In NOLA We Go Strong
by Dalton Friend
Hello everyone my name is Dalton Friend. I am a graduate of Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, NJ --which is weird to say, since I just graduated. This summer I experienced my first Gospel Roads.
On this wonderful experience, I was faced with new tasks with some familiar faces. Going into this GR, I was very excited, since I was coming straight from the New Balance Outdoor Track & Field Nationals in Greensborough, NC. Br. Adam Dupre picked me up at the airport and we rushed over to Archbishop Shaw so I could start my GR experience. Walking into the chapel, I was right on time for Father Manny’s goodnight. Once the goodnight ended, my friends ran over to give me a hug. In that moment, I felt the greatest part of any Salesian event, because of the love and joy from those around me.
That love and joy was the highlight of my experience on Gospel Roads. The people leading and running this retreat were very significant in my life: Michael Piranio, who was my confirmation sponsor and childhood friend; Rebecca Melanson who was my small group partner on this past MLR; Father Manny Gallo, who watched me grow up at DBP over the past 4 years, and after graduation, baptized me; and John Khanjian, my Godfather.
My experience would not have been the same without them and all of the participants and team members; they embodied the Salesian love and spirit all week long and showed me the true power of God through their loving actions. I would love to have all my friends experience Gospel Roads because it is a week of my life I will never forget. In NOLA, we go strong because we faced challenges all week. When we had to work in the hot, humid New Orleans summer weather, we continued to work hard. As the rain started to fall when we were in the pool in our off time, that didn’t stop us; we jumped right out of the pool and started to play soccer.
The day we had the most fun, and also the greatest challenges, was spent at St. Rosalie’s parish. At St. Rosalie’s, we did literally anything the Sisters asked us to do. That day I worked with John and a woman named Jessica to load up the back of a truck full of cans to go to a recycling bin. We did this for 4 hours straight. Later, some of us had to paint a bunch of cabinets, some staircases, a bathroom and a fence. One of the Sisters told us to paint any part of the fence that was brown, but when we got to the fenced area…the entire fence was brown. To make the job a little more fun, we may have painted each other along the way…
To finish off the day of work, myself and 8 other guys were given the task of moving an 800 pound piano down a flight of stairs. With Salesian fire burning inside of us, we accepted the challenge and got the piano down the stairs without a scratch.
That day, we lived out our faith to the fullest by doing anything that was asked of us, without hesitation. This is what made my GR experience incredible: being surrounded by 37 people who share the same faith as I. And together, we’re stronger.
On this wonderful experience, I was faced with new tasks with some familiar faces. Going into this GR, I was very excited, since I was coming straight from the New Balance Outdoor Track & Field Nationals in Greensborough, NC. Br. Adam Dupre picked me up at the airport and we rushed over to Archbishop Shaw so I could start my GR experience. Walking into the chapel, I was right on time for Father Manny’s goodnight. Once the goodnight ended, my friends ran over to give me a hug. In that moment, I felt the greatest part of any Salesian event, because of the love and joy from those around me.
That love and joy was the highlight of my experience on Gospel Roads. The people leading and running this retreat were very significant in my life: Michael Piranio, who was my confirmation sponsor and childhood friend; Rebecca Melanson who was my small group partner on this past MLR; Father Manny Gallo, who watched me grow up at DBP over the past 4 years, and after graduation, baptized me; and John Khanjian, my Godfather.
My experience would not have been the same without them and all of the participants and team members; they embodied the Salesian love and spirit all week long and showed me the true power of God through their loving actions. I would love to have all my friends experience Gospel Roads because it is a week of my life I will never forget. In NOLA, we go strong because we faced challenges all week. When we had to work in the hot, humid New Orleans summer weather, we continued to work hard. As the rain started to fall when we were in the pool in our off time, that didn’t stop us; we jumped right out of the pool and started to play soccer.
The day we had the most fun, and also the greatest challenges, was spent at St. Rosalie’s parish. At St. Rosalie’s, we did literally anything the Sisters asked us to do. That day I worked with John and a woman named Jessica to load up the back of a truck full of cans to go to a recycling bin. We did this for 4 hours straight. Later, some of us had to paint a bunch of cabinets, some staircases, a bathroom and a fence. One of the Sisters told us to paint any part of the fence that was brown, but when we got to the fenced area…the entire fence was brown. To make the job a little more fun, we may have painted each other along the way…
To finish off the day of work, myself and 8 other guys were given the task of moving an 800 pound piano down a flight of stairs. With Salesian fire burning inside of us, we accepted the challenge and got the piano down the stairs without a scratch.
That day, we lived out our faith to the fullest by doing anything that was asked of us, without hesitation. This is what made my GR experience incredible: being surrounded by 37 people who share the same faith as I. And together, we’re stronger.
