First meeting of young Montfort Missionaries in Europe

ROME, Italy - On October 14, 2024, the Young Montfort Missionaries working in Europe (JME) held their first zoom-meeting. As recommended by the General Chapter 2023 in the section “Transmission of the Charism,” this meeting, led by the General Administration, aims to promote mutual support among young missionaries from the same continent, sharing on the transmission of the charism to the youth and “daring” common initiatives.

After an introductory prayer and a video message from the Superior General, the group composed of 21 confreres from the first 10 years of priestly ordination experienced a time of self-introduction and mutual knowledge (some were seeing each other for the first time). It is a very diverse group: 6 of them were born in Europe, 6 in Asia, 8 in Africa-Madagascar and one in the Caribbean. Other missionaries are expected to arrive in the coming months, particularly in France, and others are preparing for ordination, particularly in Italy, Poland and Croatia. The group is therefore expected to grow in the coming years. Hence the importance of knowing each other, establishing contacts and reflecting together on the mission in Europe, which presents a wide variety of contexts, but also opportunities to be seized together, particularly towards the world of youth.

The participants formulated proposals that encourage mutual support, such as gatherings in places that have the capacity, such as the house in Poland or France. The sharing on how to transmit the Montfortian charism to young people was fascinating, with attitudes on which everyone agrees such as the courage to approach young people and listen to them. Among the experiences considered most effective, we can mention the following:

Ø Walks or pilgrimages to Marian shrines.

Ø Charitable experiences

Ø Missionary experiences on continents or situations of poverty.

Ø Music – theatre – art experiences.

Ø The “Youth Festival in Medjugorje” or the “Montfortian Pilgrimage to Lourdes”.

Finally, a possible joint initiative proposed by the Province of Italy was discussed, namely the JUBILEE OF MONTFORTIAN YOUTH in Rome, from 28 to 3 August 2025.

The final evaluation made by the participants highlighted that as a first step, this zoom meeting was appreciated and that it is recommended to continue it. Many hopes that the next meetings will be an opportunity to exchange on Montfortian spirituality. The members of the three entities of Northern Europe have this tradition of meeting regularly and find it useful to invite someone to reflect on the mission in a secularized context. The initiative of the meetings of the Young Montfortians of Europe is also open to other interested confreres. The proposed date for the next meeting is 20 October 2025.