Czech Republic: point of departure” “

A Church event that will involve thousands of young people with moments of prayer, catechesis, music and cultural workshops. That’s the aim of the National Youth Day planned to be held at Zdar nad Sazavou (Czech Republic) from 13 to 18 August . Preparations for the event are intensive. “The pastoral programme – explains Katerina Kubickova , 22 years old, spokesperson for the Day – takes its cue from the Pope’s message for WYD which was distributed to give young people the chance, either on their own or in small groups, to read it, reflect on it, meditate on it and especially put it into practice”. The secretariat of the youth section of the Episcopal Conference has set up no less than 25 work groups to prepare for the event. Some 300 young people are involved in this process. “In this preparatory phase – adds Katerina – an indispensable role is played by Youth Day on Palm Sunday. On Saturday 23 March, in all the dioceses of the Czech Republic, young people will have the chance to meet their local bishop”. Then the national youth Forum will be held from 18 to 24 April. “It’s a meeting – explains Katerina – of dialogue with the bishops and representatives of the various communities, movements and religious groups”. We put some questions to Katerina Kubickova, who is due to participate in the Symposium of European bishops, scheduled to be held in Rome in April, as the delegate of the Episcopal Conference of the Czech Republic. What are young people like in your country? “In many respects they resemble the young people in Italy or anywhere else in the world. We are dreaming of a better and more just world. It hurts us to see suffering and injustice. We want courageously to put right what’s wrong. Our dreams, our desires, our aspirations are infinitely greater than our real chances of being able to fulfil them. But I think that’s just how it should be. Only great goals make it possible to achieve great results”. What is it you share with youth throughout the world? “A desire for a life full of energy and drive: movement, the thirst for knowledge, the enjoyment of life; the love for music, art, the media, sport, nature. There’s a great yearning for freedom. It’s also true that so many youngsters fail to find a way out of their difficulties (personal, familial, social…). It’s a challenge! I’ve known people for whom the World and National Youth Days, the meetings with the youth of the parishes or of the movements, were the point of departure for a demanding but happy life. That’s why I believe in the World Youth Days and am profoundly convinced of their importance”. Being the light of the world: what does that mean for you? “How many times have I had the experience of experiencing moments of darkness, of losing myself in insecurity and fear. I remember that the strongest and finest thing in such moments of discouragement were the persons that I had close to me. Just their presence, a word or a gesture were enough. Being the light of the world is in fact the expression of a very deep desire that I carry inside me. Each time I succeed in causing someone else to smile, or enabling them to enjoy a moment of happiness, each time that God through me restores courage and faith to another person I’m happy. It is just in these moments that the desire to be the watchman of the morning ( Is 21:11-12) grows stronger in me”. Maria Chiara Biagioni