ONE HEART. ONE COMMITMENT. ONE LIFE.

LYG 2019

The opening of the 2019 Lasallian Youth Gathering (LYG) was one to remember. Walking into a room of 225 Lasallian Students, Teachers, Youth Ministers and Volunteers, counting down the seconds until the official gathering begins, after months of anticipation and for some, days of travelling, it was a wave of love and excitement. Pop hits Shotgun and Keep Your Head Up were sung in unison as the ceremony began. Youth Ministers, Lachie and Eliza, had the crowd of students chanting ‘Lasallians are you ready ready?!’ and with a deafening response ‘YES WE ARE READY READY’, you can’t help but smile with them. The atmosphere was electric – not a blank face was to be seen. While there was

DAY ONE: Lasallian Youth Gathering (LYG)the fun and excitement of LYG beginning, there was no shying from the important stuff. Damian Khoury led an acknowledgement of country and the meaning behind the icon of the ANZPPNG Tercentenary. The four corners represent the four countries of the Lasallian District. And he particularly highlighted that there were people attending LYG and APLEC from not only Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Australia, but Samoa, Singapore, Indonesia and many more countries from around the world. The theme was introduced - One Heart, One Commitment, One life - a phrase central to the

coming three days of stepping out of your comfort zone, sharing and growing with one another. Philippe, Amanda, Sebastian and Damian were officially introduced – each of them told the story of their journey into the Lasallian family and their special items that became part of the sacred space in the corner of the room – a collection of ties, shirts, wristbands and hats from every school participating in LYG. Sebastian Duhau shared that being Lasallian is to be “Down to earth, real and we unpack our stories that allow people to intersect and connect with each other”.

As a united group, opening a prayer with “Let us remember that we are in the Holy presence of God and each other”, that will continue to open every sacred, holy moment of prayer for the next three days. Br David Hawke then addressed the crowd with initial inspiration behind the Tercentenary, the life of our Brother De La Salle.His story we continue to write and co-create today.

A Mentimeter was started, engaging every student to get their phone out and submit their answers to the question “what are you looking forward to the most about LYG?” Some responses were:

‘foooooood’

‘Make friends across Lasallian district’

‘Celebrating the legacy of st John Baptistde la salle’

There was a heightened sense of community when Philippe explained the analogy of an “intersection”. LYG is an intersection; the coming together of schools, countries, cultures and communities, to slow down, let one another in, give to one another, get up to speed and welcome oneness. Oneness has become another underlying theme of LYG: there is constant mention of what it means to be one, but also to be many. We are one as Lasallians, but we are one with ourselves, with each other, with God, and with John Baptist de La Salle.

After eating together for dinner, Damian Khoury led the crowd to learn the song, Prince of Peace. The atmosphere of the room was enticing and infectious. The voices of 200 people filled the room with passion and ultimate glory and love for the lasallian community and the presence of our loving God in each person.

Franco De Joya, Youth Minister at Oakhill College, performed a slam poem as the new segment of “Living your best life”- a segment showing a Lasallian living their best life, using their talents and giving to positively effect others.

ONE HEART. ONE COMMITMENT. ONE LIFE.

LYG 2019

DAY TWO: Lasallian Youth Gathering (LYG)Building community is the heart of the Lasallian Youth Gathering. It binds the schools, the positive vibes and the willingness to participate with strangers in such an open, welcoming and sharing environment. It is community that enable students to connect, no matter where they’re from, how old they are or where they are on their faith journey. This morning’s community day was a chance for the students to greatly cherish and connect with a community that isn’t necessarily ‘theirs’. The Community Day began with a couple of welcoming games, engaging the multiple schools to get to

know each other. Crowd Charades was joy filled and a challenge for the crowd of teenagers, acting out a word for one person at the front to guess, without speaking or spelling.

Opening the day was the De La Salle Mangere boys from New Zealand. As a group, the boys dressed as different super heroes, Batman, Spider-Man (who ran up a wall and flipped), Captain America, St John Baptist de La Salle and Jesus Christ. Each hero was asked what their story is. Jesus handed John Baptist the Holy Bible saying, “go and spread

ONE HEART.

ONE COMMITMENT.

ONE LIFE.

LYG2019

good news to the world”. The boys from New Zealand moved the audience with singing “Thy Word” in unison with the first verse in English and the second in their traditional language. Finishing the morning prayer, Damian Khoury led the crowd to sing the song “We are Lasallian” altogether.

Continuing last night’s segment of “living your best life”, Br Lewis Harwood shared one of his proudest passions and talents of the tricks with a yo-yo. Walking the Dog represents patience and companionship. He created the Samoan flag to represent different cultures coming and learning together. He performed rocking the cradle as a way of caring for one another. He then brought two volunteers from the audience to hold a bowl of water and dropped the spinning yo-yo into the water and as it splashed out of the bowl it symbolised creating and spreading miracles – just like the work of De La Salle.

Amanda Proulx presented what Vocation means to the students at LYG. She explained that it’s not necessarily a job calling or something you must do – but something that lights you up inside and makes you want to get out of bed every morning. She shared a quote from St Catherine of Siena:“Be who you were created to be, and you will set the world on fire”.

Small groups were formed to give delegates a chance to get to know one another, share stories and reflect on aspects of life that otherwise may not have been considered. Being a huge and possibly overwhelming environment for some, small groups allowed a comfortable, safe, sharing space. For 10-15 minutes students had their own individual reflection time and were given their own journal for the 4 days, to write and express their thoughts and emotions however they felt. Small groups came together with two Lasallian leaders at least two or three times.

Sharing her gift of singing, Youth Minster Zaina Baba performed in the “Living Your Best Life”. She chose to sing a song that means a lot to her, ‘What I’ve been Living for’ as a way of recognising the small things about the people in your life.

Students united for a very simple lunch of rice and beans, to symbolise simplicity and recognising that beans and rice are sometimes something that the less fortunate have. The De La Salle boys from Malvern in Melbourne taught the group how to say the Superman prayer for Grace. After eating together and a break in the afternoon, LYG combined with APLEC participants for the Opening Mass and welcome.