OFFICIAL NAME
Movimiento Encuentros de Promoción Juvenil
AKRONYM
EPJ
ESTABLISHED
1968
HISTORY
The Encounters of Youth Promotion Movement was established in Medellín, Colombia, by the Spanish priest, Father José Maria Pujadas Ferrer following an international course on the dynamics of apostolic youth groups organised in Bogota in 1967 by the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM) Vocations Centre, to give an impetus to vocations promotion among young people. In response to the appeal to follow young people with care and concern, launched by Paul VI in 1968 when he inaugurated the second Celam General Conference, the new movement drafted the so-called "Medellín Document" which is still considered to be the EYP Magna Charta. It spread beyond the borders of Colombia and within 30 years it was found in various other American and European countries. On 29 June 1996 the Pontifical Council for the Laity decreed the recognition of Encuentros de Promoción Juvenil as an international association of the faithful.
IDENTITY
The Encounters of Youth Promotion Movement is an association for youth evangelisation. It uses a distinctive methodology to provide opportunities for young people to experience and share Christian life. This leads to the formation of youth groups that create environments with gospel values in which young people develop every aspect of their vocation, leadership abilities and personality. The movement (the young members of the movement are called Emproístas) sets out to stimulate young people to live their vocation to the full in accordance with the charism of the movement, to encourage them to freely accept the faith and prepare them to take on leadership roles of Christian groups and communities and to play a front-line role in the work of building up the civilisation of love. The movement’s educational approach emphasises human and spiritual development, group work and community prayer, attendance at Mass, times of reflection and the sharing of experiences. Emproístas place themselves at the service of the pastoral ministry of youth through announcing and bearing witness to Christ, rallying young people around the fundamental values of Christianity and helping them to mature in the faith.
ORGANISATION
The governing body of the EPJ is the International Development Committee, consisting of the International Coordinator, the International Spiritual Adviser, the International Vice-Coordinator, the Vice-Spiritual Adviser, regional Coordinators and Spiritual Advisers, and national Coordinators and Spiritual Advisers. The organization of the movement is entrusted to the Standing Committee, which is formed by the International Coordinator, the International Spiritual Adviser, the regional Coordinators, and the regional Spiritual Advisers.
WORKS
The main activity of the movement is to organise meetings, which take the form of three-day community events for young people aged 18 years and above, at the time in which they have to make crucial choices for their lives, and therefore need guidance and direction.
WEB SITE
HEADQUARTERS
Movimiento Encuentros de Promoción Juvenil
Colonia Villas del Rio, Calle Principal, Casa #1608
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Tel. [+504]9877-4092
E-mail: cpi@epjinternacional.org
