JORNADA
We are called "Jornadistas" the Hispanic catholics that belong to the youth movement "JORNADAS DE VIDA CRISTIANA". We live and work in the metropolitan area of New York, above all in the Diocese of Brooklyn and New York, We were born 40 years ago through the inspiration of the Vincentian Fathers under the real inspiration of the missionaries of the Province of Barcelona (Spain), who have been working in this area since 1916. It was Fathers Biosca and Amengual, with the help of the Cursillos de Cristiandad Movement of Brooklyn and the parish of Monserrate (Bedford-Stuyvesant), who initiated in what is today recognized as Jornadas de Vida Cristiana of Brooklyn. Practically from the beginning the Diocese of Brooklyn has accompanied us and with its support it has become a place for evangelizing work in favor of the youth. Without its help and without the direction of its bishops, the Movement would not be what it really is. That is what has marked, from the beginning, the characteristics of the Jornada in Brooklyn. On one side, the vincentian inspiration and its evangelizing initiative; on the other for the help and relationship with the Cursillo Movement of the Brooklyn Diocese.
In reality we could say that the Jornadista Movement, with a membership of more than 10,500 members, is a Hispanic Catholic Movement totally independent and different from the other American movements. We work for the youth of New York knowing that only the youth can effectively evangelize to young people. From our youth we offer illusion and the will to make the Kingdom of God more visible every day.
Brief history about how our activities born
Plegarias has formed a part of the scheme of the Jornada Movement since its beginnings, to be more exact, since January 25, 1973. They started out as part of a follow up open exclusively to Jornadistas, giving them the opportunity to relive their spirituality and their experiences during the Jornada. It was family-like bonding for the Movement.
For many years the Plegarias were carried out monthly during the course of the active Jornada year, usually three weeks after the last Jornada. At these gatherings many topics were represented (as we continue to do today), such as: social, Christian, and moral topics which help Jornadistas fortify their faith and spirituality in order to continue living in the catholic way of life.
During the last few years some changes have occurred: Plegarias are no longer held every month, they are now bimonthly gatherings and are now also held in August. The biggest change that the Movement has done concerning the plegarias is that out of the six plegarias held in the year, three now include the presence of Pre-Jornadistas. Now we can say that the Plegarias have two purposes: to continue the practice of the "follow-up" of the Jornada, and also constitute as part of a guided way to the Jornada for the Pre-Jornadistas.
After so many years and of so many beautiful experiences, we can say that the Plegarias have been, and will continue being, spiritual coexistences that embrace the foundation of the Movement.
Caminata - The Holy Saturday Walk
Since 1981 the Jornada Movement has had the opportunity to celebrate a grand event every Holy Saturday morning, which we call Caminata.
The idea of the Caminata came from Rudy Vargas, who was the President of the Movement during 1981. It was he who expressed the idea of the Caminata to then Spiritual Director Father Dallo, who thought it was a very personal idea of the president. The other members of the Equipo Base liked the idea and were all ready to make it an accomplishment. Rudy and the other youth wanted to make an "explosion of faith", demonstrate their Christian life, while walking the streets of Brooklyn for several hours.
The Jornada Olympics was first realized in 2003 in the Gym of the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Zone 1). Jasmine Salazar, who was at that time in charge of Plegarias, planned the initial idea of this event. The Jornada Olympics took place and was an agreeable success.
Todo a Jesús por María
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Todo a María por Jesús