The YVM Prefecture of Fátima is coordinated under the leadership of Fr João Luís Alves and through a YVM Secretariat that includes teams from various European territories, namely: Southern Spain–Canary Islands, Portugal, and the United Kingdom–Ireland.
The Secretariat prepares the agenda and carries out the YVM mission in these territories. We are also united with the Mission in Zimbabwe, although this mission belongs to a different continent and has a more specific and autonomous governance structure.
The European YVM Secretariat meets online on a monthly basis and plans provincial-level initiatives with the support of three teams, each assigned to a different territory, while remaining available to work collaboratively when necessary. Throughout the year, we also hold an in-person gathering lasting several days for formation, reflection, sharing, social time, and planning.
YVM Fátima, with its diversity of cultures, languages, and backgrounds, carries out its mission in an organised and coordinated manner. Although the territory it covers is broader and more diverse than before 2020, it continues to grow in unity and harmony in its provincial goals and actions.
With the support of local leaders, we focus on reaching out to young people, accompanying those who are growing in faith and discerning their vocation, preparing resources and tools for animators and missionaries, supporting concrete pastoral initiatives, and collaborating in a coordinated way with the Claretian Family in Europe and Claret Way Europe.
Over the past years, many activities have been made possible—even during the pandemic in 2020—and we have continued to grow in unity and presence in Claretian places (parishes, schools, centres, churches, and shrines…).
In this time, we highlight the many local, regional, and provincial initiatives that have led us to the World Youth Day, which we lived both as the Claretian Family and as part of the worldwide Claret Way Network.
We make the most of the annual meetings of the Secretariat to evaluate and plan activities and schedules, to promote youth gatherings and leadership development, and to encourage one another in nurturing a renewed vocational culture. We know that each and every one of us is called by God to respond to His call and to be sent out to help build the Kingdom and proclaim the Good News of the Gospel. Each of us, in our own way and with our own gifts, carries a treasure we long to share with others.
In 2025, the Prefecture continues to closely accompany the YVM teams in Portugal, Spain, and the UK, convenes the Secretariat and supporting concrete initiatives such as visits, accompaniment of local activities, animation, and dialogue with Claretian communities.
Here is a brief overview of some of the visits and activities during this 2024–2025 pastoral year:
- Secretariat meeting in August 2024 in Lisbon, at Pius XII University College, for evaluation and planning.
- Visits to Claretian sites in Portugal, working alongside the various YVM teams in PT, ES, and UK.
- Visit to Las Palmas, working with the YVM Spain team. Meeting the local community and leading pastoral activities for young people, leaders, and animators. Special mention of the activities at Claret School and the Claretian parish of Las Palmas, as well as in the Rehoyas community and parish.
- Participation in the Vocations Congress organised by CONFER in Madrid as the Claretian Family.
- Visit to Don Benito, in collaboration with the YVM Spain team. Pastoral activities with youth, leaders, and animators. Special mention of Claret School and the Claretian parish of Don Benito.
- Spiritual Exercises in Villagonzalo, a weekend retreat with the Claretian Family for young adults aged 18+.
- Solidarity Week in Bilbao with students from Claret School of Seville, supported by the YVM Spain team and school leaders.
- Visit to London, in collaboration with the YVM UK team. Contacts and visits to the communities in Leyton, Buckden, and Hayes. Participation in the national youth event “Flame 2025”.
- Secretariat meeting in Buckden in May for evaluation and planning.
We present here some photographs of the moments we have shared.
We are grateful to everyone—the CMFF communities, animators, and leaders—who support us in the various forms of ministry with teenagers and young people.
We continue our work and pray for vocations, for everyone, so that each person may say “yes” to God’s call and be available to collaborate in His dream of love for all humanity. We are all called and sent on mission!
Fr. João Luís Escaleira Alves, CMF. Prefect of Youth and Vocations Ministry (PJV) of Fátima.
