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8/13/2019 Viator Web 61 En
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edthousan
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tsareprod
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theirfaith,
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ndofliving:
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ndAfrica (
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tedtothe
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saryof
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ubec
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of the
tablish
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ership
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seniorership
where
enSPL
enton
esand
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Inordertosupportthe lifeofallthosegroups,theSPLpublishes,fivetimesayear,anewsletter
aboutSPL life,aswellasareflectionreview,theKhaoua,whichmeansfraternity.Additionally,
the SPL offers training and reflection sessions in preparation for the seasons of Christmas and
Easter.AWebSitewillbeestablishedin2014.
Overandaboveallthat,theSPLexperiencemakesitpossibleforustoaffirm,withoutanyfear,that
youngpeople
of
today
have
alife
ideal
that
it
devolves
upon
us,
as
educators,
to
support,
develop,
andhelptocometofullfruition.Accordingtocertainpeople,thenotionoflongtermcommitment
isperhapslessvisible,butyearafteryearwefindyoungpeoplewhocontinuetobelieveinlife;to
beconcernedaboutwhatishappeningintheworld;tofighttodefendthedignityofallpeople;to
standup,throughtheiractionsandtheirattitudes,tocontributetoaworldthatisbetterandthat
reflectsGospelvaluesfortoday.Thoseyoungpeoplerecognizethepotentialforteamworkanddo
nothesitate to reachout toothers.Themarvelouspartofourexperience is thatweoftentimes
meetupwithformermemberswho,basedupontheirexperiencesintheSPLandintheCampsfor
the Future, have themselves become educators (teachers, school life leaders, educational
psychologists,directorsofeducationalinstitutions,andsoforth),personswhoareinvolvedingrass
roots
movements
and/or
in
organizations
for
the
defense
of
human
rights,
the
protection
of
the
environment,andsoforth.Thoseyoungadultsactwiththeconvictionthatitisbyworkingtogether
thatwewillchangetheworld,whichisanotherwayofsayingthatunityamongusisessential.
Thus,theSPL isproudtoaffirmthatmanyoftheseyoungpeoplehavesustainedoneanother in
learningaboutmeaningfulvaluesfortodaysworld,especiallythepoor.Accompanyingsuchgroups
of youngpeoplenaturally requiresa gooddealofpatience thepatienceof theeducatorwho
plantsandtillswithconfidence.But,evenmoreso,teamleadershiprequiresaqualityofleadership,
a concern for genuine commitments, a lifewitness of committedwomen andmenwhomove
forwardwithtotalhopefulness,whoarejoyful,whobelieveinthecreativeandliberatingcapacities
ofeachperson.
Tohavestoodtallforfiftyyearsthatisthereasonforourjoy!Letusadvance!Letuslove!Letus
live!
LandreDugal,c.s.v.
MarcAntoineParent,
SPLPresident
ThePresidentandtheConcilofHait
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ViatorianYouthCongress
BartonHisgen AnthonyGugino
The ideafortheViatorianYouthCongressbegan in2009,whenmembersof
the provincial vocation team serving in parish and campus ministry
throughoutthemajorministerialsitesintheUnitedStatesdecidedthatthe
youthandyoungadultswithwhomtheyservedwouldbenefitfromagreater
understandingoftheViatoriancharismaswellasfromdirectcontactwithone
another. In 2010, the inaugural Viatorian Youth Congress took place near Chicago, bringing
together more than seventy teenage delegates and young adult leaders for a fourday
conferencetolearnabout,discuss,anddeepentheirgraspoftheCatholicfaithandhowthey
canbetterservetheViatorianmission.
ThestructureforeachcongressisprovidedbythecoreaspectsoftheViatorian
charism:namely,
liturgy,
prayer,
and
social
justice.
During
the
congress,
professedViatoriansofferreflectionsonhowtheViatoriancharismguidesus
in celebrating, deepening, and living our faith. Each presentation is
conversationalinstructureandisfollowedbysmallgroupgatherings.
Thisexchangeof ideasenriching forboth thedelegatesand theViatoriansenhancesour
understanding of the Viatorian charism as dialogue develops between Viatorians and the
delegates.
The prayer services and Masses at the four Viatorian Youth Congresses are among the man
highlights. They were all sopowerful, inpart due to the music, theprayerful tone setfrom th
beginningofeachservice,andtheopennessoftheassemblygatheredtoparticipate()Ithelpsgiv
thefirsttimedelegatesthechancetoputthewholeViatorianpuzzletogether.
Anthon
J'ai t un tudiant de l'cole SaintViateur pendant 10 ans et je n'avais aucun
connaissancedesViateursavantquejeparticipemonpremiercongrs(...)Nousattribuon
unejournechaqueaspectdelamissiondesViateurs:eucharistie,prire,justicesociale.J
peuxmaintenantdirequejenesavaispascequtaientlesViateursetencoremoinsqu'ilss
proccupentdes
gens
qui
sont
laisss
pour
compte.
Ils
sont
des
ducateurs
qui
cheminen
aveclesjeunessurleurparcoursducatifainsiqueceluideleurfoi.
Anthon
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Each congress is comprised of delegations of teenage delegates and adult delegation leaders,
youngadultleadersandyoungadultcoordinators,youngadultmusicleaders,andanassortmentof
Viatorianassociates,brothers,andpriests.Animatingthecongressisasharedresponsibility.
Youngpeople thesedays are looking for aChurch thatwill take theirhopes, fears, anddreams
seriouslyandthatwilljourneyalongsidethemastheylive,celebrate,anddeepentheirrelationship
with
Jesus
Christ.
WorkingwithyoungpeopleasksthatwebecometravellingcompanionsoftheyoungintheChurch
as they learn to hear Gods voice in their lives and to respond through prayer, service, and
commitmenttoacommunityoffaith.
My leadershipskillshave improved throughattending theViatorianYouthCongress. Ihave
metotheramazing leaderswhohavetaughtmehowtobeagood leader()Ihavegained
invaluableexperienceasamusic leaderat theViatorianYouthCongressasacantor,choir
member,andpianist.
Anthony
InwhatwaywouldyousummarizetheimpacttheViatorianYouthCongresshashadonyour
growthasaCatholic?
TheViatorianYouthCongress ismuchmore thana retreat. ItconnectsViatoriandelegates
fromacrossthecountryandallowsthemtoenterintocommunitywithoneanother,muchas
theViatorianCommunitydoes,whetherona localoraprovincial level.TheViatorianYouth
Congressisasteppingstoneforyoung leaderstocomeintoandtoexperiencetheViatorian
Community inanewwaythattheyarenotusedto.TheyemergefromtheViatorianYouth
Congress as Viatorian youth leaders equippedwith the knowledge and the confidence to
spread themission and charism of theViatorianswherever they go in life. True, genuine
friendshipsthat lastforyearsemergefromtheViatorianYouthCongress.The impactofthe
ViatorianYouthCongressgoesfurther than thewallsof theViatorian institutions that the
delegates and young adult leaders represent. The impact of theViatorian YouthCongress
stays in theheartsof those involvedfor life,justas theViatorianmissionandcharismwill
continuetoliveonstronglyforyearstocome.
Antonin
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CommunityofPreparationforLife(CPL)
IvoryCoastRegion
SergeKouakou,c.s.v.
As ineveryCatholicActionmovement,theCPLhas itshistory.TheCPLbeganwithseveralyoung
peoplewho, in thecontextof thecrisisof faithamongyoungCanadians,askedBrotherLandre
Dugal tobe their spiritualguide.Faithhadbeen relegated to thebackgroundoreven tonon
existence.ThoseyoungpeoplecametogetherregularlywithBrotherLandretoreflectonthestate
of theChurchandof society.Thuswasborn the youngpeoples club.Given thebreadthof the
situationandtheimportanceofthereflectionsaboutlife,thatclubwouldgrowandlaterbecomea
CatholicActionmovementunderthetitleofServiceofPreparationforLife,theobjectiveofwhich
wastoformChristianscommittedtopersonalandcommunitylifeprojects,aswellastoeffortsto
bringabout
anew
society.
To
attain
those
objectives,
the
SPL
and
the
CPL
must
re
read
for
today
thefaithfuldeedsdescribed intheActsoftheApostles(2:4247).Thattext isthefoundation,the
rockuponwhichthemovement isbuilt.ThefirstGeneralCouncil(19671970)wouldbecomethe
GeneralAssembly.Alsotobenotedwasthebirthofthefirstgroupofyoungwomen.Between1970
and1976,themovementgrewbothinQubecandinotherplaces.Between1984and1988,new
teamswerecreated inAfricaand inHaiti.In1994,theSPLcametolifein
the Ivory Coast and took the title of Community of Preparation for Life
(CPL).
TheSPLwould thenexpandaround theworld,especially in thoseplaces
wheretheCongregationoftheClericsofSaintViatorwas found.Wecan
notethat
Brother
Landre,
founder
of
the
SPL,
is
aCleric
of
Saint
Viator.
TheViatorians,therefore,assumedownershipofthismovement inorder
tohelpitattainitstarget:youngpeople.Itwaswithinthatframeworkthat
themovement came to birth in the Ivory Coast,more precisely in the
ScholasticateinAbidjan.ThefirstdirectorswereFatherCarlosOrdunaand
exBrotherJosephKoua(whoisnowinArgentina).BrotherJosephwoulduseacoregroupofcamp
participants,aswellasseveralViatorians.Sincethatdate,themovementhasexpandedacrossthe
IvoryCoast,withteamstobefoundinHolyFamilyParish,OurLadyofTendernessoftheGulf,Our
Ladyof the Incarnation,SaintViatorSchool inBouak, theMunicipalityofBouak,SaintCharles
Lwanga School in Ferk, the Academy of Ferk, Saint Viator School in Abidjan, aswell as the
reconstitutedteam
at
Saint
Viator
Scholasticate
in
Bonoumin.
Atthepresenttime,thereremainscarcelyfiveteams,allwishingto live intenselythepreceptsof
thePrimitiveChristianCommunity.TheIvoryCoastwouldadoptthenameCPLratherthanSPL.
Today,themovementrespondstothesameobjectivesasatthebeginning,whileatthesametime
taking intoaccount thecurrent realitiesofourworld.Themovementsobjectivesareconstantly
updatedandreenergized.
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Themovementisstructuredinthefollowingway:
- GeneralAssembly (composedof theGeneralExecutiveBoardandall themembersof theSPL/CPL.
- Regions(theIvoryCoastconstitutesaregion,composedofaRegionalExecutiveBoardandallthemembersoftheregion).
- CPLZones(composedofanofficeandallthemembersofthezone).- CPLTeam(composedofanofficeandallthemembersoftheteam).
Throughitsleadership,ateamsuggestsreflectiontopicsandcommitmentprojectsbaseduponthe
generalthemeoftheyearproposedbythemembersoftheGeneralAssemblyoftheSPLandupon
thesubthemesdevelopedby theCPLRegionof the IvoryCoast.Thiscommitmentproject is the
placewhere adults and young people learn to act uprightly and to celebrate life. All of that is
necessarily found in the activity programs conceived by each team,who also develop different
leadershipstyles(stories,games,songs,conferences).
Itsspecificmissionistoformuprightwomenandmenwhochooselife,unity,andcommitmentina
societyinwhichallwillberecognizedandwillbeabletoflourish.
Youngpeopletodayaremoretakenupwiththedifferentconcernsofdaily lifeand,attheriskof
theirownlives,arereadytodoanythingtoassuretheirlivelihood.Thatsituationattimesreflects
ignoranceaboutourbeliefsandourreligiouspractices.OnecouldsaythatGodisrelegatedtothe
background.
Workingwithyoungpeople involvesmanydemandsandconstraints.Firstandforemost,wemust
understandwhatyoungpeoplearelivinginordertohelpthemcontinuelivinguprightlives.
BrotherLandreDugal,c.s.v.,
SPL/CPL
Founder
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Workingattheirsidedemandsthatapersonbehumble,patient,young,charitable,andgenuine
NorbertZongo,
c.s.v.
Called upon to contribute to this issue of VIATOR WEB, which deals with young people andespeciallywiththeyouthmovementsinwhichViatoriansareinvolved,itisaschaplainoftheSaint
Viator School Group (SVSG) and therefore, more exactly, as the coordinator of those
movementsthatIamgoingtotrytoprovideapanoramicview.Besidestheeducationalactivities
oftheViatoriansintheclassicaleducationalsystem,BurkinaFasoViatoriansarepresentwithyoung
people
through
Catholic
Action
movements
and
other
groups.
Those
movements
exist
as
parts
of
Viatorian apostolicworks (schools andparishes).And there areothermore specificmovements
thatarefoundinotherplaces.ThosemovementsfoundinallCatholicschoolsaretheYCSandthe
YPEM. The other movements or groups found in Viatorian schools,
especiallyinBurkinaFaso,areScouting,SPL(ServiceofPreparationforLife),
BG (BibleGroup,aProtestantmovement),AMSBF (AssociationofMuslim
Students of Burkina Faso, a Muslim movement), the Green Brigade of
Friends of the Environment, and the Voice of the Viatorian (school
newspaper). I will be content with briefly presenting the first two
movements:theYCSandtheYPEM.
YCS
ThismovementiscalledtheYoungCatholicStudents.Itwascreatedsometimebetween1928and
1935.Thismovementcame forth from theCAFYP (CatholicAssociationofFrenchYoungPeople)
andtheYCW(YoungChristianWorkers)ofBelgianBishopJosephCardijn.Atthattime,aneedwas
felttobecomeinvolvedinsocietyinthenameofonesfaith.ButtheYCSdifferedinitsperception
that the timeof studieswas life itselfand that the culture received in schoolhadmadeus into
people living toomuch in the abstract. Thus, the YCW provided a sense of the real and of the
concrete.Its
mission
would
be
to
act
in
the
present
according
to
the
action
pedagogy
of
seeing,
judging,andactinginordertochangethingsinscholasticandstudentsettingsand,attimes,even
beyond that scope. Its spirituality fallswithin the social teachings of the Catholic Church. It is
structuredinteamsondifferentlevels:parochial(withramificationsinprimaryschools,secondary
schools, and universities), diocesan, national, and international. Its African headquarters are in
Nairobi, Kenya,while the international headquarters are in Paris,where a Burkina Faso priest,
FatherPaulTiga,isthedirector.Thismovementstrivestoformcitizenswhoareresponsible,critical,
and involvedaccording to itseducationalplan,which includes subjects that areasnumerous as
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theyarediverse(social,technical,andspiritual).Itsactivemembersaredenominatedasbeginners,
cadets,andseniors.Aftertheirownyearsoftraining,YCSmembersarecapableoftrainingothers,
ofworking innetworkswithothergroupsororganizations,ofevangelizing,andofparticipatingin
internationalmeetings.Aftermuchthoughtandstudy,theYCShasgonethroughanevolutionto
suchapointthat,fromoncebeinganintenselylivedChristianity,itisreproachedtodayforhaving
verylittleinterestinthingsspiritual.
YPEM
Bornneartheendofthenineteenthcentury,theYoungPeoplesEucharisticMovementappeared
inBurkinaFasointheearly1950s.Itsgoalistoformapostlesbytrying,fortodayandforthefuture,
toawakenamongitsmembersazealfortheapostolateoftheChurch,especiallyCatholicAction.
SimilarlytotheYCS,theYPEMdrew its inspirationfromtheApostolateofPrayerand fromthe
EucharisticCrusade in the contextof awar inwhich itwasnecessary topray for children, for
combatants,andforpeace.Themovementsmottois:Pray,ReceiveCommunion,MakeSacrifices,
BeAnApostle.Themovementisenlivenedwiththeconvictionthatthesoulofeveryapostolate is
theEucharist,throughwhichChristmakeshimselfpresenttomenandwomensothattheywilllive
byhim
and
make
him
to
be
known
and
loved.
YPEM
members
are
divided
up,
by
age,
into
three
sections:NewFire(primary),YoungerWitnesses(secondary),andOlderWitnesses(advanced).Since
1974,there isalsoasection foryoungpeopleattending institutionsofhigher learning.This isan
apostolicteamthatwelcomesallofthosewhowishtocontinuelivingaccordingtothespiritofthe
movementandwhomakeaChristiancommitmentinthismovementorelsewhere.Then,in1975,it
becamepossibletowelcomeparents(fathersandmothers)intotheworldwidestructure.
Thesetwomovements,whicharegenuineschoolsof life,arewellorganizedwithanappropriate
educationalplanhaving theGospelas itscommonpointof reference.Thechallengesare similar
andare referred toas: reenergizing, recruiting, faithfulness to theoriginal intuition, spirituality,
and financialautonomy, theabsenceofwhichsometimesobliges thesemovementstosubmit to
thedemandsor thevisionsof theirdonors.Nonetheless, there isa renewed interestamong the
younginScouting,whosetrainingandeducationalmethodsaredemandingandsevere.
Todaysyoungpeoplearenolongersatisfiedwithafewthings.Theyareaheadoftheirageandof
theirtime.Sincetheyareinterestedineverything,workingamongthemrequiresaformationthat
isboth solidandvaried.Even though theyareyoung, theyareoverflowingwithspiritual, social,
economic, and political questions. Thus,working alongside of them demands that a person be
humble,patient,young,charitable,andgenuine. Inaword, theyexpectthosewhoaccompany
themorwhoaretheirelderstobecoherent intheirwordsand intheirdeeds.That iswherethe
proofoftheircredibilitycomesintoplay.
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GROUPOFORIENTATIONFORLIFE(GOL)
JosCarlosGmez,ViatrorianReligious
IDENTIFICATION
The GOL is a young peoples association with human and Christian dimensions that aims at
completingtheeducationaltaskofSaintViatorSchoolinValladolid,Spain.
Thisassociationwasbornabouttwentyfiveyearsagothroughtheintermediaryofwhatwasthen
theVocationOrientationGroup(VOG).
Concretely,theassociationsgoalistohelpeachyoungpersoninhis/herpersonalgrowthaccording
toGospelvalues.
By educating them to actively participate in the Church, we also wish to train children, pre
adolescents, adolescents, and young people to have a Christian presence in
society.
This educational association is legally recognized by the CastillaLen Regional
Council.
GENERALOBJECTIVE
Toorientateeachyoungpersontodiscoverhis/herhumanandChristianvocation.
OBJECTIVESBYLEVELS
PRIMARY:discoveryofthegroupandoffriendship.
JUNIOR HIGH: relationship between faith and culture according to Jesus style and in
relationshipwiththeworldsotherstyles.Constructionofonespersonalityinreferenceto
JesusandhisGospel.
HIGHSCHOOL:discoveringandanalyzingthesocialrealityandtakingapositionwithrespect
tothatreality.ProgressiveinvolvementinthegeneralactivitiesoftheGOL,as,forexample,
theLeadershipandServiceVolunteers(LSV).
UNIVERSITY:drawingupatrainingplan:coursesformonitorsandpersonalaccompaniment.
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ACTIVITIES
Personalaccompaniment Highschoolcampaigns
Weeklymeetingofthegroup Commonmeetings
Timesofprayer Summercamp
Liturgicalcelebrations Occasionaloutings
LOGO
Thelogospeakstousofalightthatenlightensusandthat,atthesametime,isourhorizon.
ThelogospeakstousaboutaGOLgroupthatweareallconstructingamongourselves,witheach
person contributing his/her talents, personality, and gifts. Each person has an indispensable
character;withoutyou,thegroupwouldnotbethesame!
Thelogo
speaks
to
us
about
active
hope
(the
color
green)
and
about
the
light
that
enlightens
us
(thecoloryellow).
Finally,thelogoindicatesourwillingnesstoattainourobjective,toaccompany,todiscern,andthe
makegoodchoicestheorientationofoneslife.
OtherInvolvementswithYoungPeopleinSpain
TheLiturgicalGroupatSaintViatorSchoolinMadrid.OrganizesaEucharisticLiturgyforyoungpeopleonSaturdayafternoons.
AgroupofyoungadultsatSaintFelixofVillaverdeParishinMadrid.Inadditiontomeetingtoevaluatetheirlives,theyprovidedifferentservices
intheparish.
TheCRYSTALgroupatSaintViatorSchoolinVitoria.SomefortyyoungpeopleareaccompaniedintheirhumanandChristiangrowth.
AgroupofcommittedyoungpeopleatourFatimaSchoolinMadrid.Objective:todevelopasocialmethatismeaningfulandthatfacilitates.
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MovementsforYoungPeopleinJapan
GatanLabadie,c.s.v.
WemustrememberthatJapanisanonChristiancountryandthatscarcelyonepercent(1%)ofthe
population isCatholic.Schoolsrunbyreligiousmenandwomenarenot forCatholics,even ifwe
callthemCatholicMissionSchools. Inourschool,whichhas1,350students,thereareonlyabout
twenty Catholics. Our schools are therefore places for spreading the Gospel. Almost all of the
CatholicMissionSchoolsprovidereligionclassesonehourperweek.And,atourschool,thereare
manydifferentreligiousceremonies:Massestocelebratethefoundingofourschoolandforthose
whohavedied(teachers,parents,alumni,andsoforth);theexhibitsetupbytheCatholicsatour
culturalfestival;theannualconferencegivenbyaCatholicmanorwoman;ourChristmaspageants,
inwhichmorethanfivehundredstudentsparticipate,withoutcountingthe1,500intheaudience;
morningprayer
for
all
of
those
who
wish
to
participate;
weekly
prayers
and
conferences
given
by
theschoolsdirectortoallthestudents;andnumerousChristianactivitiesafterschoolonThursdays.
Those activities are directed by Viatorians (religious and
associates)andbyseveralnonChristianteachers.
This year,we are offering eighteen different extracurricular
activities after school on Thursdays.Among those, we can
mention catechism classes and charitable activities such as:
visitingseniorcitizenresidences,collectingstampstobesold
forthebenefitofthepoor,preparingBrailleeditionsofbooks
forpeople
with
vision
problems,
organizing
social
groups
for
Catholics,andsoforth.
It is said that,owing towhat isdone inCatholicMissionSchools,more than seventypercentof
thosewhobecomeCatholicdosobecauseoftheCatholicschools.Theseedissownandwecansay
that, even though they are not Christians, our graduates are imbuedwith a Christian way of
thinking.
BecauseoftheBuddhistandShintotraditions, itisverydifficulttoconverttoanotherreligion.At
thepresenttime,alargenumberofJapaneseareBuddhistinnameonly,whichisperhapsaremote
preparationforafutureharvest.
Insofarasourparish is concerned, religion classesaregiven for theyoung,but it isnoteasy to
gatherthemtogether,sincetheymustoftentimesbeginpreparingtoenterthebestschoolsand,in
ordertodoso,musttakethespecialpreparatoryclassesthataregivenonSaturdaysandSundays
inpreparatoryschools.
HereinJapan,allstudentsbelongtosportingorculturalclubs,withmeetingsandpracticesessions
takingplaceafterschool.Alltheteachersareresponsibleforoneormoreclubs.Itisthereforevery
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difficulttobringstudentstogetherforotheractivities.SaturdaysandSundaysarethedayswhen
the greatestnumberofpractices and/or games takeplace.Wehave tried toorganizeweekend
camps,buttheonlytimewhenwecanbringstudentstogetherisafter6:00P.M.onSaturdayorat
noontimeonSunday,providedthatotheractivitiesand/orgamesarenotscheduled.
Wemustthereforesaythat,whenweareinanonChristiancountry,ourmostimportanttaskisto
bebearers
of
the
Word.
For
that
reason,
we
can
say
that
we
do
try
to
hold
our
own
through
all
the
religion classes for students, Bible study classes, and preparation classes forBaptism and other
sacramentsthataregiventoadults.
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TheViatorianYouthMovement
ClaudeRosSaveda,c.s.v.
TheViatorianYouthMovementcametobirthastheresultofthepastoralinculturationeffortsofa
numberofViatorianswhowanted to respond to theworldof the young through their creative
proposals.Thebirthofthismovementisthefruitofaprocessthatwentthroughanumberofsteps.
Atthebeginning,itwasstrictlyareligiousvocationsprogrampromotedbyFatherValentnIzarde
la Fuente. Later, Father Jos Luis Iturriaga and other religious contributed to its expansion,
especially throughgroupsofcommunities foryoungmenandwomen, the identityofwhichwas
inspired by those of the Viatorians. In fact, the process was structured as a movement that
facilitatedthemorespecific formationofChristian leaders.Allof thatconstitutesthe fruitofmy
reflectionsandworkattheCatholicPontificalUniversityofChile.Mycontributionwastotakewhat
alreadyexistedandtoreshapeitintoitsnewform.
Thus,wecansaythatitwasallthereligiousintheViadelMarcommunity
whowere the true founders of thismovement andwho, during a given
periodof time, at the SanAntonio Parish School,maintained an apostolic
spiritandaconstantconcernfortheyoung.Historically,themovementwent
forthfromViadelMartotheotherViatorianapostolicworks.
Atthepresenttime,theViatorianYouthMovementhasthesamestructure
aseveryotherapostolicmovement,whichmeansthatthereisahierarchy(a
religious councilmember, general coordinators, leaders, and so forth) on
different levels according to the ages and maturity of themembers. Its
formationprocess
is
very
structured.
Thisisamovementthat,whilestrivingtoprovideChristianformationinlife
andforlife,isawayofbeingChurchthatparticipatesinthemissionofevangelization.
Thisisamovementthatraisesupnewresponsestoyoungpeoplesproblems.Bornoutoflife,itis
nourished by amystique that is incarnated in those concrete personswho generate a special
dynamicinordertoconfronttheworldwithitschallengesanditsinvitations.Themovementexists
insofarasthismystiquereenergizesthelifestyleofthosewhoareanintegralpartofit.
ThisisaViatorianpastoralmovement,inthesenseofthelifeattitudeofthosewhofeelresponsible
forannouncing
the
Lord.
This
movement
accompanies,
with
greater
attentiveness,
peoples
growth
infaith.
This isaViatorianmovementwithregardtothestyleandthespiritualitythatarepromoted.The
movementsnamereferstoSaintViatorandtoFatherLouisQuerbes,whoarethemodelsthrough
whomwedrawneartotheFatherandmakehisBeingpresentinourworld.
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Thisisamovementthatintegratesayoungpeoplesvocationprogram,sinceithelpseachofits
memberstodiscoverandtocarryoutGodsplanofloveinhis/herexistence.Everylife,afterall,
isavocation.
Thisisayoungpeoplespastoralmovementbecause:
The
way
that
young
people
live
out
their
values
characterizes
it.
Young
people
themselves
are the main characters in the movement. The movement feels that young people
constituteanenormousforceforrenewalinsociety.
ThisisamovementofhumanChristianformation,basedupontheeducationalproposalsofFatherLouisQuerbesanduponthelifeofSaintViator,thatrequiresitsmemberstomakea
commitmentintheirownsurroundings.
Ibelievethatthismovement iscontinuingwith itsprocessofgrowth.Eventhoughperiodical
evaluationsof itsorganization structurehavebeencarriedout, theprovincialdimension still
remainstobedefined.
Inanycase,theworldoftheyoungevolvessorapidlythat itrequiresthateverystructurebe
continuallyrevisedandconstantlyadaptedtopresentdayneeds.
TodaysyoungpeoplearethefutureoftheChurchthe futureofourCommunity.Theyare
ourpriority!Forthatreason,workingwiththeyoungrequiresthatwebefaithfultotheLord,
foritistheLordwhomyoungpeopleneedtoencounter.
Atthepresenttime,theViatorianYouthMovementispresentinallofourapostolicworksand
itsleadersareactivelyinvolvedinourpastoralwork.
For a number of us, the Viatorian YouthMovement is the intermediary throughwhichwe
ourselvesdiscoveredanddeepenedourvocation.
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MenandWomenPromotingChangeYoungPeople:SubjectsandActors
NoemDepazPrezandKarenLezmaQuincho
Near theendof the1990s,byvirtueofacomprehensiveplanof theViatorians inPeru,several
changes came about in our type of presence among young people.We wished to enrich our
pastoralactioninthatsegmentofthepopulation,bothinurbansettingsaswellasinthesectorsof
theAndesandtheAmazon.
ThosechangesreflectadebatethatarosewithintheCommunitywithrespecttotheconcernfor
andthepastoralattentivenesstobepaidtoyoungpeople.SincethearrivalofthefirstViatorians
inPeru,apreferenceforworkingwiththeyounghadalwaysbeenexplicit.Thatpreferenceoffered
processesforaccompanimentonthepersonal,collective,andorganizationallevels.Itscontribution
toeducational
and
community
actions
made
it
possible
to
attain
remarkable
levels
of
integral
development and topromote averyactive civic life.Those actions tookplace throughparishes,
schools,andtheSaintViatorCentersinColliqueandYungay.Thesamecanbesaidaboutpursuinga
pastoraltraditionthatsoughttoactivelyincarnateintheyoungthe
centralmessageofJesusofNazareth:asocietyofgreatersolidarity,
justice,andequalityispossibleanditistheKingdomofGod!That
questwascarriedoutwithavisionoftheChurchcharacterizedby
anoptionforthepoorandindialoguewithtodayssociety.
PresenceintheWorldoftheYoung
Youngerpeople
constitute
alarge
majority
in
Comas
and,
even
more so, inCollique, in allof the space, in fact,occupiedby the
ParishofChrist,SonofGod.Itisestablishedthatsevenpersonsoutoftenarelessthanthirtyyears
old.Forthatreason, it is importanttoknowhowtheyoungpeople live.Ascientificstudycarried
outbytheSaintViatorCenterinColliquein2010concerningtherealityoftheyoungindicatedthat
manyoftheneedsoftheyoungboysandgirlsarenotbeingmet.Consequently,itisfundamental
to promote the inclusion and the participation of the young as being both subjects and actors
withinsociety.
Weareconvincedthateducationandcommunicationsarethefundamentaltoolsthatcontributeto
theintegralformationofpersons,toculturalcreation,andtothedevelopmentofthefamilyandof
thecommunity
through
apastoral
program
that
is
inculturated
in
time
and
in
space.
Our
action
is
foundeduponthemissionofannouncingJesusChristandhisGospelandofraisingupcommunities
wherefaith is lived, deepened, and celebrated. Thus, it is permitted to say that young people,
adolescents,andchildrenarenotonlythefutureoftheworld,butalsothepresentoftheworld.In
the same way, we try to bring about improvements in their quality of life by promoting a
communitythatiseducative,inclusive,andintegratedintosocietyinordertoconfrontadversities,
havingChristpresentintheirdailylives:theenliveningandrenewingpresenceoftheChurchinthe
world.
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