Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Montevideo (Agenzia Fides) - Around the slogan "He approached and walked with them", this weekend in most of the dioceses of Uruguay the 42nd National Youth Day (JNJ) is celebrated, in some dioceses in virtual mode and in others in presence, depending on the health provisions linked to the pandemic. The dioceses of Tacuarembó and Melo will celebrate the JNJ in October. According to information sent to Fides, the young people of the Youth Ministry of the diocese of Canelones will celebrate JNJ on Saturday, September 4, at 8 p.m., in virtual mode. The meeting will be held on the Zoom platform and will include presentation games, a prayer, the speech by Fray Rubén Lucero OP on the theme "Accompanied to accompany", and a group work on the proposed topic. The young people of the new diocese of Maldonado-Punta del Este-Minas will also gather on Saturday 4 at the foot of the Virgen del Verdún to celebrate their first JNJ. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. with some songs and a moment of integration between the young people of the different communities. Then, the Gospel at the heart of JNJ (Luke 24: 13-35) will be proclaimed, followed by group sharing through some questions and testimonies.
In the afternoon, they will go up to Cerro del Verdun to pray, celebrate Mass and then worship the Eucharistic Jesus. At 4 p.m. they will come down from the hill for a snack and close the JNJ with testimonies and dances. In the Archdiocese of Montevideo the JNJ will take place on Saturday 4 from 9 a.m., with a pilgrimage from the Plaza del Ejército to the parish of the Sacred Hearts, where there will be a moment of reflection on the life and work of Father Cacho, and young people will visit the tomb of the Servant of God. Finally, the young people will make a pilgrimage from the parish to the National Shrine of the Grotto of Lourdes, where the concluding Mass will be celebrated. Also in the diocese of San Jose and Flores the young people will meet today, Saturday, to celebrate their JNJ. At the opening there will be a welcome prayer and a play area. Throughout the day there will be three moments of meeting, reflection and prayer. In the afternoon, the JNJ will culminate with the Eucharist in the Cathedral of San José de Mayo. This year the dioceses of Mercedes and Florida share the celebration of the JNJ, which they have developed in different moments, from Thursday September 2 to Sunday September 5, in virtual mode. On Thursday there was a welcome and a presentation, on Friday the young people shared a training workshop on spiritual accompaniment and listened to some testimonies, on Saturday there is a Musical Streaming with the band Effatá and a moment of reflection will be proposed. On Sunday 5th the JNJ will culminate with Mass. In the diocese of Salto, it was decided to celebrate the JNJ in the parishes and in presence, articulating it in two key moments: a proposal for service or mission and a space to share what has been lived, reflection and prayer. (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 4/9/2021)
ASIA/HOLY LAND - A theatre, a swimming pool, a football field to educate about peace
ASIA/JAPAN - 'Money, money, money'. The reasons for conflicts and the arms race according to missionary Archbishop, Tarcisius Isao Kikuchi
AFRICA/DR CONGO - Update after the reactions sparked by a publication by Fides Agency on Cardinal Ambongo
ASIA/CHINA - World Day of Prayer for Spiritual Vocations: “Mission means following Christ”