Building Bridges, Following the Mission

Pedro Emilio Ramirez Ramos, pmé

2nd International Youth Encounter in Cochabamba

Warm greetings filled with hope from Cochabamba, Bolivia!
With great joy, we share with you that the 2nd International Youth Encounter for the Mission is now underway. This gathering, convened by the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (MIC) and the Quebec Foreign Mission Society (QFMS), brings together participants from various countries. Our societies, born from the same missionary charism in Quebec, Canada, share the call to bring the Gospel to all peoples.

We are gathering for the second time (the first encounter took place in October 2023) with a twofold commitment: to animate the life of our local Churches and of the Church that welcomes us in Cochabamba, and to strengthen the ad gentes missionary vocation in the hearts of young people.

A first week of integration and encounter

We have concluded the week of “Integration,” dedicated to immersing ourselves in the sociocultural, political, and missionary reality of our oases and, above all, of Bolivia, and to building community. This time included:

  • An encounter with migrants from rural areas, mainly from Quechua and Aymara communities, sharing their stories and hopes.
  • A visit to pastoral projects of the local Church, such as the rural parish of Itapaya.
  • Learning about missionary initiatives focused on preventing violence against children and adolescents, and on promoting integral ecology, justice, and peace.
  • A pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Urcupiña, Patroness of the Archdiocese, to entrust the fruits of this encounter to Mary.

We invite you to be part of this journey! This is a time of grace, shared discipleship, and the building of fraternal bridges for all participants, the MIC, and the QFMS. We invite you to:

  • Follow this experience on our social media.
  • Pray with us and for us, so that the Holy Spirit may strengthen our witness.
May the missionary Christ, the same who walked with the disciples on the road to Emmaus, accompany us, and may his Spirit impel us to a joyful and generous service.