It was nimated by the Canossian Youth Ministry Team, accompanied by Sisters, lay people and teachers from our communities in Argentina-Paraguay, more than 250 adolescents responded to the invitation to GROW MORE, GIVE MORE AND RISK MORE in an experience of joy, reflection, communion and shared service and change the “algorithm of life” by letting themselves be ignited by the Love of God and thus “burn to set fire” according to the desire of St. Magdalene.
Received by the community of Punta Alta, loving friends of St. Magdalene and all her charismatic family, the visitors recognized themselves “at home” and “blessed” by the Love of God, “privileged” to be the object of attention, smiles, warm words that lit up their lives from the first moment.
At the opening part of the meeting captured the light and strength of a family that continues to grow in the footsteps of St. Magdalene.
The moments of formation on Saturday morning came to touch the deeper core of the young people and adults, the animators and coordinators who accompanied them, that helps everyone to review their options.
Brayan Fernández from Punta Alta. Member of the Canossian Youth Ministry team shares:
“This weekend we experienced an encounter in which we had the opportunity to review our history and “change the algorithm” of our lives. We were able to identify those patterns that, instead of lighting us up and turning us on, kept us turned off, and made us slaves of a world that tries to manipulate us.
However, this meeting allowed me to see a courageous bet: a group of around 250 young people who say “yes”, who want to transform reality, who wish to be the echo of a voice that speaks of hope in the midst of a world that insists that “all is lost”, that “things are going bad”.
God invites us to be protagonists of our lives, our history, our experiences and our environment. Jesus calls us to ignite ourselves and, from that flame, to illuminate other lives.
I am deeply grateful to God for making me a witness to these great things… We are witnesses of a hope that does not come from us, but from a God who loves us and who wants to see us happy, especially us young people… We have to tell our story, talk about what happens to us and what we have seen and heard.
Listening to the radical testimonies of recovery from addictions aroused in many the gratitude towards those who take care of them and give them good advice and encouraged them to RISE ONCE MORE in the closeness to families and children in that afternoon activity; for many of the adolescents this OUTREACH to others has helped them discover that many need others and wait for the living God in those who come to bring them this Good News: He loves them.
Zamira Alegre shared with us:
“From MÁS I was brought to Luis Beltrán the good moments that I shared with my teammates and with others, because I feel that it helped us to strengthen our bonds, to get to know each other better, to simply respect the fact that we are different and that, even if we don’t all have the same way of expressing ourselves, to think or feel the same way, we can have a healthy bonding, respecting and helping each other as Jesus does, regardless of differences.
I also brought with me everything we have learned, everything we have heard and seen in conversations and missions, which helps us to value and reflect on how lucky we are to be part of this institution, which teaches us to follow Jesus and to always feel loved.”
Jasmìn Antoff of Luis Beltràn shared with us:
“From MÁS 2024 I brought Beltràn:
- new energies
- beautiful memories and shared moments.
- A unique and incomparable experience that I wish to share again.
- joy and beautiful reflections to share with my family and friends.”
Many others felt surrounded by the Canossian charism, especially in those who testified how they lived it: “I learned to serve in the Canossian school, I learned that we are all important to God and that whoever receives more, has to give more and that this service has joy as its characteristic”
Aquiles shared with us:
“From MÁS I got from Luis Beltrán a very beautiful experience, I lived nice moments with my companions and I met very good people. I understood how important it is to enjoy life with people who are kind to us and doing good; that it is always about more: being more, giving more and risking more.”
We thank God for all the echoes of his love in the hearts of young people, in their families, in our Canossian family.
