At the parish of Saints Cosmas and Damian, located in Burgos, Spain, a youth gathering called Life Teen is held every Friday evening. Two FMM Sisters volunteer in this invaluable space and, though involved in several apostolic activities, they consider this encounter with the youth to be one of their most cherished moments. It is a special time: the young people share their faith, experience the presence of God in their lives, and grow together.
Every Friday, the parish youth gather for catechesis and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by dinner, where they freely talk about life and faith. Youth ministry is always a path that requires patience and comes with challenges. Young people grow up in different contexts and environments, and their interests and ways of thinking are increasingly complex. In this reality, conveying the meaning and value of faith often feels like an insurmountable wall.
The young people who participate in Life Teen bring with them their stories, worries, and questions. Yet, just by witnessing those moments of transformation—when we see how their faith deepens through catechesis and prayer—we feel immense gratitude and emotion.
Life Teen is not simply a catechism class. It is a living community where young people sincerely share their lives and nurture their faith together. Sometimes, it is not only the parish youth who take part, but also young people and their group leaders from nearby parishes, allowing them to exchange experiences across a wider age range.
During Eucharistic Adoration, we see the youth sitting in silence, remaining with the Lord, and we can sense the longing in their hearts for Him. After prayer, the dinner prepared by the Sisters is not merely a moment to satisfy physical hunger, but a valuable bridge that connects their hearts. Around this small table, the young people build deeper relationships and naturally experience the meaning and value of community. Each week, in preparing for this time, we feel strongly that we are giving them more than just a meal. We recognize that within this small space lies community life and the practice of love.
Through youth ministry, we want to live this Jubilee Year with renewed hope in our vocation. Inspired by love for the Virgin Mary and the Franciscan spirit of humility and service, we walk together in this mission of transmitting to young people the true value of faith and love.
We also learn that this mission is about accompanying young people so that faith leads to concrete changes in their lives, and that hope and love are made manifest in real, tangible ways. Especially in these times when many youth are searching for their path amid confusion and uncertainty, it is vital to help them find in faith a source of comfort, strength, and hope.
We sincerely hope that our small presence may be for them a ray of light and consolation.
In this Jubilee Year, we recognize even more the importance of youth ministry, and we commit ourselves to live the spirit of our Institute so that we may be beacons of hope for the young. We are deeply grateful to the FMM Sisters who came before us, who, with their love and dedication, paved the way for us to be here today.
Through this opportunity we are living, we are reminded once again that every moment with young people is filled with God’s grace and love, and we sincerely pray that the small seed of love we offer them will bring lasting transformation in their lives.
Mina OH Justina, fmm
Stella Maris Region
