Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Dakar (Fides Service)- “Ziguinchor, main city of Casamance, was chosen to give a clear signal of support for peace” Fr Giuseppe Giordano, OMI, national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Senegal and Mauritania told Fides with regard to a Youth Meeting which opens tomorrow 18 March in Ziguinchor, Casamance, the scene of years of secessionist war from 1982 to last year when a peace agreement was signed on 31 December 2004 (see Fides 17 December 2004).
The youth meeting is held on the occasion of World Youth Day, this year 20 March, Palm Sunday. The meetings are held every five years and the last one was in 2000. Between 8 and 10 thousand young people are expected to attend the event 18 - 21 March. “2,200 from the archdiocese of Dakar alone” Fr. Giordano said. Delegations will come from Mauritania, Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde, Mali and Guinea Conakry.
“Ziguinchor was chosen to give a signal of support and hope for peace and also because it is the second largest diocese in the country” said Fr. Giordano. “The days of the meeting will also include a forum with representatives of youth movements in Senegal who will present their specific charisma. The role of Catholics in Casamance will also be discussed”.
“From the spiritual point of view the days will focus on the experience of the Upper Room, or, the encounter with the Spirit of the Lord. The meeting was preceded by months of spiritual involving all young Catholics in Senegal and so even those unable to be at the meeting in Ziguinchor will have drawn important spiritual benefit from the event” Father Giordano said. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 17/3/2005 righe 28 parole 325)
