WYD 2013: Join us in Rio to celebrate the faith
(Vatican Radio) An estimated 2 million young people are expected to attend World Youth
Day in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this summer. With a little over six months to the July
21-29th gathering, the Organizing Committee is putting the finishing touches
to events and confirming locations for the week of catechesis workshops and liturgies.
The theme for this World Youth Day is “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:19). Its symbols are the World Youth Day Cross and icon of Our Lady. In his message for the 27th World Youth Day, Pope Benedict emphasized that the human heart is made for joy, which is found in God and “intimately linked to love.”
“We are preparing the last things for this great event”, says Fr. Leandro Lenin, executive director of the Catechesis for WYD. He is currently in Rome to finalize the programme in collaboration with the Pontifical Council for the Laity and dropped by Vatican Radio to speak with Silvonei Protz from the Brazilian program.Listen:
“I’m in charge of catechesis so we have already set up all the host areas for young pilgrims, with families, in schools and parishes, which must be near to the locations for the catechesis, which are divided into language groups. We are trying to resolve the difficulties we have with regard to transportation because our city has its own problems”.
Q1 : What can you tell us about the presence of young people from around the world?
“When the young people register on the website they can choose the form of hospitality that best suits. If for example, they are in a big group, 50 people or more, they will probably stay in a school or a club. If it is a smaller group then they will probably stay with families in their houses. We are making a great effort to encourage Brazilian families to open their homes to the pilgrims, this is important because we need the young people to experience this. We don’t think this will be difficult, we are finding many people with open hearts willing to give the young people a place”.
Q2: You are in charge of organising the Catechesis, can you speak to us about this, how will they be
“There are going to be three days of catechesis. On the 24th, 25th and 26th. The young people are going to gather in language groups and there will be a bishop each day where they can listen and ask questions and even celebrate Mass together, focusing specifically on the theme, “Go and make disciples of all nations”. This is an important part of World Youth Days, because after that they have the opportunity to summarize everything they heard and learned and be prepared for what happens after the World Youth Day”.
Q3 : How are young Brazilians preparing to welcome the Holy Father?
“We think it’s the greatest opportunity we have. A moment of the Holy Spirit in Rio, a moment of grace, and not only in Rio. All over Brazil young people are preparing to try to be with us in Rio next July. I think we are like Christ the Redeemer, with our arms wide open to receive everybody. I think that this cultural exchange and this way of evangelising the whole world is coming to Rio to help us experience other ways to evangelise, to think about it and be prepared for the new challenges we have to face worldwide. Being in Rio for these days will be an opportunity to open our minds and hearts to being the disciples of Jesus Christ. We are looking forward to receiving everybody so come on an join us!”.
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