With the theme “Where are the young people? Come and see", the meeting had as its main objective to identify and interpret the current youth scenarios and calls to strengthen Salesian identity, explore the understanding of the Salesian charism in the presence and action of the RSB.
During the event, the Salesian General Councillor for YM gave three addresses. At the outset he recalled that the choice of the venue of the meeting was relevant. "Here you can breathe the spirit of 2007, when two large windows were opened for the Church in Latin America. In the 5th Episcopal Conference held at Aparecida it was said that the best legacy of Latin American culture is faith in God who is Love, and here we can repeat that the greatest legacy of Salesian spirituality is to transmit to young people faith in a provident God who loves us. The second great idea of Aparecida was a continental proposal with which we must reach everyone, with all our strength and all our resources; here we translate it with a very Salesian expression, ‘pastoral charity‘, which comes from the heart of the Good Shepherd."
Then, on the first day, the YM General Councillor presented the document "A youth ministry that educates to love", with particular attention to the last chapter on the ten educational criteria. A long dialogue with the assembly ensued.
Finally, on the third day, Fr García Morcuende presided over the Eucharistic celebration that introduced the day. He offered a number of ideas during this Eucharist. "At the feast of Cana in Galilee," he said "we are reminded that happiness for Christians is a serious thing: being happy one day is enough for a feast, for two days a trip, for three a house with a garden. To be happy all your life, you need a purpose: the Lord Jesus. This is the heart of our pastoral work. Christ is sometimes the final key for opening the door of the young person's heart. And yet, it is really the main key. Because when it comes to the happiness of young people, Christ is the first to lift the cup and fill it, when necessary. It is not the bread that is missing, but the wine, which is not indispensable, is a useless extra, except for celebration or the quality of life. The happiness in love of our young people is constantly under threat: ‘They have no more wine’ (cf. Jn 2: 3) is the experience that everyone has when a thousand doubts assail them, and love remains without joy, houses without celebration, faith without impetus. This is why Jesus wants to enter the lives of our young people and fill the gaps in their lives."
