holiness, there was also talk of our founder's life, St Giovanni Bosco, of San Domenico Savio and of Father Cimatti. Young people were also reminded that holiness does not make them less human as "this is God's will, your sanctification" (1 Thessalonians 4: 3).
Looking back over 46 years, it is possible to affirm that many priestly and Salesian brotherly vocations are the fruit of this biblical camp.
Let us pray that this year too some of the dozens of participants, accompanied by young aspirants, postulants, Salesian brothers and priests, will be awakened to the call of God.
God calls young people in many different ways, even through the biblical camp. It was Father Honda (the first Provincial of Japan, Salesian) who had had this great inspiration to start the biblical camp 47 years ago.
