The Calasanctian Youth Day was held in Peru from October 11 to 14. From the first day of the meeting the joy was contagious to each of the Calasanctian youth. It was an experience of meeting between the two works where the Piarists are present: Fe y Alegría 41 Calasanz (first work which was reached 6 years ago) and Fe y Alegría 5 Calasanz (work which was reached in the middle of the pandemic, in 2020).
The Journey began with the possibility of being close to themselves, living that reality so clear and timely that Calasanz teaches: “there is no better beginning of the spiritual life than that of one’s own knowledge”, this was how they had the possibility of living different spaces to discover the most valuable traits of being. Later, the young people set out to serve with their abilities and gifts in a home for elderly women, where they accompanied, laughed, and enjoyed this space, and also expressed their art through typical dances such as the marinera, some songs and other expressions that allowed them to recognize the experience of being close to others.
The second day was marked by a spiritual itinerary around the person of Glicerio Landriani, with his heart of poor, saint, and angel. For this, the journey went to the Antankallo waterfall, in the district of Matucana, about 2 hours from La Era (Lima). There the young people were able to feel close to God living moments of prayer, encounter, and recollection, mixed with the possibility of enjoying the cold water of the waterfall of friendship.
Upon returning from such a walk, it was time to collect the experience of these days, starting the closing, where the young people prepared a gift for their roommate, and then the celebration among all through a small sharing interspersed with dancing, singing and lots of joy.
The CYD Peru 2022 concluded on Friday, October 14 with an approach to the spaces that build the Piarist community life, as a way to continue growing in everything lived during these days, and with the celebration of the Eucharist thanking God and Calasanz for making us feel more brothers, more Calasanctian.
Daniel del Toro, Sch. P.
