Following the success of the REM the week earlier, the European YCW Chaplaincies gathered for formation training in Porto, Portugal.
The aim of the formation training program is to provide the YCW National movement chaplains and adult companions in Europe with the necessary knowledge and skills which will enable them to carry out the following:
• Help young people create and raise awareness on the future of work after “Laudato Si”, as well as guide them in gaining a deeper understanding of the work realities within their region;
• Help the young people build strategies in spreading the YCW movement in Europe;
• Help the young leaders in building regional awareness and solidarity among young workers leading to young leaders taking the initiative of serving, educating and representing their fellow young workers, friends and family;
• Share and exchange experiences, testimonies and challenges that each chaplain and adult companion is facing in the course of accompanying the young people;
• Reflect on their role of training young workers to be leaders in their own life and the life of others;
• Linked “Laudato Si” and the Synod 2018 to the current realities of chaplaincy;
• Explore together with other chaplains on how to train young workers to be leaders in their own life and the life of others through the appreciation of the applicability and beauty of the reflection and action methodology of See-Judge-Act as proposed by the YCW movement;
• Plan steps on how to Invite and train other chaplains and adult companions thereby strengthening the national work of the YCW.
National Chaplain of the YCW in England and Wales, Mgr. John Marsland, who attended the Conference said: “This was a fantastic opportunity to come together, share and learn from each other. Joseph Cardijn always believed in the importance of adult companions and chaplains being there to support the young workers and we continue that tradition to this day. I look forward to using the fruits of this gathering across England and Wales and training up even more adult companions.”
