By: Marisol Becerra
Youth Ministry Office Assistant

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Spirit Team Meeting

On January 6th, The administrative team of SYLC got together to reflect, plan and organize the retreats for spirit team leaders. These retreats will be taking place at St. Joseph Retreat House in Rosemead from February 18th – 20th and April 1st to the 3rd.

Province Leadership Meeting 

On January 10th, there was a Province leadership meeting. The meeting began with a discussion of the Province Organic Plan Process, which led to a presentation by Sebastian Serrano, who analyzed the data collected around the Province. He presented how the data was collected and the evidence of main themes that emerged from that data. The second presentation that took place was by Christina Lamas, who is the executive director of NFCYM. Her presentation was focused on the current state of religion and young people through the lens of living through a pandemic. There was also a time to debrief, brainstorm, and discuss moving the Province forward. 

CYM Meeting

On January 11th, there was a coordinators of youth ministry meeting to discuss preparations that are currently taking place for SYLC 2022. There was also a discussion about upcoming events such as RE Congress and NCYC West Coast. All the CYM’s also shared how they were celebrating the week of St. John Bosco’s feast day at their sites. 

Parish Commission Meeting

On January 14th, Fr. Mel, Provincial, Fr. Gustavo Ramirez, and Fr. Fabian, Youth Ministry Delegate gathered together to discuss and reorganize the commission of parishes in the process and lay down the path that it will follow until the next school year.

RE Congress Meeting

On January 18th, there was a congress meeting to discuss the overall design of the booth as well as to decide on new shirt designs and ideas for the resource we will be providing. This year RE Congress will be in person for the first time in two years, we are excited to be participating again! 

NCYC Meeting with Teens

On January 19th, Fr. Fabian Cardenas, Ms. Gina Robles, Mr. Juan Carlos Montenegro, and many young people from our Salesian places got together to attend an NCYC listening session led by Sr. Sydney Moss, FMA. The meeting was framed in the organization of NCYC Long Beach 2022. The objective was to receive feedback from the young people on the topics that are proposed for the workshops that will take place during the conference. 

SUO-SUE Meeting

On January 19th, the staff of both Youth Ministry offices in the U.S. met to share initiatives and dreams, get to know each other, and find ways to collaborate with one another to strengthen our Salesian presence in the nation.  

RASS

On January 21st, Fr. Fabian attended the first gathering out of ten, of the program formation for those working at Salesian Social Works in the region of Interamerica. During these meetings, all the participants will receive updated formation about the RASS institution, its impact on the region, countries, and institutions it has contact with, and how to create strategic plans that can strengthen our Salesian works and benefit the young people we are assisting in these places. 

Provincial Council Meeting

From January 26th through January 27th, the monthly session of the Provincial Council took place. The delegate of the Youth Ministry submitted a report where different topics were discussed. Among them the process of the POP and the SEPP, the commission work of the sector in the YM Department, SYLC and Spirit Team 2022, the participation of the Province in national events like Religious Ed Congress and NCYC Long Beach, Summer Camp 2022, and the summer assignments.