by Heidi Rodriguez
With the end of summer and the beginning of the school year, Jornadistas prepare for another year of “youth evangelizing youth” via service and prayer. To kick off the year, zone delegates of parishes (ZDPs) and zone delegates of missions (ZDMs) came together to provide a retreat for the delegates of parishes. Each parish with a Jornada group in Brooklyn and Queens sent delegates to Jesus of Nazareth Retreat Center, East Flatbush, where they listened to charlas (talks) to better prepare them for the upcoming year.
The Jornada Movement has divided the diocese, as well as some parts of Manhattan and the Bronx, into zones, numbered one through six. Each nominates both a zone delegate of parishes and a zone delegate of missions. The ZDPs and ZDMs answer to the delegate of delegates, Jeffrey Larcier, J149, of Blessed Sacrament, Cypress Hills, and to the delegate of missions, Felix Perez III, J152, also of Blessed Sacrament.
Larcier is excited to bring on the new year. His goal is “to teach this year’s delegates how to be proper leaders. That way it’s not always the same people doing all the work. So that we can all take turns being leaders and we can all be on an equal playing field.”
Stressing this year’s ONE campaign, he also plans to unite the movement. “We can’t consider ourselves a movement if there are people left behind,” added Larcier.
The retreat opened with a charla titled “Called to Evangelize,” stressing that we as baptized and confirmed Catholics are called to spread His Word and to bring others closer to God.
When evangelizing, it is key to present Christ with passion and conviction, while using the talents of our youth. Alfredo Vasquez, ZDM of Zone 5, said, “There are many people out there that need God in their lives. I continue spreading His Word because I need to make Him famous!”
Working in missions, ZDMs are in charge of opening up Jornada groups in other parishes. This year, Perez is confident in his team and will use his position to evangelize further. He has always been pulled toward working in missions. What he says keeps him going is thinking of his children. “I want this movement to survive so that my kids can live their Jornada,” Perez said.
Youth leaders are called to spread God’s Word, and it may be a difficult task if the spirit is not nourished. Veronica Paulino, ZDP for Zone 6, gave a talk on spirituality and on how important it is to keep ourselves filled with God’s grace. After all, you cannot give what you do not have. On her calling to serve this year, Paulino says, “I’ve come to the understanding that I cannot deny God His callings because of all that He has done for me in my life. I believe that it’s my duty to return grace to Him, putting to use all that He has given me.”
For more about the Jornada Movement, join us on Sunday, Nov. 9, at St. Michael’s, East New York, as we celebrate Cultural Day.
Visit us online at jornadista.org.