On July 27, 2026, nearly two hundred and fifty young people arrived in Cluj-Napoca from various Piarist provinces across Europe. Catalans, Spaniards, Poles, Slovaks, Hungarians, and Transylvanians met to step out of their familiar environments for a few days.
The PYM is always more than an international camp: it is an opportunity to realize that the Piarist world is much broader than what we experience in our own schools, parishes, or communities. Different languages, different cultures, different pastoral emphases—yet we are united by the same spirituality and the same mission.
The pastoral motto of the Piarist Order for the 2025/26 school year—’Rooted in Him’—invited us to rediscover our own vocation, communities, and mission rooted in Christ. It was out of this idea that the motto for PYM 2026 was born: We Grow Together.
The week’s three catecheses explored this shared growth from three perspectives. Father József Urbán Sch.P. spoke about human maturity: how growth means not only acquiring new knowledge, but also the internal process through which we become more fully ourselves. András Visky’s personal testimony pointed out that for a Christian, even suffering can be a place not of God’s absence, but often of His very closeness. Finally, Jacek Wolan revealed the richness of the Calasanzian charisma: being Piarist cannot be reduced to a school or an institution, but is a way of life in which faith, education, community, and social responsibility reinforce one another.
„Every morning, small group discussions made what was said personal. The shared prayers, liturgies, and Eucharistic adoration provided a framework for the program while serving as its very heart. Throughout the week, young people from different countries led the evening prayers, allowing our praise together to truly become the prayer of the entire European Piarist family.
At the same time, the gathering did not remain closed within its own walls. The pilgrimage, exploring Cluj-Napoca, the workshops, and the community service carried out as part of the Family Fest all expressed that faith always sets us in motion. From the very beginning, Piarist education has sought to transform emerging faith into responsibility, and the joy experienced in community into service. That is why it was particularly meaningful that during one of the final programs of the week, participants no longer turned primarily toward one another, but toward the families of the city—connecting with them through games, crafts, and their personal presence.
Another special gift of PYM was that different monastic charisms came together during the organization and execution. Young Jesuits in formation accompanied the volunteers‘ service throughout with prayer and personal conversations, reminding us that collaboration has always been part of Calasanz’s legacy. Piarist spirituality never seeks to grow for its own sake, but together with others and for the benefit of others.
By the end of the week, we returned home with new friendships, shared experiences, and a broader perspective. We give thanks for all the encounters, conversations, prayers, and insights with which God enriched us this week. We pray that everything that is still just an inspiration, a glimmer, or a resolve will take shape as true life in our communities upon our return—so that the gifts received at PYM do not remain solely at the level of personal experiences, but become initiatives that enrich others, service, and a renewing force for our communities.
Because truly: Rooted in Him, we grow together.
Photo-video: Vince Barlay
Text: Petra Kalmár
