EUROPE/ITALY - Saint Paul is adopted as a “traveling companion” by youth from the Oblates’ Costruire Youth Movement on their trip to Uruguay

Rome (Agenzia Fides) – Seven members of the “Costruire Youth Movement” (in Italian, MGC) will take a missionary trip to Uruguay July 30-August 21. The event has been taking place for several years, thanks to the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI). It is intended for youth over 18 who lead a Christian life and have evangelization experience in Italy. The youth share in the lives of the missionaries (evangelization, social aid, catechesis, teaching...) and will be housed with families in the area, so as to experience first-hand the culture and people of Uruguay. Working with the youth are the OMI Missionaries (currently 14, of 3 nationalities) who have been working in the Latin American country since 1930.
The seven young people – five from Calabria and two from Campania (Italy) – have done several weekend training sessions over the course of the year, where they analyzed the following themes: personal motivations for a missionary trip; awareness of the culture and history of Uruguay; understanding of the Church and the role of missionary work. The formation also included a series of references to St. Paul, as the Church is celebrating the Year of St. Paul, and the Saint has been officially adopted by the youth as their “traveling companion.” During these days prior to their journey, the youth have been receiving SMS messages in their cell phones, with quotes of the Letters of St. Paul that encourage them as they prepare to set off on their missionary adventure. For more information, contact: P. Pasquale Castrilli OMI; castrilli@tiscali.it. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 28/7/2008)