"Come and you will see": stage set for Catholic Youth Day in Korea

"Come and you will see." The passage from the Gospel of John was chosen this year by the Archdiocese of Seoul for the 5th Catholic Youth Day to be held on April 17 at the Theological Seminary of the capital. Promoted by the Department of Vocations and Youth Ministry of the Archdiocese, the event aims to involve secondary school children in a wider reflection on their future and their vocation, helping them to recognize the love of God and to strengthen their Christian faith, while offering the Catholic teenagers the opportunity to seek, discern and respond to the Lord’s call.

The initiative was born in 2009 and, over the years, has seen a growing number of enrolments. About 5,000 students of the capital's parishes are expected to participate in the event. The program of the Day includes games in the morning and experiential workshops: the available area will be divided into three sections which are: the past, the present, the future, and each participant can "explore" the Catholic faith, life as a teenager, and future dreams.

The area that will host the young people will be divided into three sections, past, present and future, within which one will have the opportunity to build one’s own vocational journey and identify the aspirations and future expectations in line with their own journey of faith. The day will end with a Mass presided by the Archbishop of Seoul, Cardinal. Andrew Yeom Soo-jung.

"Young people are valuable assets for the Catholic Church" observes Fr. Peter Yang Jang-ook, Director of the Youth Department of the Archdiocese of Seoul. "We try to offer them the opportunity make the experience of God’s love, joy and mercy".