Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Honiara (Agenzia Fides) - A moment of prayer, communion, sharing and celebration. For three days young Catholics in Solomons had a taste of World Youth Day. Some 200 young people from all over the islands took part in Wainoni Youth Festival, in Makira to reflect on Advent and Christmas and to prepare for the great event of World Youth Day 2008.
Some of the young participants travelled for three days from the smaller islands to take part in the Youth Festival of prayer, catechesis, cultural and sports activities. The themes for reflection included: “Young people and the faith”; “challenges facing youth”; “The experience of WYD ”. The Festival organisers - priests, religious and lay youth pastoral delegates - encouraged the young participants to take a more active part in the life of the community since the future of the Church belongs to them. The three day Festival concluded with a solemn Mass of thanksgiving during which the young people offered their joys and expectations to the Lord.
Many meetings in preparation for WYD have been planned. In Solomons where the population is young, the local Church devotes much energy to educating young people - often caught in the trap of alcohol abuse, crime, violence - to values, to the faith, to respect for the common good. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 19/12/2007 righe 24 parole 258)
