By Velasli Bandya for BIS Mumbai

Close on the heels of the long-awaited beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen and concluding on the memorial of St Vincent de Paul, 41 teenage boys from Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh gathered at the Don Bosco Aspirantate in Lonavala for the annual “Come n See” Senior Camp, a 2-day immersion into faith, purpose and the possibility of a life dedicated to service, over the festive weekend of September 26-27, 2026.

Open to boys from Class X and above, the camp drew participants from Alirajpur (17), Borivali (7), Naigaon (6), Virar (4), Savedi (4), Nerul (2) and Yerwada (1). They arrived accompanied and encouraged by Salesians, Salesian Sisters (FMA) and delegates of Local Vocation Teams from across the parishes and other settings of western India.

Rather than a recruitment drive, the event offered something increasingly rare for young people - space to pause, reflect and ask difficult questions about identity, meaning and the future.

Across two packed days, participants moved between prayer, conversation, sport, trekking and community life. Sessions explored themes such as “Being Called by Name,” “Holiness for You Too,” and “The Rich Young Man,” inviting the boys to examine ambition, success and purpose through a deeper lens. A film on St John Bosco - Mission to Love brought the story of the 19th-century educator and saint to life, while an interactive session with Salesian aspirants offered an unfiltered glimpse into seminary life and formation. 

The programme also included the Eucharist, Rosary, Eucharistic Adoration, recreation, intense football frenzy, an enticing treasure hunt and informal encounters with Salesians and young men already discerning a vocation. Together, these experiences revealed a community shaped not only by prayer, but also by friendship, fellowship, fun and frolic, study, discipline and service-leadership. 

Set amid the verdant green hills of Lonavla, the camp challenged participants to look beyond the noise of social media, examinations and career pressures. For some, it was simply an enriching weekend. For others, it marked the beginning of a deeper search. Salesian Cleric Melton Suares remarked, "the boys were very much at home because everything was in place for the camp-experience." Coadjutor Salesian Br Royston Colaco said, "boys have many dreams and they come to see if these can be shaped or met here... so, this well-structured camp gives them a perspective and influences them." Fr Richard D'silva and Fr Crispino D'souza who accompanied their wards, quipped, "this exposure matters a lot and Lonavla naturally increases the experience level."

The journey is all set to continue with the Junior “Come and See” Camp for boys of Classes VII and VIII, scheduled at the Don Bosco Aspirantate, Lonavala, on November 21-22, 2026.