This year there are four young Salesians in initial training involved in practical experience in the Great Britain Province. On Friday 16th and Saturday 17th October 2010 they met in Battersea for the first of a series of formation gatherings.

(l to r) Br Krzysztof, Br Kevin, Br Jakub, Fr O'Malley and Br Sandy.

Br Krzysztof Cepil from the Polish Krakow province (PLS) is in the Bolton community working as an assistant in the Salesian school, Thornleigh College. Br Kevin O'Donnell, who completed his novitiate in Pinerolo on 8th September, is also in the Bolton Community, working as school chaplain in Thornleigh College. Br Jakub Ruszniak from the Polish Pila province (PLN) is in the Chertsey community working in the Salesian School. Br Sandy Fairley is in the Battersea Community working for a qualification in Youth Ministry.

The weekend was led by Fr John Dickson and Fr David O'Malley and included opportunities to share and reflect on experiences as well as talks and times of prayer. Fr John Dickson showed them some of the treasures kept in the Sacred Heart Church: vestments worn by Don Rua and Don Bosco and a monstrance from the family of Blessed Augustus Czartoryski. There was also a cultural visit to the Houses of Parliament in central London, including the historic Westminster Hall, where Pope Benedict XVI recently addressed politicians and other civic leaders.

Outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster