Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Stuttgart (Fides Service) - A special Mass on Sunday 4 March presided by the auxiliary Bishop of Rottenburg-Stuttgart Bishop Thomas Maria Renz was the culminating event of celebrations to mark the 25th anniversary of the inauguration of International Youth Centre for Spirituality. The Centre, an initiative of the dioceses and the Provincial community of the Scalabrini Missionaries who care for migrants, was opened in 1982. In all these years it has been directed and animated by Fr. Gabriele Bortolamai to whom Bishop Renz expressed deepest gratitude for intense activity to announce the Gospel to young people and migrants. Present for the occasion several diocesan and religious priests including Scalabrini missionaries.
The celebrations were attended by about 200 young people of 18 different nationalities, who had taken part or are taking part in the activity of the Centre to promote Christian formation, openness to others who are different, and to offer young Catholics a concrete experience of the universality of the faith. Addressing those present Fr. Gabriele Bortolamai said that in 25 years more than 22,000 young people of 72 different nationalities had benefited from the activities organised at the Centre.
Reflecting in his homily on the Gospel of the Transfiguration Bishop Renz said that a disciple of Christ needs to experience moments of darkness and the cross and also experience Mount Tabor and the marvellous vision of God’s love. With regard to the migratory phenomenon more than ever present today and the need to evangelise secularised society, Bishop Renz concluded “in the future there will be ever greater need for Centres of Spirituality and people who wish to experience the spirit of Tabor in order to offer courageous witness in the world and be ready to dialogue with everyone, including members of other religions and cultures”. Encouraged by these celebrations the International Youth Centre for Spirituality is determined to do even better in the future and has already inspired the recent opening of other similar centres in Switzerland, Italy, Brazil and Mexico run by Scalabrini Lay Missionaries. (L.D.) (Agenzia Fides 9/3/2007; righe 29; parole 411)
