In Chile, Viatorians are demonstrating their commitment to young people, through a program called, Juventudes Viatorianas, or the JUVI Movement.
Every Viatorian school in Chile hosts the program. Each stage has its weekly meetings, camps and weekend retreats. At the age of 16, there are two important experiences: For five days in winter and 10 days in summer, young people deepen the human, Christian and Viatorian dimension through interactive camps.
“It is a joy for the Province to know that it is able to gather young people, especially in the turbulent times experienced by our Chilean church,” says Fr. Marcelo Lamas, CSV, Provincial. “We praise God for this grace that we receive as a gift of his love, that we must take care of and make bear fruit.”
The most recent camp took place in July in Santiago and drew 143 students from six Viatorian schools. They were accompanied by 59 leaders and 14 adults.
A pair of student testimonials demonstrate its success:
“Days before the camp I was afraid to leave my comfort zone and share with other people,” wrote Fernanda Rubilar, a student at St. Viator College in Macul. “But once I gave myself the opportunity to share with each one of the people who formed my JUVI community, my faith grew thanks to the prayers and liturgies we celebrated.”
Another student, Claudia Soza, who attends San Viator de Puente Alto Chapel, described the experience as “beautiful.”
“I expected to open myself up more to the experience of living my faith and having a closer encounter with God,” Claudia wrote, “but what I learned was that experiences in faith are never the same. I discovered that there was no need to accelerate the personal encounters with God because it always happens at the right time — and sometimes at an unexpected time.”