OCEANIA/TAHITI - Year of Faith: "People are ready to publicly display their belief in God"

Papeete (Agenzia Fides) - Catholics of Tahiti mobilized for the Year of Faith, expressing "full communion" with the initiative launched by Pope Benedict XVI and wishing to offer a "public witness of faith." As reported to Fides by the Archdiocese of Papeete, over 500 people gathered in the Cathedral on 11 October for the opening celebration of the Year of Faith. On October 13, the local Church organized a large gathering of over a thousand among children and young people who packed the church of St. Paul in Mahina. On Sunday, October 14, a crowd of more than 3,000 faithful gave birth to a march of prayers and songs on the streets of Papeete, carrying banners with slogans praising faith.
As reported to Fides, the Chancellor of the Archdiocese, Dominique Soupé, "it is clear that people are more than ever ready to publicly display their belief in God." For young people, in particular, notes the Chancellor "a traditional procession turns into a festive procession, which offers a testimony of their spiritual vitality." And the Eucharist celebration, in accordance with the liturgy of the Church, becomes "a time when music is fully involved and helps the intimate relationship between the believer and Christ."
"The Church of Tahiti – he continues - keeps in mind the objectives set by the Holy Father for the Year of Faith: to deepen the Christian faith and to promote the new evangelization." With young people new specific paths of faith will be opened, while one of the difficulties is "to achieve coherence between everyday life and the spiritual ideals that are claimed." The local Catholic community, concludes the Chancellor, "trusts in the Holy Spirit and in a new Pentecost for the Church." (PA) (Agenzia Fides 18/10/2012)