EUROPE/ITALY - Young people and the Eucharist: “It is important to find a way to lead people to Christ. People long to experience the presence of God in the consecrated Bread”

Rome (Fides Service) - We give some of the testimonials presented during the recent Meeting of Adoration Groups in Rome and Rome’s city mission, Jesus at the City Centre.
“For me the Eucharist has always been important thanks to a priest in my parish who today is 80 years old. The sight of him kneeling so often before the Tabernacle in deep prayer made me understand that there was more than just a piece of bread on the altar” said 25 year old Mariela Gauto from Paraguay. In her town on Thursdays in every parish prayer groups animate an Adoration. “It is important - said Mariola - to find a way to lead people to Christ. People long to experience the presence of God in the consecrated Bread””.
Borna Karic is 22 and comes from Zaghreb (Croatia), he is in Rome studying for the priesthood at Seminario Romano Maggiore. He was an altar boy when he was little and at the age of 17 with the guidance of a priest he realised the profound significance of Mass. “The Eucharist is the basis of my life and my day. Without the Eucharist my life would have no meaning. I live the mystery of the Eucharist, Adoration, the Sacrifice of the Mass knowing that Jesus redeemed us from sin on the Cross. In the seminary I live the Eucharist with daily Adoration and grow in my understanding through studies of Church teaching and traditions and the experience of great saints and mystics. Outside the seminary I try to live what I celebrate every moment with every action, fully aware that everything around me depends on God and it is to him that I must give thanks. In my parish at home we often share our experience and reactions are very different. Some young people from practising Catholic families are easier to talk with, whereas it is more difficult with those who have been away from the Church for a long time. But all want to know what made a boy of my age make such a radical decision. This space of dialogue is an opportunity to share with others my encounter with Christ”.
Paolo Benigni aged 22 a philosophy student from Rome, said he met Christ in the Eucharist as a young child at church and in catechism classes. For him preparation for confirmation was very important. “I owe a lot to the assistant priest Fr Riccardo who was very kind. He introduced me to the parish youth group when I was 16. He understood my deep desire to live the Eucharist more closely. And as time passed my encounter with Christ developed naturally beyond all expectations. This year our group started meeting once a month for an Hour of Adoration. I go to daily Mass before my classes at university. We have a group of senior altar boys who are leading smaller boys to Adoration. Jesus is our best friend and we talk about him with children of 8 and boys of 16-17. We try to build personal relations of friendship and make it known to all that Christ is not in heaven far away, we meet him every day in Eucharist and in every person”. (RF/SL) (Agenzia Fides 12/10/2005 Righe 43, Parole 615)