Doula, Cameroon. Five days of communion, prayer, dialogue, and competitive exchanges among youths of the Claretian Parishes in Cameroon. Such could be the most appropriate description of the fourth edition of the Claretian Youth Camp that was held from Wednesday 20th to Sunday 24th of July 2022 at the St. Claret Bilingual Academy – Bwang, Bakokwo. Under the theme “Rooted in Christ, let us be audacious youths for a synodal Church”, this camp, led by Rev. Frs. Honoré Kenfack Meli, and Edwin de Marie Mbang, CMFF, brought together 174 youths from eight parishes, thus 7 youths from St. Kizito Parish, Pekwa; 3 from Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Parish, Akono; 8 from St. Anthony Mary Claret Parish, Nkol-Emombo; 18 from St. Charles Lwanga Parish, Nkolbisson; 10 from St. Dominic Parish, Munyengue; 31 from St. Agnes Parish, Kosola; 28 from St. John Mary Vianney Parish, Beedi-Malangue; and 69 from St. Gregory the Great Parish, Ndobo.
The youths lived together as one family during these days, following a schedule that was highly punctuated with moments of prayer (Lauds, Mass, Angelus, Vespers, Adoration), conferences, and talks on diverse topics (such as the responsibility of youths faced with the challenges of violence and drug abuse, project management, the contribution of youths to the growth of the local Church, etc.), as well as competitive sports and cultural activities.
In a nutshell, “YASSA 2022” – as the camp was christened – was a forum that favored a personal encounter with Christ amidst the noises of the world and a renewal of the youths’ collaboration with their respective local Churches for the common growth.
