Seeking educators

On November 1-4 the first national Congress of Pastoral Care for Youth was celebrated in Spain, promoted by the Youth Department of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference (CEE). "You will bear Christian witness too" was the motto of the event. The purpose of the Congress was to "adapt pastoral care to the language and to the sensitivity of 21st century youth; promoting the missionary commitment at a time of major secularization in Spain, worsened by a deep moral, social and economic crisis; discovering new paths for evangelizing the youth and ensuring they will be testimonies of the Gospel within contemporary culture" in the light of two important anniversaries; the fiftieth anniversary since the opening of the Second Vatican Council and twenty years since the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Speaking to the heart of the young. Over 20 bishops, 1500 youths, pastoral workers from all the dioceses in Spain, representatives of ecclesial movements and institutions and religious congregations, displayed the general interest of ecclesial institutions for pastoral care for youth along with a the quest of new paths in order to bring the message of the Gospel and love of God to the heart of the young. The three keynote documents presented at the meeting- by the Archbishop of Valencia, Msgr. Carlos Osoro ("For you life is Christ. The first proclamation"), by the bishop of San Sebastián, Msgr. José Ignacio Munilla, responsible of the CEE youth department ("youth evangelization and affective urgency"), by Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity ("Pastoral care for the young in the framework of contemporary educational urgency: the Magisterium of Benedict XVI") highlighted the current situation of the youth and the challenges which youth pastoral care is called to overcome. Education and evangelization. Msgr. Carlos Osoro focused on the first Gospel proclamation, distinguishing between "the birth of faith (proclamation)" and "its development (catechesis)", recalling their "complementariness". The prelate underlined "the need to fulfill the first proclamation to attract youths who have not yet discovered Jesus Christ, as well as those who have distanced themselves from Him, and those who are inside the Church but whose lives is still lacking true faith". Msgr. José Ignacio Munilla examined the emotional situation of many young people, highlighting three major "wounds" which, in his opinion, "cause the loss of the meaning of life, that only the Good News of Jesus Christ is able to heal", namely, "narcissism, pan-sexuality and mistrust". Quoting from Don Bosco, he invited those present to trust the youth and to love what they love. Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko delved into the educational emergency, recalling also some of the most significant reflections of Benedict XVI, highlighting that "without education there can be no evangelization". Morning sentinels. Other reports were presented echoing the papers presented by the three prelates. A report by Salesian Fr Rosendo Soler, focused on the educational and evangelizing commitment, raised the following question: "The pastoral care of the young needs passionate educators like us. Are you willing to join us too?" In his address, Father Andrea Brugnoli, coordinator of the project "Morning Sentinels", born 13 years ago in the diocese of Verona, spoke of the mission of his project, i.e., "to form new evangelizers capable of bringing their experience of Jesus in school, in the workplace or meeting centers on a daily basis". Today, "Morning sentinels" projects have 27 torches across Italy, with the involvement of thousands of young people, 21 active dioceses and a center for t formation to the new evangelization. Over the past years torches were set up even abroad, in Spain and in France, and others are planned in Germany, Brazil and even Taiwan. A light in the night. On Saturday evening, November 3, were proposed two initiatives. Young conference members were invited to take part in an experience of proclamation in the streets. With the slogan "A light in the night" young conventioneers crossed the streets of Valencia, entering various bars and inviting their peers to take part in a moment of prayer in some churches purposely set up. Older participants spiritually convened taking part in a prayer vigil in the Cathedral of Valencia, presided over by the bishop of Solsona, Msgr. Xavier Novell Gomá. The Congress also had a festive element, represented by a concert organized by Cadena 100, with the participation of Hermana Glenda, Conchita, Melocos e Pulpo.