Fourth Marist Provincial Youth Day

Around 900 young people, collaborators and brothers participated in the Fourth Marist Provincial Youth Day in the province of Brasil Centro-Sul on Aug. 25 and 26 in Curitiba.

Under the slogan ‘Inspired by Mary: called to be a house of light and a beacon of hope for the world’, the goal was to gather young Marists to reflect, discuss and pray about sociopolitical and ecclesial issues.

Some issues addressed in the meeting were the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, sacred femininity, the Social Doctrine of the Church, youth empowerment and inclusion.

The workshops were also related to the XXII General Chapter, the 2018 – 2019 Fraternity Campaign and the 2019 World Youth Day.

Superior General Brother Ernesto Sánchez sent a message to the meeting in which he told the young people that they are “an important part in the dream of Champagnat.”  

“A dream that today could translate as being a beacon of hope in a needy, turbulent world,” Brother Ernesto pointed out. “We could imagine the difference we can make in the world if each one of us becomes a living beacon of hope amongst friends, family and amongst the poor.” 

During the event, a celebration took place for the thirteenth anniversary of the creation of the Marist Youth Ministry with the animation of a musical group of the Santa María School.

On Sunday, they participated in Mass celebrated by Father Vilson Groh, which was followed by an interview programme with Sister Valéria Leal, who presented the image of Christ as a young person and as a friend as well as the different possibilities of God’s call.

The weekend concluded with a few words from Brother Tiago Reus Barbosa Fedel to motivate the youth.