Number of summer oratories exceeds pre-pandemic levels

(MissionNewswire) Through the Salesian Slovenia* Oratory Association, the number of summer youth oratories across the country has grown considerably and even surpassed pre-pandemic numbers. In 2020, when almost all youth and pastoral programs were affected by the pandemic, Salesians and oratory leaders were concerned about the future of the summer programs.

This past summer, Salesians held 308 oratories that lasted from one to four weeks. Approximately 7,400 young volunteer leaders supported and facilitated activities for more than 24,600 children and older youth.

“One of the biggest questions we had with the interruption of projects and the decrease in the number of both children and young participants was if we’d have enough volunteers to carry out the summer oratories,” explained Tilen Mlakar, secretary of the Salesian Slovenia Oratory Association. “But the answer was crystal clear: this summer showed that concern about the oratories was fortunately unfounded.”

Every year, the association prepares and assists the summer oratory programs throughout Slovenia, preparing for thousands of youth. The association offers this service not only to Salesian centers, but also to numerous other parishes and Christian programs.

Mlakar said, “We are pleased to observe that the number of summer oratories in the parishes and youth centers in Slovenia in 2024 exceeded the number in 2019, before the pandemic.”

He added, “These are important numbers we can be proud of. But we are even more proud of all the valuable experiences, new skills, deepened friendships, responsibilities accepted, efforts, time invested, and countless smiles that the summer oratory has made possible. No statistics and no photographs can capture it. It is something more, that thousands of young people have experiences and our youth leaders can feel proud of doing something good.”

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS) 

ANS – Slovenia – A record of service to young people, families and the Church: 308 summer oratories

Salesian Missions

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in these countries were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.