From February 23th to March 1st, ECYD met in Monterrey (Mexico), at the formation center of the consecrated women, to study together the challenges and opportunities of this key stage in the lives of adolescents. How can we accompany them today in a rapidly changing cultural context? During these days, leaders from different territories shared experiences, evaluated priorities and renewed their commitment to walk side by side with every adolescent.
ECYD leaders from different territories participated: from Chile-Argentina, the consecrated members Sofía Lobeira and Huguette Turcott; from Northern Mexico, Nuria López; from Mexico-Central America, Isabel Bobadilla and Andy Velarde; from North America, Fr. Patrick O'Loughlin, L.C.; from Colombia-Venezuela, Daniel Carrasquero; from Spain, Fr. Rafael Vignaroli, L.C.; from Italy, Fr. Felipe Quezada, L.C.; from Western and Central Europe, Fr. Raphael Ballestrem, L.C.; from Brazil, Tamiris dos Santos; from France, Fr. George de la Cotadiere, L.C.; and from the international area of ECYD, Br. Jardel Moraes, L.C.
The work carried out during these days allowed for a very enriching dialogue, in which the diversity of cultural and pastoral contexts provided a broad and complementary view of the reality that adolescents experience today in different territories.
Back to the roots: vocational culture
Among the central themes were ECYD Collaborators, family ministry, following up on the priorities of the General Convention 2024 and the work of ECYD in schools. One of the cross-cutting themes was the promotion of a vocational culture. Fr. Rafael Vignaroli, L.C., shared that promoting this culture involves returning to the roots of ECYD: the adolescent's personal covenant with Christ, his or her life of prayer, and his or her commitment to transforming the world. When ECYD leads young people to live these elements authentically, it forms them in a dynamic of response to the Lord and his mission.
Fr. Rafael also commented on accompaniment and discernment in the current context, noting that the generational difference is becoming increasingly evident: language, cultural references, and the way of understanding the world are changing. This reality requires closeness, the ability to listen, and constant adaptation to understand how adolescents think and live their faith today.
During these days, they met with six former ECYD collaborators who shared their experiences, lessons learned and challenges. Their feedback helped participants identify strengths, concrete areas for improvement and ways to ensure greater clarity, sustainability and formative depth. It was also recognized that ECYD's growth and international projection depend to a large extent on well-trained collaborators, who are accompanied and fully identified with the mission and have a deep sense of availability.
ECYD in school life
On Tuesday, the 24th, the participants visited the novitiate to carry out an activity about ECYD with the novices, which created a space for exchange that strengthened communion and mutual understanding of the different vocational stages. On Thursday, the 26th, they went to ECYD and Club Faro in San Pedro Garza García, where they learned firsthand about the work with teenagers and talked with local teams.
Consecrated Huguette Turcott, speaking about ECYD's contribution in schools, commented that when teenagers make Jesus' experience their own, they want to share it with their friends and teachers. Thus, what they receive in their integral formation is projected in concrete attitudes of apostolate and leadership, bringing greater depth to their daily school life.
Walking alongside teenagers
Huguette is convinced that ECYD is a privileged moment to sow in the hearts of teenagers the desire to do something great, to discover their mission and to recognize themselves as protagonists in the history of the world. Accompanying them at this stage means helping them discover that they have something valuable to offer and that their lives can be fully given to Christ.Huguette is convinced that ECYD is a privileged moment to sow in the hearts of teenagers the desire to do something great, to discover their mission and to recognize themselves as protagonists in the history of the world. Accompanying them at this stage means helping them discover that they have something valuable to offer and that their lives can be fully given to Christ.
Daniel Carrasquero emphasized that an ECYD apostle cultivates his heart to love God and, from there, exercises positive leadership in society. The pastoral horizon for the coming years, says Daniel, points precisely to that: walking alongside teenagers, being present in each of their steps, and guiding them in the discovery and maturation of their vocation.
The meetings in Monterrey strengthened the communion between the territories and renewed the awareness that ECYD continues to be a privileged space where adolescents learn to respond to the Lord with generosity, integrating faith, friendship, and mission into the same life experience.
You can see here a Flickr album of these days.
