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Approximately 300 youth from around the diocese gathered at Wild Adventures Park in Valdosta on February 26. The day started with Mass conceiebrated by Fathers John O'Brien, Barry Stanton, Charles Roland, and Raul Perez. Mary Beth Lasseter, graduate of Notre Dame University and volunteer teacher in Alabama, gave a talk on friendship, which was the theme of the Mass. The youth took up a collection for the victims of the tornadoes near Camilla, totaling $307.58. After Mass, the teens enjoyed the rides and animals at the park for the rest of the day. Saint Mary on the Hill School hoopsters end successful season Saint Mary on the Hill School, Augusta, produced two winning basketball teams this year. The boys' team (left) was 11 -3 in the regular season and finished fourth in the Central Savannah River Area Middle School Tournament. The girls' team (right) was 14-0 in the regular season and finished third in the CSRA Independent School Tournament. Statesboro Deanery holds Youth Retreat 2000 The Statesboro Deanery held its annual youth retreat on February 25-26 at the W. W. Mann Retreat Center in Statesboro. One hun dred and three youth and their chaperones came to the retreat from parishes throughout the deanery. The theme for this year's retreat was "Peace and Social Justice Through the Beatitudes." The retreat started with a welcoming and prayer session on Friday evening. Following dinner, the youth got down to work in the first session. During this time, they created a collage representing their small group's definition of peace and social justice. Each small group showed its collage and explained its meaning to the other groups. Game time and an evening prayer service followed before everyone went to bed. Saturday started off with a morning prayer service followed by a pancake breakfast. The morning session found the youth in their small groups creating skits on peace and social justice, which they presented to the other groups before breaking for lunch. The afternoon consisted of a reconciliation ser vice and closing session. After cleaning up, the retreatants depart- 'm telling you, the fish was thisssss big I" ed for home. Thursday, March 30, 2000 The Southern Cross, Page 7 Diocesan youth enjoy a day of prayer and fun