EUROPE/ITALY - Celebrations on 26 December for 105 young people from four different countries now free of drug addiction thanks to support from the Pope John XXIII Community

Rimini (Fides Service) - On Sunday 26 December 105 former drug addicts members of 36 drug abuse rehabilitation centres belonging to the International Association John XXIII Community communities will be declared ready to return to their families, studies or jobs and start normal life once again. The 105 young people come from Croatia, Russia, Brazil and Chile.
About 1,500 people are expected to attend a Mass and Ceremony of Recognition, at the Risen Lord parish church, in Rimini, via della Gazzella, 48 near the highway for San Marino). The Mass will be presided by Archbishop Stanislaw Rylko, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity.
The International Association John XXIII Community was founded in 1968 by an Italian priest Rev. Oreste Benzi. Today it has about 1,500 members in 18 different countries on 4 continents: Africa (4), Asia (3), Europe (6) and Latin America (5). The Community is active in various fields to overcome marginalisation: Family Homes for persons with a disability, minors in difficulty, former drug addicts, alcoholics; therapeutic communities for rehabilitation of drug addicts; houses for prayer; structures for street children; youth centres; homes for immigrants; homes for girls saved from the slavery of prostitution. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 17/12/2004; Righe 16 - Parole 191)