When people ask me what MAG+S means, my first answer is simple: MAG+S is home.

It is a place where I have been welcomed just as I am. It is a community where I have met people who have become companions on my journey of faith. We come from different families, backgrounds, and experiences, yet we share the same desire – to know God more deeply and to follow Him more faithfully.

Before joining MAG+S Timor-Leste, I thought faith was something very personal, something I lived mostly on my own. Through MAG+S, I discovered that faith also grows in community. It grows when we pray together, reflect together, listen to one another, and share both our joys and our struggles.

One of the greatest gifts MAG+S has given me is Ignatian Spirituality. It has changed the way I see everyday life. I have learned that God is not only present in church or during prayer but can be found in every moment, every person, every challenge, and every decision. This way of living has helped me become more attentive to God’s presence and more grateful for His constant love.

Another lesson that has deeply shaped my life is the concept of cura personalis – care for the whole person. Through MAG+S, I have come to understand that accompanying others does not mean having all the answers or solving their every problem. More often than not, it is about being present: listening without judgment, respecting each person’s unique story, and walking beside them with patience and compassion.

This understanding has become the foundation of how I serve as part of the formation team in MAG+S Timor-Leste. Every young person has different journeys, different struggles, and different hopes. My role is not simply to facilitate activities or share knowledge but to create a safe space where they feel seen, heard, and valued. I try to accompany them the MAGIS way––with openness, empathy, and trust that God is already at work in their lives. In doing so, I continue to discover that formation is not only about teaching; it is about journeying together, helping one another to recognize God’s presence, and encouraging each person to respond generously to His call.

MAG+S has also taught me the importance of discernment. As young people, we are surrounded by many choices and expectations. Ignatian spirituality has shown me that discernment is not simply about choosing between good and bad. Often, it is about choosing between two good paths or choices and asking, “Which one will help me love more? Which one will help me serve more? Which one will bring me closer to God?” These questions continue to guide many of the decisions I make each day.

The moments I treasure most are often the simplest: praying together in silence, sharing the fruits of our reflections, laughing after long days of formation, serving communities together, and realizing that God has been walking with us all along. These experiences have shaped not only my faith but also the person I am becoming.

For me, MAGIS is not about doing more for the sake of doing more. It is about becoming more – the person God desires me to be. It is choosing to love more generously, to forgive more freely, to serve more humbly, and to remain open to God’s invitation each day. MAGIS challenges me to seek not success or recognition, but a life rooted in love, generosity, and service.

MAG+S is more than an organization or a youth group. It is a family. It is a home where I have learned to pray, reflect, lead through service, and grow alongside people who continually inspire me to become my best self. The friendships I have found, the experiences we have shared, and the values we continue to live have become lasting gifts that I carry with me every day.

As I continue my journey, I know I still have much to learn. But one thing is certain: the values, friendships, and spirit I have found in MAG+S Timor-Leste will always remain part of who I am. Wherever life takes me, I hope to carry the spirit of MAGIS – to seek the greater good, accompany others with love, and find God in all things.

And for these gifts, I will always be grateful.

Written by:

Maria Fátima Faria de Carvalho

MAG+Ser (member of MAG+S Timor-Leste, Communications Officer of CSIL)