What were we doing in the Palace of Westminster? It all began with Mr Andrew Mackinlay, Labour Member of Parliament for Thurrock, Essex. More importantly for us he is a past-pupil of our Salesian School in Chertsey, Surrey. He was aware that we were looking for a venue to launch our teaching pack ‘Moving On’ and he invited us to stage the launch in the palace of Westminster. We were delighted to accept such an offer and he was thrilled to be working actively again as a member of the Salesian Family.

Mr Andrew Mackinlay had been following with great interest the development of the ‘Moving On’ pack, which like most of the best things done for young people begin with the awareness of a need. Some years ago teachers of Religious Education in our schools became aware that so often young people were finding it difficult to make choices in their life. While they were well educated in many subjects, and were capable of passing examinations, when it came to deciding what to do in life they so often felt lost. It wasn’t just the young people who felt confused. The teachers themselves felt confused; they could find no suitable resources to use in teaching young people to make choices. The problem was put to the Salesian Youth Office in London. On investigation it was found that there didn’t seem to be a suitable resource pack for this purpose. The problem was put back to the teachers themselves, if it does not exist create it. A group of teachers from three of the Salesian Schools formed a working party chaired by Fr David O’Malley to pool their ideas.

This working party began to take on a life of its own, teachers were prepared to spend their Saturdays working on the resources, reporting back on their experiences in the classrooms, rejecting material that did not work refining the more successful modules. As the material built up, the extent of the need became more apparent until finally the decision was taken to publish. ‘Moving On’ was born.

Apart from answering the needs of young people, the preparation of ‘Moving On’ had one very significant and valuable side-effect; it became the focal point of the energies of the various branches of the Salesian Family. Everyone involved began to realise what a force for good there is when the energy of the whole Salesian Family, teachers, Sisters. Priests, Brothers, Cooperators, Secretaries, parish workers set their minds on doing something specific for young people. ,Just a minute! I have missed out our secret ingredient – the past pupils! I feel we have a hidden force for good in the past pupils. They may not want to be signed-up members of an association, they may not want to face the ordeal of a meeting, but I am sure there are many past pupils out there who would like to feel part of the Salesian family again. The day at Westminster and all that Mr Andrew Mackinlay did for us that day convinced me.

A book launch at Westminster might seem a rather dull affair but we were determined to put a strong Salesian spin on it and make it a day-out for young people. We invited some of our students from Saint John Bosco High School in Liverpool, Salesian School, Chertsey and some of our volunteers from Battersea. They needed to be dressed for the occasion. They agreed to wear special bright yellow T-shirts emblazoned with the logo from the ‘Moving On’ pack. As so often with young people, when you give them an opportunity to shine they positively radiate. They, as students, had been taught by teachers using the teaching pack. They had been taught well, they were very much aware of the contents of the pack. So for that day they were not only hosts to the press representatives and members of parliament who were persuaded to come to the launch, but living proof that the pack could be used in a way that young people could enjoy learning.

Andrew Mackinlay felt very much at home, both as a Member of Parliament and as a Salesian. He spoke with great enthusiasm for and understanding of the purpose of ‘Moving On’. His daughter had come to help with the launch, she had heard so much from her Dad about the Salesians. (I had taught Andrew at Chertsey 35 years ago and she asked me what her Dad had been like at school, I pleaded a poor memory). Andrew had asked the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Michael J. Martin, to officially launch the pack. He impressed all of us by speaking of his own experience as a young man growing up in Glasgow and relating his own life choices to the relevance of the teaching pack he was launching.

The pack is being published by Saint Paul’s publications and the order was also represented there. We hope this is the beginning of a fruitful working relationship with a religious order that so much in the Media World.

My final thought at the end of a perfect day, if we have politicians who understand young people the there is hope for this country. .