ANNIVERSARY AND NATIONAL ENCOUNTER OF VMY GUATEMALA, XELA 2024
The National Encounter and celebration of the 153rd anniversary of the presence of Vincentian Marian Youth in Guatemala took place from August 16 to 18. The encounter was held at the Cursillo House in the department of Quetzaltenango, with the participation of 48 young people from the departments of Chiquimula, the capital city, and Quetzaltenango.
Under the motto “I am not alone before the world, VMY is with me,” the youth had the opportunity to have different spaces in which they could live together and share the joy of being VMY. This emphasized that in this journey, we are not alone; we have the presence of God, of our Mother, the Virgin Mary, and of that helping hand that we find within the Association, manifested through community members.
During the afternoon of August 16, the participants of the meeting had a guided tour through the historic streets and avenues of Quetzaltenango, accompanied by the famous song Luna Gardenia de Plata. After the tour, a dinner was held at Casa Doña Pancha, a place that houses the legacy of 5 generations of chocolate makers. A tour showed the various types and processes of cocoa; after this, Pedro Pisquiy, National President of VMY Guatemala, officially welcomed the meeting.
On August 17, the activities began with icebreaker activities, and the first theme was “Strength in God before my emotions,” which emphasized the importance of mental health and emotional intelligence. After that, the second theme sought to give rise to the apostolate that would take place in the afternoon at the Hogar de Ancianos Varones la Misericordia. There, the young people had the opportunity to perform an apostolate, which was a totally different experience for some since they had the joy of sharing with them and taking them a present. In the afternoon, we prayed the Holy Rosary in the Transfiguration Church, accompanied by a small snack.
Upon returning from the apostolate, a Holy Hour was held, in which a reflection on the motto was shared and offered a moment of intimacy in which the young people could have a space to share with the Blessed Sacrament. After the Eucharistic adoration and to close the day, the cultural night was held, a space in which each region represented something typical of the local culture. Quetzaltenango, the main venue, performed elaborate dances and the entrance of the Virgin of the Rosary, a very important custom in the host city. Following this, the Capital City offered the staging of the legend of “Los Penitentes de la Recolección.” To close the night and the day, Chiquimula delighted those present with a dance typical of their region, ending the moment with refreshments and a present from the headquarters of the meeting.
On August 18, the celebration began in the morning with a festive atmosphere. The Eucharist was shared, and then the theme “What am I now and what do I aspire to give in the future?” focused on motivating young people to follow their dreams and make them part of VMY. The celebration concluded with two piñatas and the sharing of a cake with the symbols of the Association. After this, the youth shared lunch and returned to their departments with the joy of being VMY.
VMY Guatemala
