EUROPE/SPAIN - Young Catholics of Madrid make pilgrimage to Convent of Guadalupe to prepare for “Youth Mission”; “look at Jesus Christ and let Him look at you and you will understand the true value of your life in the eyes of God "

Friday, 29 September 2006

Madrid (Agenzia Fides) - More than 600 young Catholic from Madrid are taking part in a diocesan pilgrimage to the Convent of Guadalupe in the Estremadura region of Spain. The pilgrimage, 29 September - 1 October, organised by the diocesan Delegation for Childhood and Youth as part of preparations for another "Youth Mission" in November (see Fides 13/6/2006) is open to young people from 16 years upwards. This is a spiritual opportunity for the young participants to experience communion, to feel they are members of the pilgrim Church and feel the necessity of conversion in view of Mission. During pilgrimage reflection and prayers will focus on three main themes: “Leave your land” (Gen 12,1), “I will lead you into the desert and speak to your heart" (Hos 2, 16), "So you light may shine before all men" (Mt 5, 16)..
The “Youth Mission” inaugurated by the Archbishop of Madrid, Cardinal Antonio Mª Rouco Varala, at the conclusion of the Diocesan Synod last. Madrid is joined by two other dioceses Getafe and Alcalá de Henares, in the same ecclesiastical Province. The challenge is for young people to carry the Gospel to places where only they can reach: the hearts of other young people distant from the Church. The Mission has three stages. Stage one, Pre-mission, Pentecost to November. There will be a mission sending celebration on the Feast of Our Lady of Almudena, Patroness of Madrid 8-9 November; 10 - 12 November Diocesan Youth Week. This will be a period of formation of Mission leaders and operators. Stage 2, actual Mission from November 2006 to April 2007. Stage 3: post-mission or consolidation of the mission will start in July 2007. The Youth Mission will close with a pilgrimage to Rome to offer the fruits of this effort to the Pope.
In a Pastoral Letter to Young people on occasion of the Youth Mission Bishop Joaquín María López of Andujar andCánovas de Castilllo of Getafe reminded them that they are the main evangelisers , “without you there can be no Youth Mission", you are the way "for many other young people to find the precious gift of faith and knowledge of Christ” the way of holiness". "This is the message - the Bishop said - you must share with all young people, especially the most helpless and lost: look at Jesus Christ and let Him look at you and you will understand the true value of your life in the eyes of God". With this Mission these young people will be servants of the truth: "we are servants of the Truth, this Truth is not ours it has been consigned to us by the Church”. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 29/9/2006; righe 35, parole 508)


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