Adolescents and young people from Mexico are preparing for the World Youth Day (WYD) to be held in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2023; to this end, the Mexican Episcopal Dimension of Pastoral Care for Adolescents and Youth (DEMPAJ) is already preparing a series of catechesis and subsidies of spirituality for the groups and delegations that will participate; but it will also hold a Pre-National Day in February.
In an interview for Vida Nueva, María Teresa Ramos Cadenas, who is a member of the Executive Secretariat of DEMPAJexplained how the dimension is working towards this international meeting.
local pilgrims
QUESTION.- How is DEMPAJ preparing for World Youth Day 2023?
RESPONSE.- We currently work on the promotion and motivation to the youth delegations that are being organized from their dioceses and provinces.
as dimension, we accompany the heads of the delegations who have registered before the dimension (through a registration link, which does not replace the registration to WYD), or through direct communication.
For November we plan to offer catechesis, spirituality subsidies for the groups of delegations that will participate next year, while In the month of February, approximately, the National Pre-Day will be heldand we will be giving more information through the coordinators of the delegations.
In the same way, it has been thought of raising awareness and knowledge about the characteristics and policies that some agencies or organizations must have in order to prevent youth fraud; for this, we are preparing infographics.
The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) in Lisbon, Portugal, has insisted on making this World Youth Day known, that is, that everyone finds out and, even if they cannot attend in person, join as pilgrims in their diocesesgenerating some concrete actions.
Young people to ‘build the Sacred House’
Q.- On the other hand, what do you consider to be the main problems faced by Mexican adolescents and young people today?
R.- Young people today face a great challenge, I visualize it this way: there are so many ideas that they have to assimilate, so much is new that happens to them, that it seems a sea of ideas, fashions, attitudes that do not give them time to discern them.
Q.- In what way does the Church affect the possible solutions to these difficulties?
R.- Looking first for the ‘person’, dignifying the life of the young person, so that he loves himself, feel human being and seek in that way to respect otherssee the one next to it.
Q.- Why should the Church look towards young people?
R.- During his visit to Mexico, Pope Francis said that young people are ‘hope, wealth and dignity’ of the Mexican people, who are the present of society.
Adolescents and young people, with their dreams, joys, their desire to improve themselves, their empathy for those who suffer, undoubtedly have a very important role in the Church and of society.
The youth in our Church is of paramount importance to be able to continue with this call of Our Blessed Mother to Build the Sacred Housethat society that loves, that cares for human life, that promotes peace, justice and the presence of God in each person.