EUROPE/GERMANY - A missionary adventure set to music: Legend of Toumai youth musical performed by young members of EuroMissio will go on stage as part of World Youth Day initiatives

Thursday, 28 July 2005

Rome (Fides Service) - Toumai was the nickname given to fossils discovered in 2002 in central Africa and said to belong to the earliest known ancestor of modern humans who lived seven million years ago! Today Toumai returns to meet his youngest descendent Arusha, an African of the 21st century. Toumai is old, Arusha is young. Toumai means “hope for life” Arusha means “courage”. This is the theme of a Missionary Musical which will be performed by 250 young people on 16 August at St Peter’s church in Dusseldolf, Germany as part of initiatives for the 20th World Youth Day 11-21 August of which the main events will be held in Cologne.
In the musical Toumai and Arusha set off together in search of a sign which Toumai longed to see 7 million years ago: the sign is a “star”. They cross the whole of Africa to find this mysterious star and discover the secret it wishes to share with them. On the way Toumai and Arusha live many adventures, some exciting, some dangerous, as well as moments of tenderness and love despite many adversities.
The organiser is Fr Michel Besse and the actors are 250 young Europeans (98 from France, 45 from Portugal, 2 from Hungary, 40 from Britain, 35 from Germany , 36 from Ireland). All are connected with EuroMissio association and the Camp in Cologne 2005 which brings together various European youth pastoral operators: colleges and universities animated by Spiritan Missionaries in Ireland; Misonären Auf Zeit Divine Word Germany youth mission service; Jovens Sem Fronteiras youth section of Portuguese missionary cooperation; FI-ACAT International Federation of Christians for the Abolition of Torture; Just Youth youth association animated by Spiritans in Britain; Réseau Jeunes et Mission in France a network of 20 Missionary Congregations for youth activities; Auteuil Orphan Apprentice Foundation which trains young people and helps them find employment.
“Our 250 young men and women of EuroMissio will be actors, dancers, musicians, light technicians, decorators etc., - Fr Besse told Fides -. They will rehearse from 10 to 16 August near Cologne, at Holy Spirit College at Knechtsteden. They will be assisted by a professional director from France,Mrs Damiane Goudet and composer Maestro Eric Montay. Missionaries, seminarians, religious and lay missionaries in Europe will help with the organisation and animation”.
Fr Besse is a “veteran” of this sort of activity. This latest Missionary Musical is the fruit of years of experience and hopes. “The is the 4th edition of our missionary theatre laboratory after Paris 2002, Lyons 2003 and Marseilles 2004. And we hope to continue. The next laboratory camp will be held in 2006 with the Pontifical Mission Societies in France at Aix-en-Provence, South of France. We plan to stage a Tragedy in which the young actors will dialogue with the audience in the streets and draw them into the Church’s missionary witness. This is the goal of EuroMissio.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 28/7/2005, righe 40, parole 536)


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