YOUTH
Spain: “intrepid” like Francis XavierOn March 7 over 8 thousand people attended the first yearly pilgrimage to Janvier, the birthplace of the Patron Saint of the Missions Francis Xavier, the Saint of Navarra. Pilgrims convened in Janvier to relive a tradition that dates back to 69 years ago. Most of them arrived from Navarra, but there were also groups from Madrid and other areas of Spain. International News Agency Fides, reported that the address of Msgr. Francisco Pérez González, archbishop of Pamplona and Bishop of Tudela, who presided over the religious celebration, focused “on life from its beginning to its natural termination”. The archbishop recalled the figure of Francis Xavier who incarnates “the testimony of a young man who one day heard the calling of God and followed the footsteps of Jesus Christ, relinquishing his vanities and his pride. “He did not let himself be carried away by void debates marked by false ideology. Rather, he faced life giving it the only content that could fulfil it”. This man from Navarra “transformed his life and let Christ lead him to transform the lives of all those who didn’t know Him, to whom Francis devoted many hours of his sleepless nights”. Following the example of Saint Francis Xavier, “Christians need to awake from a state of lethargy and complexes that make us feel strangers in our own societies”, the prelate remarked. Following his wake or the wake of Saint Paul “we cannot surrender. On the contrary, we ought to spread the message that being Christians and Catholics doesn’t contradict citizenship, rather, it ennobles it”. This sequel of Christ, continued Msgr. Pérez, enables us to be “the defenders of life, of a cultural tradition that respects life from the beginning until its natural termination; that leads us to be the messengers of true peace, wiping out all remnants of violence; that makes us responsible before the lack of solidarity, as demonstrated by thousands of missionaries who are in the front line and fight for human dignity with the weapon of the Gospel”. “Being intrepid” and “not being afraid”, must lead us “to face our mission without traumas or fears, that is to be the testimonies of Jesus Christ”. Next appointment March 14. England: lectio divina and new technologies Music, theatre, games of lights and sounds narrate the Gospel of Marc. The initiative, principally addressed to the youth, arrives directly from the diocese of Middlesbrough, and will continue during the entire Lenten period. For the occasion, Msgr. Terence Drainey will also lead a number of Catecheses in the three main towns of the diocese: York, Hull and Middlesbrough. The scheduled events have one main theme, the Gospel of Marc, and are focused on Christ’s question to Peter: “Who do you say I am?” Technological tools will enable reflection over the evangelical passages and shared prayer will follow the method of the Lectio Divina. The bishop himself will illustrate this ancient -yet modern – method of prayer that is very dear to Benedict XVI. The program draws inspiration from the experience made by Msgr. Drainey during the World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia, where he led a diocesan delegation. “Upon my return from that special experience – Msgr. Drainey declared – I cherished the idea that a simple way to support and encourage the youth would be giving them an opportunity to change their lives”. Switzerland: WYD 2009 in PorrentruyOn March 21-22 the youth of French-Speaking Switzerland will gather in the Canton of Jura to celebrate the World Youth Day 2009 on the renown theme: “we have placed our hopes in the living God”. After the WYD of Sydney, Swiss youth resume their journey in view of the international meeting called by the Pope in Madrid in 2011. The program envisages moments of prayer, along with cultural, musical and entertainment initiatives. The Catechesis will be held by Msgr. Denis Theurillat, delegate bishop for the Youth of the Swiss Bishops’ Conference, while the youth of the local community will animate a dinner, a vigil and the musical “The night of Peter”. Diocesan delegates, youth movements and association coordinators have been actively committed in promoting attendance to the event over the past months. A low-registration fee will provide access to free bus transportation for young participants from the main towns of the Canton. The WYD will be celebrated throughout world dioceses on April 5, Palm Sunday.
