With a pastoral letter published a few days ago, Bishop Jiri Padour of Ceske Budejovice, who heads the youth commission of the Czech Bishops’ Conference, invited the young to take part in National Youth Day due to be held in Tabor, a town in southern Bohemia, from 13 to 19 August. “At the start of Lent we appeal to you: think of the young!”, writes the bishop. “We don’t write just to pause in our life and express the desire to draw closer to God, especially during the period of Lent. We want to encourage you to care more for the young. We cannot abandon them to the widespread atheist influence we feel all around us with unusual intensity, and with hitherto unknown forms”, exhorts Bishop Padour. “It is important to find ways and means for the young to succeed in faith, to express their joy, grow in love, enrich their relationships, and learn through prayer how to live and be inspired by the Word of God… this is what is happening in many communities, parishes, movements and religious orders: this is worthy of praise and admiration”. The bishop recalls the forthcoming meeting between youth and the diocesan bishop before Palm Sunday and renews his invitation to all youth to attend it and to everyone “to support the young in the form of prayer and solidarity”. “We would also like to invite all the young to participate in National Youth Day… we are glad to know that many of you are able to participate in the preparations for it with a spirit of sacrifice, joy and dedication”. During the meeting in Tabor the Cardinal of Sydney Sidney George Pell will also pay a visit on 17-18 August, at the invitation of Archbishop Jan Graubner, President of the Czech Bishops’ Conference. Cardinal Pell will intervene in the meeting with a delegation of Australian youth to invite the youth of the Czech Republic to participate in WYD in Sydney 2008.
