The gathering brought together representatives from Verbo Divino de Chicureo, Verbo Divino de Las Condes, Espíritu Santo del Verbo Divino, Liceo Alemán de Los Ángeles y el Colegio Germania de Puerto Varas. Over the course of three days, participants shared moments of learning, prayer, reflection, and close fraternal fellowship. More than simply a formative activity, the encounter became a vital space for deepening the identity, spirituality, and missionary commitment that define the Verbite family.

The event was organized by the Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) team of the Chilean Province, with the primary goal of strengthening the bonds among the various educational communities. It also sought to provide young people with a broader understanding of the Congregation’s identity and mission, both within the national context and in its far-reaching universal dimension. Beyond the technical content, however, the initiative became an opportunity for human encounter, active listening, and the sharing of experiences, enabling participants to reflect on the meaning of youth leadership inspired by Gospel values.

A spirit of dialogue and fraternity permeated every activity throughout the program. Through various workshops, group dynamics, and shared reflection sessions, students not only gained new knowledge but were also invited to build a common understanding grounded in experience and the exchange of perspectives. This process led to an essential realization: authentic leadership lies not merely in the ability to guide others, but in the willingness to serve, collaborate, and build human relationships founded on mutual respect and solidarity.

One of the workshop’s fundamental pillars was a deeper exploration of the spirituality and missionary charism of the Society of the Divine Word, the foundation that inspires its evangelizing work across diverse cultural and social contexts.

Throughout this formative journey, the students were accompanied by Divine Word missionaries Fr. Sergio Edwards, SVD; Fr. José Miguel, SVD; Fr. Fritz Lau, SVD; and Fr. José Rodríguez, SVD, together with the pastoral teams from their respective schools.

During the gathering, participants explored the four dimensions that guide the global mission of the Society of the Divine Word: the Bible, Mission Animation, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JJPIC), and Communications. To internalize these concepts, thematic groups were organized, allowing students to engage with each area of ministry in both practical and reflective ways.

It was emphasized that these four areas do not function as isolated realities but as complementary dimensions that together embody a single evangelizing mission. From the perspective of SVD spirituality and praxis, all these dimensions converge in the common purpose of making the Word of God present in a society marked by constant change. Consequently, the young participants reflected on how these dimensions are integrated and brought to life in the various expressions of the Verbite mission throughout the world.

The dialogue sessions also provided an opportunity to delve more deeply into a key concept of missionary spirituality: prophetic dialogue. The accompanying priests explained that the Congregation’s mission is carried out through an attitude of openness and encounter with people of different cultures, ethnicities, religions, and traditions. In a global context often characterized by polarization and exclusion, this approach holds particular relevance for younger generations, who are called to build bridges of reconciliation in today’s society.

The theoretical formation found concrete expression in an ecological activity carried out around the Huaqui Retreat House. As a tangible sign of commitment to caring for creation, the students planted more than 300 native trees of various species. This action was not merely symbolic; it connected spiritual reflection with environmental responsibility, promoting an integral vision of caring for our “Common Home” as an essential part of the missionary vocation.

Finally, the entire experience was framed by moments of prayer, Eucharistic celebrations, and recreational activities that strengthened both faith and the sense of belonging to a larger educational community united by the values of the Society of the Divine Word. At the conclusion of the gathering, the students embraced the challenge of becoming promoters of the four dimensions of the mission within their own schools. They returned home with the task of continuing to strengthen fraternal bonds and missionary commitment within their local communities.