On October 27 -29, 2023, a meeting of members of the Franciscan Youth movement was held in Santiago, Chile. Around seventy participants attended, coming from two Conventual Franciscan parishes in Santiago and Curicó. They were joined by another group from Copiapó, Chile.
The theme of the meeting was “Our Common Home,” inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’. Friday morning featured dynamic and team-building activities. That afternoon, two formation sessions were conducted. The first was about healthy relationships with each other. The second was about caring for the environment, emphasizing the importance of the small changes that we can make in our homes and communities to help care for our Mother Earth. On Friday evening, prayer was sung in the courtyard assisted by the Taumita Choir from our Inmaculada Concepción Sanctuary and Parish, and from the “HDMI Group” of the Jesús de la Esperanza Chapel, which belongs to the parish.
On Saturday, there was a pilgrimage to the Inmaculada Concepción Sanctuary on San Cristóbal Hill and a Eucharistic Adoration vigil led by the Misión País Choir of the Catholic University of Santiago de Chile. A delicious “completeda” (assorted refreshments) were served, prepared by Friar Ramón ZÁS GARCÍA and the kitchen staff.
The event concluded on Sunday with a formation meeting focused on the Care of Our Common Home. The meeting was followed by Mass at 12:30 p.m., with Friar Christian BORGHESI presiding. Next, a final lunch was served followed by a farewell speech and the announcement of a meeting at the 2024 Summer Mission in Santa Barbara, Chile.
Franciscan Youth meetings started again last year in Curicó, with a small group from our parishes in Santiago and Curicó. This year it was gratifying to have more than seventy young participants, including some young people from Copiapó. Everyone went home happy and more aware of the importance of taking care of our Mother Earth, and that small changes are possible.
Friars Christian BORGHESI, Matteo MARTINELLI, Ramón ZÁS GARCÍA and Alberto LACOVARA were also present at the meeting.
Friar Matteo MARTINELLI
