Young people of Bangladesh prepare for Spain visit

(August 11, 2011) Catholic youths from Bangladesh selected for this year’s World Youth Day in Spain attended a final preparatory meeting Tuesday morning at the Episcopal Commission for Youth on the eve of their departure. Members of the 16-strong party sought to prepare themselves spiritually for the journey through reflection and prayer. “We’ve had three meetings with this year’s participants. We provided them with copies of the pope’s message for the World Youth Day to help them inherit the spirit of the event,” said Father Patrick Simon Gomes, the commission’s secretary and national youth coordinator. Father Gomes will accompany the delegation, which will include 10 Catholic youths, commission chairman Holy Cross Bishop Moses Costa of Chittagong, three priests, one nun and one brother. Upon their arrival in Spain, the delegation will visit the Archdiocese of Toledo, about 70 kilometres outside Madrid, to attend a “Days in the Diocese” program required of all Youth Day delegations. Father Gomes said that to motivate people, the youth for the pilgrimage is challenging. For them it is the first opportunity to travel outside their country, which makes them excited. The expense of the trip also poses difficulties, as most of the children selected for the trip come from poor families. The participants contribute a small amount and the rest is funded from donors, Father Gomes said. However, the participants have to give something in return. Delegates and their families were required to sign a pledge that they would return home after the events and spend three years of service in youth ministry.