EUROPE/SPAIN - “SANPA”: a new form of youth evangelization and testimony on city streets, during the Year of St. Paul

Madrid (Agenzia Fides) - “SANPA”: this is the new form of youth evangelization on the streets, launched by Youth Ministry in Spain. The name of the activity was inspired by the Year of Saint Paul, which the Church is now celebrating...from the Spanish “San Pablo” (Saint Paul), “SANPA.” The Youth Ministry in Spain is hoping to use the activity to encourage the youth to bear witness to their faith in a joyful and serene manner, with courage and without fear, like Saint Paul.
This coming Saturday, December 20, the first SANPA event will be held in downtown Madrid. On this day, the youth participants will take to the streets in the downtown area, beginning at 6:30pm. Each participant will carry a banner with an image of the Baby Jesus, wishing a Blessed Christmas, and will invite people to participate in the Mass for families to be held on December 28, in Plaza Colón, convoked by Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, Archbishop of Madrid, and will end with Christmas carols and a Rosary in Puerta del Sol.
The invitation sent through the mail says: “Are you up to the SANPA challenge? All you need is faith and the desire to give your testimony.” The SANPA events will be held several times over the course of the year, coinciding with various liturgical events, in order to give Spanish youth the opportunity of bearing witness to their faith and love for Christ, the Church, Mary, and the Pope. Prior to the activity, they will attend a formation course on the meaning of Christmas.
“Youth and Family Ministry” (in Spanish, Juventud y Familia Misionera) is a program of the Mission Network, and an international apostolate of the movement Regnum Christi, which acts in service to the Church, its Bishops and parish pastors, and is open to all who wish to be missionaries. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 17/12/2008)