“The Happy Holidays” have started in the Don Bosco Youth Center in Lviv

The summer camp for children “The Happy Holidays” started to operate on the 11^th of June 2012 in the Don Bosco Youth Center in Lviv. It will be open until the 30^th of June and around 400 children, over the age of 7 to 14 years old, will have a rest over there. ”The Happy Holidays” this year will be focused on a better cognition of the Holy Sacrament, for the whole year in the UGCC was devoted to it”, - explains Father Hryhoriy Shved, Salesian, who is responsible for the pastoral activity of UGCC Salesians. The reflections over the Holy Sacrament in the camp come around according to a specially developed program, the program that includes songs, theatrical performances, Catechesis, games and fun. “All the elements of a day in the camp are of equal necessity, as the child is being brought up in a special educational environment, created particularly for him or her, -  in an environment that is accessible, clear and understandable”, - tells Father Hryhoriy. The camp selected its own genre for the camp- and it is the Cossack one. Moreover, the camp has its own anthem – “Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life”; this anthem was composed by the young animators for their younger friends. “The Church, it is not just bishops, priests and monks. It is important for every young person, be it an animator, volunteer, leader or a layman to be involved in Church, so as to feel that you are needed and that you have your role in the oratorios, in the youth centers, in parish or in diocese! That is the Vision of Church or Parish that the Blessed Svyatoslav is attempting to spread nowadays during his visits to the Dioceses or during his conversations with the youth”, - the Salesian said. It should be reminded that “The Happy Holidays” in Ukraine started with the arrival of Salesian Fathers and Salesian Sisters. Salesian Sisters were the ones who initiated the conduction of such Spiritual and Recreational camps; the 20^th anniversary of those camps will already be celebrated next year. “Children and the youth are and will always be there in the Church, that is the reason why we, Salesians, have constantly things to be done and tasks to be completed”, - noted Father Hryhoriy Shved, who is responsible for the pastoral activity of Salesians of UGCC.  

The Informational Department of UGCC