Third Meeting of RYVM Leaders
for Latin America and the Caribbean

The third meeting of the Redemptorist Youth and Vocation Ministry Leaders for Latin America and the Caribbean was held in Caracas, Venezuela, October 23-28. It was certainly a profound experience that encouraged all those who took part.

The theme of the meeting was: “Missionary youth groups and communities, an alternative redemptive presence confronting the threats to life” and the slogan was “Youth confronting threats to life, called to be a redemptive presence.”

Leaders from 12 countries, representing 17 Units of the Congregation, participated in the meeting. Also present were lay people and religious sisters who share our spirituality and youth ministry.

During the meeting various presenters (Fr. Pedro Trigo, Fr. Eric Pérez, Deacon Jonathan González, Ms. Rosa Robles, Fr. Ariel Cattaneo) made interesting contributions that helped very much to deepen our understanding and to clarify the proposed theme, generating a fruitful dialogue among the participants and enabling them to find common ground.

Each of the three sub-Regions (Northern – Southern – Brazil) chose its own group to promote Redemptorist Youth and Vocation Ministry and worked out a program of activities for the current triennium.

Finally, the Leaders participating in the meeting wrote a letter to the whole Redemptorist Family in the Region, inviting everyone, especially the young people, to embrace with courage and confidence the life-project of Jesus, just as our father, St. Alphonsus, once did.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, we hope to hold our fourth meeting of RYVM Leaders in November of 2009.

We thank God for the path we will travel together in leading and animating RYVM on our continent. Until the next time!

Fr. Ariel Cattaneo, C.Ss.R
Latin American and Caribbean Region