Shy or resourceful, practicing or more distant, baptized or not yet, registered firm or still undecided, they responded to the pope’s invitation. This Saturday, January 28 afternoon at the house of the diocese of Raismes, a good hundred young people met to experience the first preparatory meeting before the WYD!
This meeting built in relaxation and spirituality mode, is an essential preamble to prepare for the great adventure of the JMJ !
Time to meet and introduce yourself
The purpose of this
Marie Payen and Zélie GovernorYour first meeting is of course to get to know each other and to be able to gather more information about the organization. To do this, Mary Payen, Zelie Governor and the group of facilitators are not stingy with communication and humor in a large group or in “road”: practical information, routes, places of accommodation…
The organization
Each route is seen in detail with the number of registrants and the number of places remaining. The people in charge and organizers of the routes are introduced to the young people and the routes briefly mentioned.
Lourdes is the first stage of WYD. We leave the North on July 19 at the end of the afternoon to arrive in Lourdes on July 20 in the morning. The whole day of the 20th is devoted to visiting the beautiful Marian city. We then spend the night at the Cité Saint Pierre. The next day, July 21, begins the different roads !
Then, it is then “everyone his way, each his way” until all the roads meet on July 25 next to Santiago de Compostela (this is where the road also arrives Only Portugal). The night is spent in a religious community. And the next day, we will walk towards the cathedral, the final place of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Then, it is in a bus that we will join the diocese of Vila Réal.
Here is what is planned during the missionary week with the diocese of Vila Réal
July 26: Arrival in Chaves at the end of the day
July 27: Day with host parishes
July 28: Day in the deanery
July 29: Day in the diocese
July 30: Family Day
July 31: Departure for Lisbon (passing through Fatima?)
Most young leaders have already experienced one or more WYD and they have at heart to take over so that other younger people can live this often founding and resounding experience of faith.
Route “El ultreïa, peregrinos de Deus, on the paths of St Jacques”
Route Tapas and servos of Deus
Bicicletas de Deus: a route by bike
Route Vela de Deus, seeking God by sail
Cantores de Deus Route, a singing route
The spirit of WYD
Back in large group, Father Emmanuel Canart encourages each young person to leave behind his comfortable security to live the logic of this pilgrimage to the best of his ability. To open up to Providence and to the surprises of God, to allow oneself to be guided by Mary, this is what Father Emmanuel wishes for young jmjists. And for that, why not start (re)reading the Gospel of Luke?
Based on the verses of the great Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa, Father Emmanuel proposes to reflect during the time of sharing on what our lives are like. Like the Portuguese, people of great navigators, are we made for the ocean, the great and the infinite or are we too often bathed in nostalgia or discouragement?
“It behooves the Portuguese, fathers of the vast seas, to want this: only the whole sea or its vain fringe of foam that comes undone. All or nothing. »
Certainly, let us count on Mary to help us choose the right direction, the one where God awaits us!
The afternoon ends with tea and then with the Eucharistic celebration. In total, we count today 129 registered. Registrations are still open. Only one road is full at the moment (the tapas route).
To all the young people registered, be missionaries in your turn by inviting the greatest number of people to experience this great world gathering of Christian youth. Be the living announcement of the good news to attract other young people.
Next WYD preparation meeting: Saturday April 1st! (And this is not a joke)