Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
San José (Agenzia Fides) - On Saturday 28 July the Catholic Church in Costa Rica will celebrate the annual National Youth Day organised by the local Church. Some 10,000 young people will take part in special prayers, reflection and discussion. This year the event will include an Art Festival, involving various musical groups.
The purpose of National Youth Days is to promote among young Costa Ricans awareness and respect for universal values such as respect, tolerance, rejection of all violence and drug abuse. The main theme of this year's edition "A Life Project" aims to help young people realise the importance of having a project for an integral life, so they may mature in every sphere of life. The slogan "Arise": is a call to all young people to have hope, to stand up and to shape their personalities.
The month of July has been the Month of Youth in the Church in Costa Rica. The aim is to help young people discover their call to build a Life Project in which they realise they are men and women with their own dignity, and as Christians, bearers of a series of values and principles. The general theme for reflection has been a passage from the Gospel of Luke 7,11-17, focussing on various sub-themes: “Life! What a gift and what a responsibility!; What am I doing with my life?; "Young boy young girl"; arise!”. The Costa Rican Bishops' Commission for Youth Pastoral prepared and distributed material for the meetings and initiatives to foster reflection and prayers to lead the young participants to understand that life is a gift from God, to be received and lived with responsibility starting on the Word of God and to promote the Civilisation of Love. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 25/7/2007; righe 23, parole 320)
