At the northernmost reaches of the province, in Surrey, British Columbia, Our Lady of Good Counsel parish serves a fast-growing city that is expected soon to become the largest Canadian city west of Toronto. Besides operating a parochial school of 240 students, the parish supports an interparochial high school and a religious instruction program for 300 more people. Its outreach efforts support an interfaith ministry to troubled people in the city, and the Salesians serve as chaplains to patients at a large community hospital and 10 rest homes. In addition to Sunday liturgies in Polish, Spanish and Laotian, the parish boasts six active choirs and a variety of organizations, the most prominent being the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Legion of Mary, the Catholic Women's League and the Knights of Columbus. The Don Bosco Youth Center, now under construction, will be open to all young people in the area. The $2.5 million project is the first phase of an ambitious plan to enlarge the parish school and to provide additional facilities for youth.

Last year at San Jose parish, Albuquerque, N. M., Br. Ernie Martinez, with the help of volunteers, opened a youth center. They used several rooms of now unused parochial school building for a game room, an arts and crafts room and a weightlifting room. About 50 to 70 boys and girls enjoyed themselves after school and on weekends. The center went well. However, due to changes in personnel at the end of summer, activities have fluctuated between good and fair.

During the summer months an active summer program operated under the direction of Brs. Jesus Hinojosa and Michael Touchstone and two young persons from the Salesian High Schools, North and South (Calif.). Two Salesian sisters ran a summer program in the neighboring parish. After they left at the end of July the program began to lose steam.

The youth center is presently closed. But parishioners and staff are holding meetings to lay a good foundation for a more permanent organization, and with the help of lay volunteers a reopening will take place, God willing, by the middle of May.

St. Bridget Chinese Catholic Center (parish) in Los Angeles, Calif., is refocusing its attention on youth. Fully one-third of the congregation is below the age of 18. CCD classes have been established. The St. Dominic Savio Group offers formation to youth from 8 to 12 years of age. Out-reach programs include after-school care for latch-key kids and cub, girl and boy scouts.

Boy Scout Troop 168 was formed less than two years ago and won first place in overall competition at their last camporee as well as ribbons in individual competitions. They were chosen to be the official color guard at the Los Angeles Chinatown Golden Dragon Parade. The Chinese Cultural Dance Group celebrated the new year by performing for the Chinese Senior Citizen Home.

A coordinator of youth ministry was named to oversee, assist and help improve the youth activities. The newly elected Parish Council Chairman for 1998 is a member of one of the young adult group, a young man in his early thirties. Don Bosco would have been proud.