Young people on mission, sharing hope
From September 18th to 20th, we celebrated the 30th National Meeting of Redemptorist Youth, with the participation of over 500 young people from various communities in Paraguay, as well as young people from Argentina at the Marianela Retreat House in Atyrá. Since 2025, the meeting has been held as a camp under the name JUMIRE CAMP — Redemptorist Missionary Youth — and this was its second edition. The theme was “Youth on mission, sharing hope,” and the hymn was “Send Me,” composed by Fr. Leonardo Valdés, C.Ss.R. Redemptorist seminarians from Paraguay, Argentina, and Chile also participated.
The camp began on Friday with Holy Mass and a joyful welcome. From the moment they arrived, the young people handed over their cell phones and watches and experienced the camp without knowing the schedule beforehand. This disengagement allowed for something very simple: to meet, talk, play, and share without the constant presence of screens. To let go of some things in order to rediscover what is essential.
Saturday began with prayer led by the Redemptorist Sisters and continued with a discussion on hope. After a night of heavy rain, it began to drizzle again during the reflection, and at times the downpour intensified. This experience further reinforced one of the camp’s central themes: “to remain standing in the midst of storms, knowing that the Lord sustains us. Hope transforms life and makes us believe that something new can always begin.” The morning also had a strong focus on vocations, with the participation of Fr. Ramón Chamorro, C.Ss.R., the seminarians, and the Redemptorist Sisters, in addition to vocation booths and ample space for confessions.
The afternoon was filled with games, singing, and dancing. At the end, sitting on the grass, we shared a reflection on the value of life, dignity, joy, and the gifts each young person has to offer, inspired by the image of the five loaves and two fish (cf. Jn 6:1-15). In the evening, we participated in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by JUMIREFEST, a lively celebration led by the young people themselves, who shared their talents through music, singing, and dancing.
Sunday began with prayer led by the Redemptorist seminarians and culminated with the closing Mass. It was three days of listening to the Word, prayer, Eucharist, reconciliation, games, joy, and fellowship; days that also included rain, cold, and finally intense heat, which did not prevent the young people from experiencing each moment fully.
All of this was made possible thanks to the service of the Redemptorist Family. Together with the Steering Committee, confreres, nuns, seminarians, families, and numerous collaborators served in the kitchen, logistics, infirmary, intercession, communications, as sentinels, and in so many other tasks. JUMIRE CAMP once again showed us a generation of young people capable of encountering Jesus, celebrating life, and sharing hope; a generation capable of standing firm in the midst of storms because the Lord sustains us.
Fr. Aristides Amarilla Ovelar, C.Ss.R.
Advisor to the RYVM
