Network of Latin American Parishes working for a better future

The Latin American Network of Jesuit Parishes held its second meeting with the aim of uniting young people in the creation of a future following the values of the Universal Apostolic Preferences

On June 18, 2022, the Latin American and Caribbean Network of Parishes entrusted to the Society of Jesus (RELAPAJ) held the 2nd Meeting of Jesuit Parishes and Temples of Latin America and the Caribbean of lay people and Jesuits who collaborate in parish ministry. The theme chosen for this closing of the Ignatian Year was “From conversion to a renewed Ignatian mission, in the key of the Apostolic Body“. The meeting was planned together with the provincial delegates of the parish pastoral, with the collaboration of lay people, with the desire that the next meeting will be organised by all of us, as people of God.

Half an hour before the beginning of the event, the greetings and introductions of the participants took place, with the joy and commitment of more than 100 participants, some of whom met in groups and were able to do so in a fraternal atmosphere.

Roberto Jaramillo SJ – president of the Conference of Jesuit Provincials of Latin America and the Caribbean (CPAL) – and the presentation of the theme that brought together the participants by Fr Juan José Berli SJ, delegate of the network of parishes, Fr Alejandro Vera presented the Mag+s project, the result of research by the CPAL Youth and Vocations Network.

The participants were motivated to pray and share the resonances of the Apostolic Preference to “accompany young people in the creation of a hopeful future”. In this sense, the 30-minute presentation focused on “That young people question and search for their own vocation in this world and within their Church”, to give way to small group meetings (between 8 to 12 participants), with the slogan:

What resonated with you (feelings, ideas, desires) from the opening prayer and the MAG+S presentation? Write down 1 or 2 motions in which you express how you interpret “seeing all things new” in Christ in the light of your pastoral work in the parish or temple.

The groups were formed according to the areas of work in which the participants were enrolled:

• Catechesis
• Liturgy and animation (scripts, music; Sacristy)
• Social pastoral (Caritas, soup kitchens, addictions, technical or professional training workshops, attention to violence or violated rights).
• Missionary groups; youth groups
• Pastoral Care of Listening and Spiritual Accompaniment (CLC, RMOP, Movements)
• Spirituality and Ignatian Exercises
• Communication (billboards, flyers, web pages, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Tik Tok, etc.)

In the group work we used the modality of “spiritual conversation” with the 3 wheels, to reach a conclusion expressed in the form of a Certainty or Declaration. This dynamic was animated by Fr. Joaquín Pachón with two members of his pastoral team.

The event ended with the plenary, reading some and sharing the joy of having spaces like these, in which the exchange and knowledge of other brothers in different countries, we have a common denominator of desire for God and personal collaboration in his kingdom. At the end, Fr. Fernando Casillas invited us to close the evaluation with a blessing and sending of one another, a very moving moment.

The resonances continued in a spirit of synodality. Many participants have established close links and exchanged WhatsApp or e-mails, creating a real network flow. The Holy Spirit uses the instruments that we provide for the dream of the promotion of justice made fruitful by Ignatian faith and spirituality.

This article was originally published on the CPAL website.