SAN DIEGO — 2020 has been a challenging year for everyone, not least of all for our youth.
As the year draws to a close, the diocesan Office for Youth Ministry and the San Diego Youth Day Team will host a virtual day of reflection for local high school youth groups.
“An Advent Day of Reflection: What Now?” will be held via Zoom from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5. Participating teens will pray together and reflect on their experiences over the past year as well as on what comes next.
“Our youth are definitely feeling like they have lost so much, and so we want to offer a space in which they can come together to pray, learn and open themselves up to living Advent with joy,” said Maricruz Flores, director of the Office for Youth Ministry.
Beginning with icebreakers, the virtual event will feature two keynote talks — one on the Blessed Mother and the other about St. Juan Diego, a pivotal figure in the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Both will be presented to the teens as role models.
“Mary and St. Juan Diego also lived through challenging times, yet with faith and love, overcame it all,” Flores said.
Reflection time and praise-and-worship will follow both talks. Participating youth groups will be invited to make time for their own small group discussions after the virtual event.
“We hope our teens understand that it is okay to mourn what was lost in 2020, but rejoice for what is to come,” said Flores. “Advent is a time to be joyful in the coming of Jesus, with open hearts and willingness to rise above the adversities from this year.”
Parish youth group leaders and youth ministers must register by Monday, Nov. 30. For more information or to RSVP, contact Erika Quevedo at (858) 490-8260 or equevedo@sdcatholic.org.
