?One in heart, we look to the future.?

The direction to be followed in Youth Ministry as carried out in the Central Mexico Province has found renewed clarity. The clarity is the consequence of a recent gathering at which the participants had the opportunity, a pleasant one, to share life, to listen to life and to pray from life. The experience arose at a meeting of youth ministers where particular attention was given to dialoguing about the experiences encountered in our work, in re-formulating our basic plan for Youth Ministry, its thrust and its limitations. The meeting was a very worthwhile occasion, conducted in a cordial atmosphere, the catalyst being the real experiences of all our apostolates that deal with young people.

Brother Francisco Javier Conde guided our reflections which were based upon the motto of the twenty-first General Chapter, ?New hearts for a new world.? We discussed how Youth Ministry ought to move forward in a process that is shared with young people. We spoke of how, in today?s world, global as it is, one must be conscious of both diversity of cultures and the realities which young people have to face.

One of the key ideas we dealt with was this: that youth groups are called upon to assist children and young people in confronting the realities of their lives and making sense of life experiences. Another key ideas was formulated as a question: how to create proposals of an inclusive character that favor dialogue and are sensitive and attentive to the Gospel

At the present time, more than 2000 children and young people take part in the youth movements that are found in our elementary schools, junior high schools and senior high schools. The youth groups are moving forward thanks to the devoted support of 272 youth ministers and teachers (both Brothers and lay people) who take the lead role in guiding the young people.

Professional formation for the apostolate through a degree in Youth Ministry or via workshops in cooperative games; the collection of reports concerning local experiences; a data base for the use of youth leaders; the criteria for those who direct the groups: all such matters form a part of the Province guidelines that help to organize the paths along which the Province youth groups are making their way.

Another goal of the meeting was to prepare, for the months of March, April and May, formative experiences, camps, and Province meetings.