World Youth Day fair in Brazil gives youth opportunity to discern vocation

(July 25, 2012) Registration has been opened till the end of August for Congregations, Movements and Religious Communities to have a place in the Vocational Fair at next year’s World Youth Day (WYD) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Fair, which will be set up in one of Rio’s best tourist spots - Sugar Loaf Mountain, will include 80 individual stands and 20 joint display posts. The event is seen as an opportunity for youth to discern their vocation. “When the young people enter the neighbourhood, they will immediately see banners for the Vocational Fair with messages from saints, so that they can begin right then to discern, or to question themselves concerning their vocations. In this space we will have a stage for concerts, sermons, moments of prayer and a place to eat,” explained Deacon Arnaldo Rodrigues, one of those responsible for the Pastoral Preparation for WYD July 23-28, 2013. He said there will also be tents set up for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, for Masses, and for use as confessionals. Rodrigues said the Fair is not just for the sake of satisfying the young people's curiosity, but a key event in the WYD – a moment for each pilgrim to begin to discern what is his or her vocation. He said “The choice of those registered will be in keeping with the following criteria: active presence of the candidate in Brazil, active presence in other countries, and classification of the Institution in the Code of Canon Law. Movements that do not have papal or diocesan recognition can also register, but they will only be chosen after the selection of the canonically regularized entities, he added..