On 16 June 2025, we held an online training session on one of the issues of the moment: synodality. It was one of the topics that the National Youth and Vocational Ministry Leaders had requested at one of their assemblies: how to ‘walk together’ in our pastoral work with young people and among the different realities of the Church. This is a challenge today and always has been. A total of 111 people registered for the event, linked to 18 Conferences of Major Superiors in Europe, some to follow it live and others to watch it later.
After an opening prayer, the main reflection of the meeting was given by Dom Gjergj Meta, Bishop of Rrëshen and President of the Bishops’ Conference of Albania, member of the Youth Commission of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) and member of the Synodal Assemblies of 2023 and 2024. In his words, he emphasised the importance of the process of ‘synodality’, which aims to be more than just a trend. It is the way of being Church, walking together for the mission. A ‘being together’ that is not self-referential, but a dialogue to go forth on mission. He warned us of three temptations: protagonism, loneliness and dispersion-fragmentation. The latter implies living as ‘islands’, without taking into account the rest of the realities of the Church, believing ourselves to be the centre of the world. In the face of this, we must remember that we are charisms and ministries for the mission. He also highlighted a method for synodality, which is also its content: conversation in the Spirit. ‘Synodal conversion’ is a ‘relational conversion’: giving voice and offering a listening ear, creating networks of healthy friendship. And he recounted the experience of a pilgrimage made between various charisms.
Next, we had some time in language groups (some in Italian and others in English) to highlight ideas, ask questions, and share good practices of walking together in our pastoral ministry.
After this, we heard about two ‘good practices’ of ‘synodality in our youth and vocational ministry.’ The first is being carried out in the Netherlands and was presented by Sr. Catharina Al OP. The name of the project is “Hoor je Mij?” [Can you hear me?] and consists of a series of ‘open evenings’ of encounter between religious women and young people who are searching for a vocation. These evenings take place approximately once a month, each time in a different monastery, and include a time of dialogue and a visit to the monastery, as well as prayer and a shared dinner with the community. The shared work is carried out in the planning and evaluation of the project, as well as in advertising through flyers and social media.
The second good practice took place in Spain and was a ‘National Vocations Congress’ held in February 2025 at the ‘Madrid Arena’, presented by Fr. Luis Manuel Romero from the organising team. The event brought together some 3,000 people from dioceses, institutions of consecrated life and ecclesial movements from all over the country. The starting point was the need to generate a ‘vocational culture’ that leads to living life as a vocation – a response to a call – and that can help young people discover what God wants for each one (from the laity and marriage to consecrated life or ordained ministry). This Congress is part of the work of the ‘National Vocational Pastoral Service’ initiated in 2022 by the Spanish Bishops’ Conference, in which the Spanish Conference of Religious actively collaborates. As a result of the Congress, it is hoped that a ‘Vocational Pastoral Service’ will be created in each diocese, bringing together all forms of life in the Church and promoting a culture and vocational projects in each local church.
While listening to these good practices, the speaker was able to think of answers to the questions raised by the groups, which he then shared. We appreciate his reflections and motivation to walk together in our pastoral ministry, in each place.
The last few minutes of the meeting were spent sharing the plan to hold some meetings between young people and consecrated persons as part of the Jubilee for Young People that will take place this summer in Rome. Finally, there will be two meetings held simultaneously, one in a Franciscan Basilica (Laterano) and the other in a Salesian Basilica (Termini), on the afternoon of Thursday 31 July.
With a final prayer, we concluded this meeting, grateful for what we had received in the reflection and in the good practices shared, and encouraged to continue ‘walking together’ in the youth and vocational ministry that we carry out in each place.
The content of this formation meeting can be viewed at the following links:
- Original audio (English and Italian): https://youtu.be/6d7KsXteTgU
- Audio in English: https://youtu.be/IwXgbOIMk68
- Audio in Italian: https://youtu.be/TCZ-HgwJAhg