Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Tegucigalpa (Agenzia Fides) – The city of El Paraiso welcomed over 5,000 youth on April 26, who had left Tegucigalpa last Friday, passing through Danli and then on to El Paraiso, in a pilgrimage calling for an end to violence and kidnapping in the country. The activity is part of a Youth Ministry Pilgrimage, which this year was 100-kilometers long, from Tegucigalpa (central part of the country) to the eastern city of Danli, and which bears the motto of: “Soldiers chosen by Christ.” 4,000 young people began in Tegucigalpa, but more joined along the way. During the walk, the youth sang religious songs, praying and calling for an end to violence, kidnapping, and drug trafficking, and promoting moral values among the people.
According to Father Ricardo Chiang, Youth Ministry Coordinator, the pilgrimage was prepared with great work and enthusiasm, with special training for the group leaders. The previous weekend, April 18-19, the 75 leaders had a spiritual retreat. Fr. Chiang says that “this is not a stroll, it is not a protest march, but a spiritual pilgrimage.” Civil and religious authorities were also involved, as well as the local people.
Fr. Abilio Bustillo, one of the organizers of the activity, said that the city prepared everything “with great joy and faith, to that all these youth who come from Tegucigalpa could be accomodated, inviting all the people to come out and welcome the youth.” With the event, he hopes for “more positive things for our society, which in many ways is losing its values.” The main objective of this pilgrimage is to say no to alcohol, no to drugs, no to kidnapping, no to killings, and no to all kind of corruption.
Misael Reyes, Pastoral Coordinator in Danli, says that the pilgrimage was “a call to all youth and a no to violence and corruption. May the young people realize that we are living in difficult moments and as young people we are not immune to national problems. We need to help the youth realize their role in changing society.”
The first Youth Pilgrimage took place in 1999, with 2,000 youth who also walked to Danli. The others have gone to cities in the central, eastern, and western parts of Honduras. A similar march to protest every type of violence in Honduras was celebrated this year in Tegucigalpa, with some 2,000 youth, right before Holy Week, accompanied by Honduran Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez.
Honduras is experiencing a wave of violence and delinquency, with an average of 10 crimes per day. The number of kidnappings in 2009 was over twenty, various sources say, The Catholic Church launched a campaign last year, in conjunction with Caritas of Honduras, entitled: “Citizens' Campaign for a Culture of Peace and Respect for Life,” to spread awareness among the people about this problem (see Fides 24/7/2008). (RG) (Agenzia Fides 27/4/2009)
