AMERICA - Local WYD encounters in various Dioceses, for youth who cannot travel to Sydney

Thursday, 17 July 2008

Rome (Agenzia Fides) – Thousands of youth from all over the world are gathering together in Sydney this week to celebrate World Youth Day. However, there are many more who have not been able to make the journey for various reasons, mostly because of the length and cost of the trip. With this in mind, local encounters synonymous to the World Youth Day event will be held in various countries, so that the youth there can also share in the spirit of Sydney and benefit from its fruits.
For example, in the Archdiocese of Maracaibo (Venezuela), there will be a “Youth Fest 2008) on July 20, coinciding with the closing ceremony of World Youth Day in Sydney. The event will take place in “Luis Aparicio” Stadium in Maracaibo and will be aired on television. It will be attended by Archbishop Ubaldo Santana of Maracaibo and the Auxiliary Bishop and Representative for the Youth Committee, His Excellency Cástor Oswaldo Azuaje Pérez. The encounter will feature moments of prayer, activities, catechesis led by Bishop Cástor Oswaldo, and live transmission of the Closing Mass for WYD, presided by the Holy Father Benedict XVI.
In Colombia, the Cathedral in Bogota will host a Youth Encounter on July 19, also featuring moments of prayer, catechesis, and testimonies. The event, organized by the Archbishop of Bogota, will also be attended by the Apostolic Nuncio in Colombia Archbishop Aldo Cavalli, and Bogota’s Auxiliary Bishop Roberto Ospina Leongomez, and will be aired live on local television and on “Minuto de Dios” Radio Station. Among the activities planned during the event are: catechesis on Pope Benedict XVI’s Message to the youth, the Way of the Cross, a Tribute to John Paul II, Eucharistic Adoration, and more.
The Archdiocese of Sao Paolo in Brazil has organized a Vigil and Mass in resonation with WYD on July 19, which is scheduled to be attended by thousands of youth. The event will be presided by the Archdiocese’s Auxiliary Bishop Pedro Luiz Stringhini, head of the youth division, and will begin at 7pm. There will be several short films shown, on the history of WYD and previous WYDs. The youth will take part in a mini-procession towards the church, where a Mass will be celebrated at 9pm. Following the Mass, there will be a youth festival.
The Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte in Brazil will also be uniting itself to World Youth Day in Sydney with its “BH na Jornada.” On the evening of July 18, there will be a cinema forum. On July 19, there will be cultural activities, music, and catechesis, as well as live transmission of Pope Benedict XVI’s address to the youth. Archbishop Walmor Oliveira de Azevedo of Belo Horizonte will preside the Vigil in the Cathedral of “Nossa Señora de Boa Viagem” at 9pm local time. Later, there will be Eucharistic Adoration. Beginning at 6am on Sunday, there will be a procession towards Praça do Papa, with a youth Mass at 9am, presided by the Archdiocese’s Auxiliary Bishop Aloísio Jorge Pena Vitral. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 17/7/2008)


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