The Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC) Youth Commission is considering the establishment of a Regional Youth Secretariat. This was one of the issues discussed at their March 1-2 meeting in St Lucia. Commission member Sr Velorna Gervais, SSM, reports

From March 1 to 2 the AEC Youth Commission, chaired by Archbishop Robert Rivas, met at the John Paul II Seminary, Marisule. The meeting was well attended with members coming from Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, St Vincent and Saint Lucia. The representatives from Barbados and Dominica were unavoidably absent.

AEC Youth Assembly 2009

Most of Saturday and part of Sunday was spent in planning for the AEC Youth Assembly in 2009. The dates and place for the next Assembly have been proposed to the bishops of the AEC who will be meeting in Rome this month. The Commission awaits approval from the Bishops’ meeting before publishing the data on the Assembly.

The youth coordinators, who were represented at the meeting at Marisule, expressed the expectation and desire of young people from all our (arch)dioceses for a Caribbean Youth Assembly. The Youth Assembly provides our Catholic young people with an opportunity to celebrate their faith, and interact with other young people from across the region.

Mission experience

Over the past three years, young adults of the AEC have been provided with an opportunity for experiencing mission in Hosororo, in the interior of Guyana, and in St Vincent. The experience has proved to be very positive and to date 25 young adults have been trained as well as some members of the Commission. 

In 2006 many other youth coordinators of the AEC benefited from a module that dealt with the theology and practical steps for Mission. Fourteen young adults, as well as two Commission members and a priest have experience mission in Guyana and St Vincent. We have had both long term (one year), and short term (three weeks-three months) missionary experiences.

The AEC Youth Commission is very grateful to Bishop Francis Alleyne, OSB of the Diocese of Georgetown, Guyana for his support of the Mission Project.

World Youth Day 2008

One of the great events for youth from all over the world for 2008 will be World Youth Day (WYD) in Sydney, Australia. From July 10 - 14, pilgrims will spend time in dioceses in various parts of Australia.

From July 15 - 20, young people will gather in Sydney where they will join with Pope Benedict XVI for the actual events of WYD. We expect over 300 young people from our Bishops’ Conference to travel to Sydney for WYD 2008.

The theme is: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses” (Acts1:8). The Commission is deeply grateful to all the youth coordinators in mobilising the youth of the region to participate in this great world event with Pope Benedict XVI.

World Youth Day has contributed on a large scale to the formation and enrichment of the faith of our young people.

Secretariat for youth ministry

The Commission discussed the establishment of a Regional Secretariat for youth ministry in the AEC. It is hoped that this will help to facilitate the coordination of youth ministry regionally.

It was a weekend of hard work that the Commission members hope will bear fruit in vibrant youth ministry in the AEC.