On Sunday, March 22nd, the young people of our Redemptorist Youth and Vocational Ministry in Italy gathered for an intense and engaging day at the parish community of Sant’Alfonso in Avellino. About a hundred people, including young people, Redemptorists, caregivers, and volunteers, took part in this now traditional event of the RYVM in Italy.
The proposed theme was prayer, a theme that has been addressed in recent months in the bimonthly training program the team sends to communities and groups. This year, the guiding theme is the testimony of Saint Gerard: “Stay calm…like Gerard!” The meeting, conceived as a time for personal and community growth, learning, and sharing, combined moments of deep reflection with moments of genuine fellowship, friendship, and fun.
The day began with a welcoming moment of sharing, during which participants gathered over a hearty breakfast prepared by volunteers from the host community. This initial moment fostered a joyful atmosphere, filled with hugs, greetings, and smiles among the young people who had long been waiting for this day to reunite.
After the opening prayer and the reading of the message from Father Provincial Gennaro Sorrentino, who was busy visiting the communities in Spain, we moved on to the heart of the experience: the testimony of a young digital missionary, Simon (known on social media as Peccatore Praticante), who shared his Christian experience and his relationship with prayer in a video created specifically for our day. This was followed by prayer workshops, led by several Redemptorists, Redemptoristine nuns, and youth leaders, accompanying the young people on a journey that alternated Lectio Divina, meditation, intercessory prayer, examination of conscience, community prayer, and prayer through music, psalms, the body, and the organization of a prayer meeting. Through these moments, each person was able to rediscover prayer not only as a ritual, but as a personal encounter with God, which can unfold in various ways.
After the shared lunch, there were plenty of moments of fellowship and fun, with games and group activities that helped strengthen the bonds between the participants. The dancing was a must, creating a climate of exchange and sharing, fostering understanding and friendship.
The day concluded with Holy Mass, presided over by Provincial Councilor and delegate for the RYVM of Europe South, Fr. Massimiliano Guardini. It was a time to entrust into the hands of the Father, around the Eucharistic table, the experiences we had lived, the faces we had encountered, and the words we had exchanged, to return home and to our communities with renewed spirit and life.
We thank the Lord because every initiative, every meeting, every project is always an important step towards the unity of our RYVM in Italy and for every young person on the journey. May this experience accompany us all on our journey of faith with renewed courage, hope, and joy.
Daniele Carta, CSsR.
Coordinator of RYVM Italy and Europe South
