The coast is clear

Every month we try to bring the community on an outing, if not for the entire day, then at least for the afternoon. Since we still less than a month into the academic year, today was a good day to just get away, visit some wonder of the Bay Area, enjoy a piece of Nature and picnic together. After morning classes, we left in several vehicles for Point Reyes.

The weather was cool but perfectly clear, and the crowd enjoyed the drive as across the Marin peninsula into Point Reyes National Park. It took an hour for us to go from Berkeley to the park, but once in the park, it took another hour to drive the narrow highland roads to the famous Point Reyes and its lighthouse. This gave us plenty of time for stories and sharing on the way to and from the landmarks. Once there, the scenery was magnificent. Rarely have I seen it so pristine and lovely (and I tend to visit the point at least once a year).

As I just said, we like to do outings in this community of Don Bosco Hall. This has been the practice since the ISS began in 1984. We are not always conscious that we live in such a beautiful part of the world, but those who come from other countries are certainly interested in site-seeing and doing a bit of tourism for culture and play and so forth. This is why we program a number of community outings over the course of the year. Each month, a day-trip; each semester two extended, three-day trips. We consider these activities important in the development of the Don Bosco Hall community.

At the same time, most of the real community-building comes from the day-to-day activities and developing relationship. This is why Tom Prendiville always encourages spontaneous outings for small or large groups.

Well, that's the theory. Today the practice went very well. Everyone loved the lighthouse. Those who took the famous Point Reyes earthquake trail were fascinated by the science and history of our area (and checked to make sure their rooms were earthquake proofed once we got home). The evening came to a climax with Arthur Lenti (assisted by Mary Greenan) barbecuing a supper for us all. Some of the Salesians from the provincial house in San Francisco came to the barbecue, invited by Tom Prendiville and Arthur. What's more, a couple of young adults who wandered into the grove where we were spread out, struck up a conversation with our ISS people, and ended by joining us for dinner too. This was not a problem. We always bring more food than we can possibly consume.

And so the drive home was serene and happy.