” ” "This year, the distance and the high costs did not permit us to send representatives of our youth to World Youth Day, which is now being celebrated at Sydney in Australia", declared Mgr. Benone Farcas, vicar general of the diocese of Chisinau in Moldova, in a briefing to SIR. The Catholic Church of the Republic of Moldova has, however, organized a national meeting for Moldavian youth at Rascov (130 km northeast of Chisinau) "to unite ourselves with the youth from all over the world gathered in Sydney". The meeting began on 17 July and will end on Sunday 20 July, "at the same time as that in Sydney". The days at Rascov are being experienced continued Mgr. Farcas "in the light of the same theme that animates Catholic youth from all over the world". The organizers are expecting some 150 youngsters at Rascov, representatives of all the parishes of the diocese of the capital, Chisinau, who will be accompanied by priests, religious and pastoral animators. The programme of the meeting includes personal prayer, group celebrations, catechesis on the theme of WYD 2008 and moments of festivity.
