Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Ouagadougou (Agenzia Fides) - "An act of faith that offers the young people of Burkina Faso the opportunity to deepen their faith". This is how Father Valéry Sakougri defined World Youth Day to be held in Lisbon from August 1 to 6, 2023. The Burkinabe priest is national youth chaplain of the Episcopal Conference of Burkina Faso and Niger (CEBN). In a recent statement, the prelate explained that WYD will be an opportunity to deepen one's faith with a view to a greater missionary commitment for the benefit of the Church and the country. "For some of our young people", explains Father Valéry, "it will also be a fraternity party, in which they will be able to make new friends. For others it will be a moment of deepening, where they will be able to reflect on their own history, with themselves and with others. A moment of inner renewal that will allow young people to make new decisions and imagine new horizons".
Preparations started a year ago with the creation of an organizing committee for WYD, which outlined the general lines and started communication and awareness-raising work in the dioceses and parishes. "Every month preparatory meetings were held to resolve practical, visa-related, technical, as well as spiritual and moral issues of the young people. Every last weekend of the month, the young people meet with the chaplains to pray and prepare their pilgrimage through catechism, games, learning the WYD hymn and intergenerational meetings", said the national chaplain, encouraging them to participate assiduously in the different preparations and to follow the instructions. The official delegation from Burkina Faso is made up of 47 people, including the Archbishop of Koupéla, Gabriel Sayaogo, five priests, four nuns and 37 young Catholics. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 28/6/2023)
