Morelia (Mexico). From 28 to 30 January 2022, at Anáhuac College of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of the Mary Help of Christians Community of Morelia, Michoacán, Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe (MME), the young animators of the Mexican Provinces of the FMA (MME) and Mater Ecclesiae (MMO) and the Salesians of Don Bosco (MEM and MEG), experienced the national meeting of the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) of Mexico on the theme #RESET Youth for the world like Mary.

The goal was: to encourage young people to active citizenship, through leadership and civic participation in the style of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello so that, like Mary, they can build a new society. The English verb Reset, with the meaning of renew, restart, indicated the desire, deepened in these days, to be “rekindled” to restart together after the experience of the pandemic.

Participants were more than 500 online from Monterrey, San Luis Potosí, Chiapas, Puebla, Hidalgo, Mexico City, Chihuahua, Guadalajara, Tijuana, Michoacán, and other countries and a small group of young people present on site.

The meeting began with a dynamic of knowledge and with the history and organization of the SYM of Mexico and the national meetings, of which this was the 1st in the online mode. This was followed by greetings from Fr Ignacio Ocampo Uribe, SDB, Provincial of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe (MEM), from Fr Filiberto González, Provincial of Christ the King and Mary Help of Christians (MEG), from Sr. Ana Cristina Chavira, Vicar MMO, in the name of the Provincial, Sr. Leonor Salazar, and of Sr. Margarita Chavarría, Provincial MME, who officially opened the national meeting #Reset MGS.

The young people then performed a dance to represent the context in which they are immersed today: a reality that sometimes confuses them and puts them at risk. “What elements of your life do you find in this dance? What ruins the ideals of the future and blocks the ability to love? “These were some questions to lead young people to deepen the term Reset in their lives, to return to the origins, to the dream for which God created each person, rediscovering themselves loved by God and precious in His eyes, to rediscover the reasons to be happy and to make available one’s abilities to do good.

La formula RESETReconocer (Riconoscere),  Escuchar (Ascoltare), Solidarizarse (essere Solidali), Emprender (Intraprendere), Testimoniar (Testimoniare) – è stata al centro delle riflessioni delle Giornate in cui i/le giovani sono stati invitati/e a trovare il loro punto di “ripartenza”, a cominciare da quello della Madre di Gesù, con una lectio divina sull’Annunciazione guidata dalle FMA delle due Ispettorie e da un momento di incontro con Maria, nelle stanze virtuali a loro disposizione.

The RESET formula – Reconocer (Recognize), Escuchar (Listen), Solidarizarse (be in Solidarity), Emprender (Undertake), Testimoniar (Witness) – was at the center of the reflections of the Days in which the young people were invited to find their point of “restart”, beginning with that of the Mother of Jesus, with a lectio divina on the Annunciation led by the FMA of the two Provinces and a moment of encounter with Mary, in the virtual rooms at their disposal.

Fr. Francisco Cervantes, SDB (MEG) and Sr. Anabel Vera, FMA (MME) deepened the “reset” of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello, highlighting how abandonment, illness, difficulties, and situations of suffering are in the life of the Founders there were occasions for a restart and a relaunch. Through some questions, the young animators guided the participants to re-examine their own lives, especially the time of the pandemic, and to share their experience in small groups. The “cultural reset” followed, with the different expressions of Mexican culture, to recognize the roots and assume one’s own identity with commitment.

In the Goodnight, the Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime, encouraged young people to be true missionary disciples, committed to living citizenship and distinguishing themselves in their scholastic and professional commitment.

 

Joy was the theme of Sr. Leonor Salazar’s Good morning, who exhorted us to imitate Mary’s joyful willingness to do God’s will. Sr. Maria Luisa Miranda, FMA of the MMO Province, Councilor for the Salesian Family for the two previous six years, then intervened starting from the passage from the Gospel of Luke “Young man, I say to you, arise!” (Lk 7: 11-15) encouraging people to be protagonists and to civil commitment with the words of Pope Francis, “Please, do not let others be protagonists of change! You are the ones who have the future! Through you the future enters into the world. I also ask you to be protagonists of this change “(Christus Vivit 174). More than thirty FMA and SDB, in the virtual rooms, then listened to and accompanied the young people, giving some advice for their spiritual life.

The testimonies of citizenship experiences and various workshops helped the participants to become aware of their potential and the necessary preparation to contribute to the good of society. The afternoon culminated with adoration before Jesus in the Eucharist, the true author of the “reset” in one’s life, to enter into dialogue and listen to His voice.

In the Goodnight, the Mother General of the FMA Institute, Sister Chiara Cazzuola, answered the question: “How can the young people of the SYM live active citizenship in this post-pandemic time?”, Encouraging them to follow the example of Jesus, Good Samaritan and Shepherd, to come out of themselves and make themselves close, especially to the weakest and most vulnerable, and to make their own contribution in “rebuilding” bonds, inventing regenerative projects of places and relationships.

The last day was dedicated to the synthesis of the experience and to an in-depth study on the Salesian Family in Mexico and in the world, by Fr. Gabriel Gómez, SDB, to deepen the different vocations in the field of Salesian spirituality. In addition, Fr. Hugo Orozco, SDB, Regional Visitor, reached the participants for a greeting.

The national SYM meeting, an opportunity to meet as Provinces to evaluate and redefine the journey together, ended with the Eucharistic Celebration of Don Bosco, presided over by the Auxiliary Bishop of Zamora, Mons. Francisco Figueroa Cervantes. With a moment of fraternity and thanks to the organizers, the participants then parted and expressed the desire to be Young for the world like Mary.

11 COMMENTS

  1. Gracias Señor por el Sí de cada joven, de cada hermana y hermano que hicieron posible este encuentro RESET MJS. Ayúdanos a dejarnos resetear por el Dios de la vida que nos ha creado para amar como Él nos ha amado, y vivir el servicio en una ciudadanía activa que nos lleve a ser los buenos cristianos y honrados ciudadanos que Don Bosco tanto cultivó. Gracias por tu amor de predilección a esta porción confiada.

  2. Decir GRACIAS se queda corto, porque un encuentro de este nivel sabemos que no fue nada fácil organizar… Pero Dios fue marcando el camino y de la mano de María todo fue fluyendo.
    Fue tan bonito ver a los adolescentes y jovenes disfrutando durante los 3 días, generando reflexiones para su vida y dejando se tocar por Dios para generar un RESET en sus vidas.
    Sin duda todos los que estuvimos nos quedamos maravillados por la Providencia de Dios, que de la mano de nuestros fundadores fueron los que hicieron posible este encuentro pensado para nosotros los jóvenes.
    Gracias Sores y Padres con seguir apostando por la niñez y juventud y por confiar en nosotros.

  3. Gracias a todos los que hicieron posible esta experiencia: animadores, coordinadores, participantes, etc. Fue una muestra de que aún en las circunstancias adversas de la pandemia se pueden hacer las cosas bien para la gloria de Dios. ¡Muchas gracias!

  4. Hermosa experiencia, totalmente diferente pero con muchos frutos, para mi ha sido un momento par afortificar mi vocación y opción por los jóvenes. Estamos seguras que el Señor hará crecer la semilla de entrega plantada en este encuentro.

  5. Una hermosa experiencia, que permitió muchos encuentros: el principal con Cristo, con María, don Bosco y Maín, entre el MJS y la Familia Salesiana, etc.
    Gracias a los jóvenes que se dieron la oportunidad de hacer Reset en su vida.
    Felicidades a los organizadores.

  6. Hermoso Encuentro!. Muchísimas felicidades a los organizadores, que maravilla que a pesar de muchas circunstancias adversas, el evento se logró. Viva Jesús, Viva María! Viva Don Bosco Viva Main! Vivan los Salesianos!!!

  7. LA EXPERIENCIA COMO CONDUCTORA,ANIMADORA Y COORDINADORA DE SALA,FUE DE LO MÁS INCREÍBLE QUE HE VIVIDO, A MUCHOA JÓVENES QUE TIENEN SU VIDA DESCARRILADA,EL ACERCARSE A DIOS ES LA MEJOR MEDICINA,
    ¡UNA EXPERIENCIA QUE EN DEFINITIVA TE MARCA! <3

  8. Felicidades a las organizadoras el encuentro fue un éxito esperamos tenga los frutos deseados

    • Fue una experiencia inolvidable. Aprendí que es necesario abrir espacios en la persona para una restauración integral. El ministerio de escucha favoreció en los jóvenes y me invita a continuar con esta misión. Gracias por todo.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.