The song, “They say God has dreams. 8 billion dreams. They say you are one of them. Look how beautiful a glimpse you are of Him…” was played as the hymn of the 40th El Espino Youth Mission in which 330 young people from many of our communities in Spain participated with the intention of finding out what God’s dream is for them. The meeting was held from July 20 to July 27 at the El Espino Monastery.
Under the motto “Espino XL-dream big,” this year’s Youth Mission had a strong festive accent, because this was occasion to thank so many Redemptorist missionaries who since 1983 (first Youth Mission) have worked tirelessly with young people with the wise intuition that the young evangelize the young.
On the other hand, since January 25, 2024, the Redemptorist missionaries of the former provinces of Lisbon, Madrid, Paris, Rome and Naples have united to form a new province called Europe South, which is why this year’s El Espino had a good international presence: two Vietnamese confreres stationed in Paris, and some small representations of RYVM from the areas of Rome and Naples that greatly enriched the meeting.
Fr. Gennaro Sorrentino, the provincial superior, accompanied us throughout the week and celebrated with us the Solemnity of the Most Holy Redeemer in which he instituted the ministries of lector and acolyte to the Redemptorist student Daniel Torrubia.
The content of the Youth Mission was structured around the pillars of the Alphonsian-Redemptorist spirituality: the Redemption, the (Crib) manger-incarnation, the cross, the Eucharist and Mary; it was an opportunity for our young people to know, first hand, the Redemptorist charism of which they are also part and one of the main recipients.
We cannot conclude this brief review without sharing our most sincere thanks to those who made it possible for the Youth Mission to go ahead: the team of young missionaries who offered the best of their time, desire, and enthusiasm to share their experience of Christ with many young people entrusted to their care. They are an authentic witness of a young Church that is committed to evangelization and are a gift to the Congregation.
Likewise, the large group of lay people who helped out in the choir, kitchen, shopping, decoration, reception, and infirmary… to all of them, a big THANK YOU for sharing the mission and making the Gospel more credible.
Fr. Carlos A. Diego Gutiérrez, CSsR.
RYVM
