” “Several thousand Czech and Slovak youngsters have been meeting at Velehard (in the south of the Czech Republic, close to the Slovak frontier) since 18 July. There they are celebrating a WYD in tandem with that in Sydney. The event is called "Activ8". It’s a joint venture of the Bishops’ Conferences of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Its aim is to "activate" the faith of the young and foster mutual relations between the two countries, which formed a single state up till 1992. Velehard is traditionally considered the bishop’s see of St. Methodius patron saint of Europe together with his brother Cyril. A benefit concert by the American group "Sonic Flood" was held on Friday evening. The funds collected will be used for the humanitarian projects that the Czech diocese of Ostrava and Opava is running among the Greek-Catholics of Ukraine. "We wish to motivate the young to show solidarity with those living in poverty", explained Father Vit Zatloukal, head of the youth pastoral department of the Czech Bishops’ Conference. During the national Czech youth meeting last year some 17,000 euro were collected for the Czech mission in Haiti.” “
