From 3 to 5 May, a meeting of Youth Ministry leaders from the Europe-Africa Conference (CEA) took place in Madrid (Iberian Province). Those present included: Valentinus Ritan and Marie (France), Rémi Ebala (Africa), Wojtek (Poland), Ultan (Ireland), Pablo Bernal (Iberian), Pedro Gordillo (Provincial of the Iberian Province and CEA coordinator) and Jean Blaise Mwanda from the General Government. Among the topics discussed: presentations on the realities of youth ministry in each major community, what young people can receive from us, what young people can teach us, shared determination, the conviction of the 40th General Chapter, what we can do together, and a framework for collaboration. Pablo Bernal sscc acted as moderator.
Some concrete proposals for the major superiors of the CEA:
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Erasmus Youth Programme: sharing the experiences of young people from Europe (France, Spain, Poland) in the summer of 2027 in Poland (to mark the 100th anniversary of the house in Polanica Zdrój),
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Open Path: inviting young people from the CEA on a pilgrimage along the Way of St James. Those from Africa can do so at the same time in the DRC and Mozambique, in 2028.
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Youth gathering in Picpus and Poitiers on SSCC spirituality, in 2029.
The major superiors of the CEA will make a decision on the proposals put forward, being realistic and taking the financial aspect into account.
05/06/2026