Spain, the “other” vacations

Spanish dioceses propose a set of fruitful initiatives “in the light of the Gospel”. Most of them – ongoing from July throughout the whole month of August – are addressed to youths. They range from summer camps to pilgrimages, without forgetting the experiences of missions and volunteering near the “last”. From pilgrimages to spiritual exercises. The summer proposal of the diocese of Orihuela-Alicante includes, first of all, the youth pilgrimage to Lourdes led by bishop Jesús Murgui, organized by diocesan secretariats for youths and teaching, along with the diocesan Hospitality in Lourdes. The purpose is to have “an unforgettable experience of dedication to sick people”. The hostel of the Elena Santonja Foundation in Benejama will set up a camp organized by the missionary Childhood Group whose goal is to work for children missionary activity. A specific camp for altar boys in the diocese is organized by the diocesan Seminary in the sierra of Carrasqueta. Finally, the diocese proposes spiritual exercises for adults and lay people in the spirituality “Diego Hernández” home in Elche. The Way of Santiago. Some thirty children and adolescents will be hosted in a vocational discernment camp organized by the diocese of Cartagena, while seminarians in the second and fourth year of the Major Seminary of Saint Fulgencio took pat in a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela held in the month of July. In a week seminarians walked the 111 kilometers that separate Sarria da Santiago, thereby covering the last destination of the French Way, accompanied by one of their spiritual formators, Fr Francisco José Fernández, who explained in this “way of spirituality each stopover is a fundamental step of faith”. Also the secretary for Youth in the diocese of Gaudix will organise, between the end of July and the first week of August, a Way to Santiago. Support to the needy. The missionary delegation in Málaga, in cooperation with Consolation Missionaries, will organize a work camp for young people aged 15 and over, at the Santa Rosa Institute of Lima, featuring formation and encounter. Youths will take part in activities for people at risk of exclusion, such as those held in the House of the Sacred Heart (also known as “Cottolengo”) and in the summer school of the Institute “María de la O”, in the Asperones neighbourhood. “The initiative – said the delegate for missions Luis Jiménez – is aimed at promoting the encounter of youths with their peers from indigent families also in Málaga, so that they may sympathise with the difficulties of those living in situation worse than theirs”. Building the city. The diocesan Childhood and Youth Commission of the archbishopric in Valencia has identified groups of young people that will take part in the project “Building a new city”. Young people will be the protagonists of the mission to be held across various parishes and sites in the diocese. Evangelizing initiatives include cooperation among parish Caritas and liturgical animation of Masses, visits to the sick, elderly and religious, along with support to families with difficulties and religious education for children. The project envisages the initiative “Nightfever”, that will take place after sunset on the beaches of Gandia and Aldaia, “to encourage young people to enter the church and live a moment of reflection and prayer”. Mission to Bolivia. Past July 15 fifteen university students from Granada left for the Bolivian selva in Bellavista to spend the entire summer helping evangelization for the poor. They are accompanied by four members of the “Ahoringa Vuelcapeta” Foundation, an initiative of University Pastoral Care in the diocese of Granada. Diocesan priest Fr José Antonio Villena, is their pastoral delegate in Bolivia. It’s the fourth mission attended by University Pastoral youths in seven years, when they first travelled to the Latin American country. Owing to scarce resources in the selva they were joined by two doctors from the University Foundation along with medicine students and nurses, who will be at the service of the permanent mission of the Missionaries of the Most Holy Sacrament and Immaculate Mary. Other youths will give a helping hand in the school and in other fields. But evangelization is the core of the mission that will be ongoing until August 27. They will offer catechesis to children, young people and adults. Mass will be celebrated every evening.