(ANS – Niterói)– Getting to know the situation and resolving to change it – this was the twofold theme of the second day of the Continental Meeting of the Salesian Youth Movement in America. The young people entrusted themselves to Mary and busied themselves in reflection, study, and proclamation of the Gospel. Some members of the general Council arrived yesterday, 20 July.

The second working day of the SYM began with Mass presided over by Fr Natale Vitali, Councillor for the America Cono Sud Region, who had just arrived in Niterói from Rome. The Mass ended with a prayer of entrustment to Mary, Help of Christians: “Most Holy and Immaculate Virgin Mary, we entrust ourselves to you and promise to work always for the greater glory of God and the salvation of souls” – a promise that was maintained throughout the day.

The morning was devoted to getting to know and understand the socio-cultural situation in which the young people live in their various countries, and then the situation at a global level – in other words, an analysis of the present reality. The young people were invited to write a parable, starting from the present socio-cultural scenario, and developing a phrase that was given to each group. The interaction with different personalities, the fact of defining the contexts, the drama presentations and the conclusion helped the young people to reflect and understand better some aspects of today’s culture. Each of the parables was then represented on canvas, with drawings and paintings, to facilitate sharing with the whole assembly.

The afternoon, on the other hand, was given to activity, especially missionary activity. Most of the young people went into the streets and the homes of Niterói, carrying out little evangelizing activities, while others remained at the Salesian House of Santa Rosa, sharing their experiences of youthful missionary activity. This led to an exchange of good practices that will serve to inspire new experiences.

Theodore, a young animator involved in pastoral activity in the Province of Southern Mexico, had gone with some others to visit a family. “What struck me,” he said, “was the joy with which we were welcomed as missionaries. Though we spoke different languages, we were able to communicate in the same language – the love of Christ. The sense of belonging to the same family, the Church, made our encounter easier. We were accompanied by a priest. We shared the Word of the Gospel and blessed the home and the family. This Continental Meeting has shown me God’s greatness in the faces of the Brazilian families, and this made me feel at home.”

In the evening, the atmosphere was more recollected than the previous evening. About 300 young people joined in a prayer vigil prepared by the delegation from Paraguay. The theme of the vigil was the missionary dimension of Salesian Youth Spirituality. The vigil itself was done in four stages, moving from one place to another. It was led by Marco Aurelio Abreu, a Salesian Deacon. The vigil ended on a small hill overlooking the Salesian House of Niterói, where there has been a statue of Mary Help of Christians since 1900.

In the course of the day, Fr Fabio Attard, Councillor for Youth Ministry, and Fr Maria Arokiam Kanaga, Regional Councillor for Southern Asia, arrived. Fr Attard greeted the young people and encouraged them to make the best of the experience and to develop a strong sense of belonging to the Church.

Published 21/07/2013