Young people, entrepreneurs, and startups have a perfect place to work with mass included and spiritual formation.

La Barca is an initiative of Regnum Christi in Bogotá, a coworking space located in the north of Colombia’s capital, which offers a unique space that, in addition to being the workplace for professionals and entrepreneurs, is a place for formative and spiritual activities of Regnum Christi: Encounters with Christ, spiritual direction, confessions, masses, apostolate projects, among other activities.

This spiritual and work center has been operating since June 2023, thanks to the search for a location that suited the needs of the Bogotá Regnum Christi community to develop its activities in the best way.

For Father César Pérez Luzardo, L.C., director of the youth section in Bogotá and chaplain of the place: “La Barca is a community that integrates our entire life to offer God a more tangible work day by day”. We interviewed Father César to learn more about this apostolic initiative.

How did the idea of a RC La Barca coworking space come about?
CP: We wanted to respond to the need many young people had to unify their lives in God. So, together with several members of the movement who work remotely, we decided to rent an office space on the upper floor of the RC house to form a community that works and prays together.

What is the purpose of La Barca?
CP: To provide a means to sanctify our day and our work by building a community around God that integrates our entire life. We have understood that our life should not be a dichotomy, nor two separate paths, but that we can live and work offering what we do to God constantly, working for Him and doing everything out of love for Him and for the extension of His Kingdom.

 

How does a workday at La Barca unfold?
CP: Since we conceived La Barca, we have always sought to ensure a true work/life balance for each member. That’s why we try to start at 8:00 a.m. with morning prayers, then at noon the Angelus, moments of adoration during the day. When we share meals, we try to agree on a time to have time and share as a community, and we have a special place where anyone entering can propose intentions to offer our working hours. We conclude at 5:30 p.m. with the Eucharist. Weekly, we develop themes related to Gospel contemplation, such as healing the wounds of the heart, among other topics.

Why the name La Barca?
CP: In short, from Lk. 5:1-11. The people gathered to hear the Word of God, and amidst all that, Jesus decided to look at the boats of the fishermen who were cleaning their nets and got into one to teach the crowd from there. For us, the boats are our own work, our lives, our projects or businesses, and as in the Gospel, we believe that when we invite Jesus to get into them and focus first on what’s important (for example, prayer, just as Jesus first focused on teaching from there), we can sail “out to sea” with Him, cast the nets (even with disbelief), and gather thousands of fish. That is, thousands of fruits from the work we do. We also feel in our today the clear invitation from Jesus to Peter not to be afraid, to trust in His Providence, and above all, to be fishers of men. We feel that this is what He invites us to every day, whatever our work may be.

What fruits have you seen in the members of La Barca?
CP: Many. Offering our work to God in a more tangible way every day. I believe that by combining our work with the sacraments, we are becoming a community of young followers of Jesus who offer their gifts in service of everyone present, helping each other seek holiness. Finding a concrete means to seek that healthy balance and not get lost in endless hours of work, being able to close the day and end it in the best way, with the Eucharist giving thanks to God for what He has done in me and through me in my work.

We have daily Mass, which fosters grace among the members of the coworking. A beautiful vocational culture has also been created, with God at the center. We have couples from Regnum Christi working together and young people on a vocational discernment journey amid their workday. The presence of the Blessed Sacrament, prayers between activities, and a community atmosphere create the perfect environment to grow in union with God, which we all long for. Likewise, members of other Catholic movements have come to this space. We are now praying to someday acquire the resources needed to purchase this property and serve more young people.

Images: La Barca – Catholic Coworking