On February 17, the XIX Archdiocesan Day of Catechists was held in the Coliseum of the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, in the city of Quito. The motto for this event was: "Catechist, called by Jesus to awaken the vocations in his brothers",
a theme that is hand in hand with the XV General Assembly of the Ordinary Synod of Bishops that Pope Francis has convened for this year in October titled: "Young people, faith and vocational discernment". The vocation should not only be the awakening to a religious life, but also to build a more just and more human world.
This event was attended by Mons. Fausto Gabriel Travez O.F.M., Primate of Ecuador and Archbishop of Quito, who spoke about the challenge of transmitting the faith to new generations of young people. Mons. Travez made a brief comment on the presence of the Czestochowa Icon: "Whoever is a devotee of the Virgin Mary is guaranteed salvation. Devotion to Our Lady is not private property of one or the other, and here is the Virgin of Czestochowa. The Virgin of which Pope St. John Paul II was so devoted to, and who was so persecuted and destroyed by enemies. That's why the devotion to the Virgin is universal”, he said while showing one of the prayer cards with the image of the Icon that was given to those present. He also reminded that parents are the first catechists in their families and that a good catechist should never leave questions unanswered, "if you do not know the answer to the question of the young person, you have to research".
The event enjoyed more than 3,500 attendees, from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm; In addition, it was streamed through the social network Facebook of the Archdiocese of Quito and Radio Maria, being seen by about 47,000 people not only in Ecuador but also in countries such as Venezuela, Peru, Spain, Portugal and Italy.
The closing Mass was preceded by the Apostolic Nuncio of Ecuador, Mons. Andres Carrascosa, who was received with a warm welcome by all present.