Hello dear friends,

Shortly before Christmas, it was time for us to depart: off to the USA! Our destinations were Michigan and Ohio, where we aimed to learn from movements that are doing true pioneering work in the field of new evangelization. It was a journey full of contrasts—from freezing temperatures to hearts burning for God.

Michigan: Inspiration and Icy Traditions

In Michigan, we had the opportunity to get to know various missions that show just how alive the Church can be—whether it was Encounter Ministries, which focuses on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the Legatus network, or various missional parishes. The exchange gave us many new impulses for our work in Europe.

Of course, the "authentic" US experience could not be missed: in freezing temperatures, we tramped through the deep snow to cut down our own Christmas tree directly on a farm. A moment of silence and beauty that brought the greatness of creation right before our eyes, despite the cold.

Damascus & Empower: Service from the Heart

Next, we traveled to Ohio to Damascus, an impressive ministry known for its powerful youth outreach. Before we were able to participate in the Empower program ourselves, we actively helped out with the preparations. It was an intensive time of learning and personal growth—we are returning with many tools to help people have a genuine encounter with Jesus.