Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Madrid (Agenzia Fides) – Many youth are making preparations for the World Youth Day encounter in Sydney, Australia with the Pope, on July 15-20, with the theme: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses.” However, due to the expensive cost of the trip, many will not be able to go to Australia, as they would have liked to. With this in mind, four youth encounters in connection with WYD have been organized in Spain, for those unable to travel to Sydney. They will take place at: El Rocío (Huelva), Santiago de Compostela, Madrid, and Javier (Navarra), coordinated by the Spanish Bishops’ Conference. About 2,000 Spanish youth are expected to travel to Australia.
The Diocese of Pamplona-Tudela and its Archbishop Francisco Perez Gonzalez, Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Spain, through the youth delegation have organized an encounter to take place July 17-29. The main activities on Friday will be: a general presentation of the encounter, a Way of the Cross from Sangüesa to Javier, 20 workshops on contemporary themes, 6 expositions, and an evening concert in the auditorium. On Saturday, there will be a prayer-catechesis on the Pope’s Letter to the Youth, with the prayer vigil via satellite connection with Sydney. The workshops are on the testimony and commitment of youth today. The entire day will be crowned with the great celebration “From the night, we walk towards the light,” which will take place from 12 midnight to 7am. It will begin with a “Via Lucis,” music, mime acts, and prayer. From 2am-5am they will connect to the Mass with the Pope in Sydney, in the auditorium. It will end with breakfast and later a Mass with a “missionary sending”, presided by the Archbishop of Pamplona-Tudela Francisco Perez Gonzalez, in front of the castle located in Javier. The sites for the encounter will be the Diocesan Hostel, the Jesuit Residence with auditorium, and the area around the castle and its facilities.
In the south of Spain, the Bishops of the region of Andalucia have organized an encounter in the town of El Rocio (Huelva) on July 16-20. According to Bishop Jose Vilaplana of Huelva, El Rocio was the site chosen because “it is a place with great connection to Pentecost and would serve as a meeting point for Andalucia in reaching its fundamental objective of having an experience with Christ, with the image of Our Lady of Rocio, and in union with the Pope.” The encounter will be divided into three types of activities, he said: “First, the Sanctuary will be a place of prayer, silence, where the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed, then there will be activities for all to participate in, and then there are others that will take place in the local dioceses.”
The pilgrims will gather at El Chaparral de Almonte (Huelva) and then journey to El Rocio, on July 16 at 8pm. The arrival in El Rocio is scheduled to take place at around 2am on July 17. On that same day, July 17, at 11am, there will be an official presentation of participants and the opening of the day. This act will conclude with the Angelus. At 8pm, the catechesis will begin and the day will end with a musical concert. The next day will begin at 12noon with the recitation of the Angelus and workshops. At 8pm, there will be catechesis, just like the previous day. At 11pm, there will be a candle-light rosary. On Saturday, July 19 will begin at 12noon with the recitation of the Angelus. At midnight, there will be a Vigil of Prayer and Testimonies that will last until dawn, when there will be a Mass with “missionary sending” and a farewell to the pilgrims. Over the course of the encounter, there will be live connection via satellite at the most important highlights of WYD.
Other activities for these days include: perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Shrine, a Youth Vocational Fair, the Sacrament of Confession, Masses throughout the day in various churches, and a Mass at 9pm at the Shrine.
La Coruña will connect with Sydney on Friday the 18th for the Prayer Vigil in the Cathedral. On Saturday, the 19th, there will be a connection to Sydney for the Vigil from 10:30-1pm and in the afternoon, there will be Confessions and a Mass in the Cathedral. In the evening, there will be a Youth Festival, in connection with other parts of Spain and Sydney. The encounter will close with the Mass on Sunday, the 20th .(RG) (Agenzia Fides 17/6/2008)
