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Training meeting of the UCESM_VAN network

Thinking together about affectivity and gender in pastoral care

 

On 19 March, the UCESM Vocations Apostolate Network (UCESM_VAN) organised a training meeting on ‘Sexuality and gender in our youth and vocational ministry’. The topic had been one of the most requested by the ‘National Referents’ of Pastoral Care, who have been meeting periodically since May 2021 when this European network began to be formed by members of the Conferences of Major Superiors of Europe. On this occasion, the meeting brought together more than 150 participants, linked to some 20 Conferences in Europe and a few other countries.

 

The guest lecturer was Dr Marta Rodríguez, a Spanish consecrated woman, professor in Rome and in Madrid, and author of the book ‘Gender, Youth and the Church: Putting the Pieces Together’ (2024). Her presentation was based on Christian anthropology in dialogue with our culture. She began by outlining some features of the context of ‘change of era’ that we are experiencing in our culture, in young people and in the Church, which has repercussions on the topic we are dealing with. There is a strong polarisation on these issues: on the one hand, there is sometimes prejudice and rejection of people, which is not evangelical; on the other hand, there are sometimes radical initiatives that are not always linked to the teachings of the Church. Taking as a reference what was discussed at the Synod on Young People (2018), young people ask the Church for ‘a clear, human and empathetic word’ on these issues, including controversial ones (Final Document No. 39). This whole context represents a great challenge for the Church, called to develop its role as mother and teacher: a mother who welcomes all people, in any situation, and accompanies them in all circumstances, at the pace of the person being accompanied; and a teacher who proposes a humane and humanising way of living sexuality and gender, based on the truth expressed in Christian anthropology, without hiding it, but proposing it in the best possible way. A perspective that can help us walk in communion and synodality, also in these matters.

After the conference, the participants were divided into different language groups to share an interesting idea from what they had heard, as well as a question they would like to ask the speaker. These ideas and questions were then shared.

Before receiving the answers, while the speaker had time to articulate them, they listened to the presentation of two experiences in this field: an affective-sexual education project in schools, developed by the Salesians in Spain; and the experience of a diocesan reflection team on ‘Church, young people and LGBT’, from the Diocese of Adria-Rovigo (Italy), in which a group of consecrated women participates.

The formation meeting ended with the speaker’s answers to the questions raised by the working groups. A plan for the Jubilee of young people was then presented, consisting of a few meetings between young people and consecrated persons in Rome, with music, conversation, prayer and testimonies.

The evaluation by the participants was very positive, appreciating the opportunity to discuss these issues that play an important role in our youth and vocational ministry.

The content of this formation meeting can be viewed at the following links: