Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Quito (Agenzia Fides) – The group “Jovenes sin Fronteras” (Youth Without Borders) of Ecuador celebrated its 30th anniversary of missionary service in the country on February 4, according to a report sent to Agenzia Fides from Osvaldo Fierro Teran, Secretary General of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Ecuador.
“Since February 4, 1979, thousands of youth have formed a part of Youth Without Borders,” Osvaldo said. “All of them had an experience of life that marked their lives and cultivated in them a personal relationship with the Living Christ, opening their mind and heart to the urgency of the mission and they were set on fire with missionary enthusiasm. They began cultivating solidarity and a fraternal spirit with all the peoples and nations of the earth. They now have a 'missionary soul' and a 'global heart.'”
Many of these young people are now professionals, parents, government employees, community leaders, and others entered the religious life and are members of missionary congregations. Some of them are priests who have been on missions in Africa, Europe, and in various parts of Latin America. Right now, there are six young people who have shown their desire to “go on missions”and “wherever they are sent” once they finish college. This is a great sign of hope for the Church.
The formation process during this time has also been very important in giving consistence and perennial spirit to Youth Without Borders. The missionary experiences in the times of Holy Week and Christmas and during summer vacations have been a key in this process of faith formation and in forming the “missionary identification” of each young person. There are also national conventions every November, for evaluation and planning.
Youth Without Borders has a national coordination team, formed by the youth themselves, with the assistance of the National Secretary of Youth from the Pontifical Mission Societies. In each one of the ecclesiastical jurisdictions, there is also a local coordination team and assistant from the Diocesan PMS, and/or representative from the Office.
“The goal of Youth Without Borders is to offer the youth an integral Christian and human formation, so they can respond to Jesus' call to 'go out to all the world and tell the Good News' and offer the Church in Ecuador missionary animation so as to spread awareness of the fact that 'all humanity is God's family.' In order to reach this goal, we start with the personal encounter with Christ and a serious commitment as Christians and missionaries, in order to support the Church in her missionary activity, starting in our own lives, families, and parishes. Later, as a manifestation of our missionary path, we go out beyond our borders.”
It is important to recognize that from the beginning until now, missionary animation has been carried out by the youth and has led to a missionary awareness in the various ecclesial environments, especially among the younger generations in the country. “We give thanks to the Living God for all His blessings over the course of these 30 years of youth missionary service,” Osvaldo Fierro concluded. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 9/2/2008)
