Join us in celebrating YCNA’s 5 Year Anniversary!!!
The Youth Center North America creates and plans opportunities for young people to come together and build community through activities and programs that help develop the whole person. YCNA is motivated by the life of Blessed Chiara Luce Badano as it lives out its mission.
Let’s take a journey through the years (2019-2024)!
Fun | Excitement | Wisdom | Triumphs
| Activities | |
| 2018 | |
| ♦ A Youth project began which worked to identify the needs and possibilities for youth in North America. After surveying many youth and adult members on what to focus on, we set some goals. |
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| ♦ Zone-wide Priority was chosen – Engage young people in a current and age appropriate way so they can discover the value of the Ideal in their hearts and live the spirituality of unity in their environments and within the Movement. |  |
| ♦ Genfest, Philippines.
YCNA received the proposal of North America hosting the 1st pathway event on economy & work, “No One in Need”, in Mariapolis Luminosa. |
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| 2019 | |
| ♦ After months of teamwork, the youth center was born with the name YOUTH CENTER for NORTH AMERICA (YCNA). |  |
| ♦ Internship at the United Nations. New York. Four youth participate in a 5-month internship promoted and supported by New Humanity. February to May. | ♦ Inauguration of YCNA, Many attended this event from various cities across the US and Canada as well as Italy and Brazil. June 9. |
| ♦ United World Week – a global expo of initiatives, stories and actions towards universal fraternity, building peace between individuals and peoples across the world promoted by United World Project, June.
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♦ North American Gen 2 congress. June. (3 day retreat for the youth of the Focolare)
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♦ 1st edition of the Luminosa Youth School (LYS), a program that provides building blocks aimed at developing a lifestyle based on the Focolare spirituality of unity. (July & August) |
| 2020 | |
| ♦ Dare to care. A review of efforts made in the area of Active Citizenship and Politics for Unity. Virtual.
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♦ Luminosa Youth School. March only. After a few weeks, COVID-19 broke out and all participants had to return home.
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| ♦ Gen 2 congress was virtual due to the pandemic. Theme: Jesus in the midst. Presentations, news, experiences, June.
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| ♦ Dare to Care – racial inequality. Exploring the topic and offering insight to work together for racial justice. With Dr. Carey H. Lattimore (Associate Professor of History at Trinity University), Chris Perez (Engineering student in UT Arlington), Lisa Mishraky Video |
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| 2021 | |
| ♦ Together on the Journey – Gifted with a Spirituality). A course on the points of the Spirituality of Unity. January. | ♦ Dare to Care – Civic engagement. Two speakers share about their efforts and work in Civic Engagement. |
| ♦ Gen 2 congress was virtual due to the pandemic. Gen were able to gather together locally to participate. June. Gallery |
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| ♦ Dare to Care – Ecology. Active citizenship, why we care, how we care. |
♦ The Hearth event |
| ♦ Blessed Chiara Luce Badano prayer reflection. October 28.
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Blessed Chiara Luce Badano was a young girl who lived her life bringing people together, spreading joy, and living the focolare spirituality. Once she learned about her terminal illness at the age of 19, she gave even more joy to others, brought even more people together around her bedside and accelerated in living a life of love. |
| 2022 | |
| ♦ Gen 2 congress – Title: “6 feet closer” as we return from the pandemic safety guidelines of distancing ourselves. Mariapolis Luminosa, June
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♦ Gen 2 congress, Vancouver, Canada. December.
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| ♦ Leadership Workshop. “Adjusting The Sails”. June.
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♦ Luminosa Youth School
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| ♦ Together on the Journey course (Gifted with a Spirituality). November. | ♦ Blessed Chiara Luce Badano prayer reflection. |
| 2023 | |
| ♦ Leadership Workshop. June.
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♦ Young Adult Retreat, Dickinson Texas. June.
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| ♦ Luminosa Youth School. July & August. | ♦ World Youth Day, Spain. August. |
| ♦ Young Adult Retreat, Montreal Canada. October.
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♦ Blessed Chiara Luce Badano prayer reflection. |
| 2024 | |
| ♦ Men’s retreat, YCNA hosts its first retreat for men ages 18 and up. Mariapolis Luminosa. March | ♦ Genfest, Sao Paolo Brazil. August. |
| ♦ Blessed Chiara Luce Badano prayer reflection. October 27 |
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| 2025 | |
| ♦ Jubilee, Rome Italy. August. Details coming soon. | |
| “The leadership workshop in Luminosa has offered me invaluable lessons in Leadership. We learned the how and why being a leader. It was also a great opportunity to meet other like-minded people!”
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“In December 2022, the Canadian Gen Congress was held in Vancouver, Canada, where about 25 Gen attended. There, I relearned the value of embracing suffering and transforming it into opportunities for loving. There was also a strong sense of connection built among us Gen, who come from different parts of Canada. It was lovely and reassuring that we are not alone in this path we chose and continue to choose, which is to build a united world! Retreats like this one that YCNA helped organize truly help me stay committed to being a Gen of the Focolare movement.” |
| Opportunities to accompany | |
Young adults have been and continue to be assisted in a variety of ways including:
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| Follow us: Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook | Youtube Channel | Linktree | |
| Video clips: Leadership for me | Vantage Point | An experience at the border | the Economy of Communion principles & running a company | |
| Leave a comment, thought, experience, dream or request – youthcna@gmail.com | |
