Building Bridges, Following the Mission

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.

• 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.
  

As the Immersion Week of our International Youth Encounter draws to a close. We write to you not only with news, but with the raw and real experiences that have marked our days—a mix of trial, tenderness, and profound grace.

This week has been a true immersion in every sense. We have walked directly into the challenging realities of the communities we serve here in CCBBA. The physical toll has been felt: some of our participants have battled intense headaches and fevers, natural responses not just to a new climate, but to the emotional and spiritual weight of encountering such tangible poverty and systemic need. There have been moments of deep impotence, standing before situations we cannot single-handedly fix, feeling the ache of fragility—both in those we meet and within ourselves.

Yet, it is precisely here, in these streets and in these moments of shared vulnerability, that we are encountering Christ in a clear way. We see His face in the resilient hope of a mother, in the generous welcome of the sick and vulnerable
People, and in the quiet dignity of those persevering. We find His presence not in power, but in powerlessness; not in solutions, but in solidarity.

The greatest joy has been discovering that our mission is not about bringing Christ to a place where He is absent, but about recognizing Him where He is already at work, especially in the fragility and hope of the people. l living in periphery.

These challenges and consolations bind us more deeply to our purpose and to each other. We carry every ache, every smile, and every newly kindled hope in our hearts to the altar. We are united with you in prayer—it is our sustenance. We humbly ask you to hold us in your prayers as we navigate these final days, and please know that we pray fervently for each of you and your missions.

In the spirit of the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we continue forward, feet on the ground, hearts on fire, knowing the Lord walks with us.