Catholic youth from Upolu and Savai'i have gathered at the Malololelei Parish to prepare themselves to participate in seminars that would be conducted at all parishes.

Fr Siolo Tevaga, who is one of the priests hosting the get-together, said the camp will prepare the youth for the seminars they will be required to participate in.

"The purpose of this camp its preparing the youths for the seminars which they will be required to conduct in different parishes around Samoa," he told the Samoa Observer. "Each parish from here in Upolu and also are from Savaii have representative in this camp, this is like us building up this young generations leadership skills."

More than 20 youth members from both Savai'i and Upolu have joined in the camp. The get-together is set to go on for this whole week and end on Sunday.

One of the youth, Christopher Sofeni, shared what he learnt from the camp in recent days with this newspaper. 

"This is a great opportunity for me to learn about what it takes to be a leader and to build up my self-esteem as well, we are here to see and learn about leadership skills in order for us to know what we have to do, when we go out to different parishes for seminars," he said.

Mr Sofeni is the representative from the Body of Christ (Tino Paia) Parish in Vaitele Uta.

He said that waking up early in the morning to go to mass, and praying the rosary around 3am, is something he never used to do. However, he is slowly getting use to it now because it's now a routine at their camp.

"This camp also strengthened the Catholic people going back to praying the rosary, a lot of them are now relying on the evening prayers being broadcast on the TV Upu Mana every evening," he added.

Fr Siolo also mentioned that this camp is also a way to prepare the Catholic youths for the upcoming 5th World Apostolic Congress on Mercy (W.A.C.O.M.).

Three things will be highlighted in the camp, the Catholic theme for 2020 which is Mary Mother of Mercy, it's Divine Mercy chaplet and the message from Our Lady of Fatima.

In recent days, the youth were given different activities to undertake in groups to assist build their leadership role. Each day they have different programs to work on. 

Thus far Mr Sofeni said that with all their past lessons and training he is positive that they are ready for the seminars ahead which they are to lead.