Rome (Fides Service) - “This year I went to World Youth Day in Cologne and while there I met young members of a Venite Adoremus group and was deeply impressed by their inner joy and peace so I came to Rome to take part in this international meeting of Adoration Groups. I am from Nigeria and in our parish in Kaduna we have Benediction every Sunday afternoon. My idea is to form a Venite Adoremus group in our parish”. This testimonial was offered by Paula Mallan, aged 23 who is studying for a degree in Geography and is in Rome with about 150 other young people from Europe, North and South America, Africa and Australia to take part in the 2nd Meeting of Venite Adoremus Adoration Groups 4-9 October. At the same time young Romans are on a “youth to youth” mission called “Jesus at the City Centre”.
The busy agenda includes liturgies and conferences, visits to children in hospitals, open air concerts and debates in Piazza Navona, Adoration every evening in the church of S. Agnese in Agone. Saturday 8 October at 5pm open air Mass in Piazza del Popolo presided by Archbishop Stanislao Rylko, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity and a procession with the Blessed Sacrament to Piazza Navona. Sunday 9 October closing ceremony led by Mgr Mauro Parmeggiani, in charge of youth pastoral in Rome diocese. “Young people are attracted to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament - said Mgr Parmeggiani -. Many of those who come and pray, then ask to go to confession and are amazed to find that their mistaken concept of God and the Church has suddenly disappeared”.
Mariela Gauto, 25, from Paraguay, said: “The Eucharist is my life. It is the source of my every thought and action. The Eucharist gives me the strength for everything I live and do. I am aware that it is an immense gift for my life. There are many who do not realise this and I feel it is my duty to share with them this gift which is a powerful experience and gives deep joy and longing to share this joy with others, to help others see God as He truly is, loving and tender and merciful”. (RF/SL) (Agenzia Fides 7/10/2005 Righe 31, Parole 443)