Lauds, Mass, catechesis, but also cultural, sport and recreational activities for the more than 800 youth who have gathered for the "Youth arise international festival", under way in Essen from 11 to 14 August. Organized by Yai, the network of youth associations devoted to evangelization activities, and in view of the Cologne WYD (16-21 Augsut), "the festival", says its vice-chairman, Salvatore Martinez, who in Italy is the head of Renewal in the Holy Spirit (RNS), "aims at providing youth with a space for intervention, dialogue, and listening in faith-related matters. This evening, in particular, there will be time for Eucharist adoration". Davide Sandri comes from Milan and with other hundreds of young Italians, who are members of RNS, is living this experience of faith before travelling on to Cologne "to meet the Pope". "Here, Sandri tells us, the people watch us with curiosity and surprise as we pray and dance in the squares and in the streets". As he is speaking, Davide is surrounded by other young people. Some are from Campania and Calabria, but there are also foreigners, youth from Spain, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland, the Philippines and Brazil. So many languages for a single final thought expressed in a chorus: "we want to be merry in the Lord, knowing that wherever we go we are the witnesses of Christ".
