Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Karachi (Agenzia Fides) - "In the midst of the pandemic, this call to the evangelizing mission is always more important. The Jesus Youth movement (JY) observed the 'Jesus Youth International Mission Week', from 10 October to 17 October, as a week of preparation for World Mission Day, celebrated yesterday, 18 October. We organized a continual Eucharistic Adoration, for 24 hours a day. The initiative was titled "24 hours of grace": we prayed so that missionaries all over the world are always full of God's grace, to support them and to be united with them in prayer": this is what Shoy Thomas, Coordinator of the "Jesus Youth International" movement, present in Pakistan, India and many other countries around the world said to Agenzia Fides.
Reporting that young people from Pakistan and the Indian subcontinent joyfully took part in the initiative, Shoy Thomas says: "On the last day, Eucharistic Adoration began on October 17 at 10:00 (Italian time) and ended October 18 at 10:00, followed by the online mass of World Mission Sunday. About 100 young people from the Jesus Youth movement, from 26 countries, prayed and were present online". Thomas adds: "The Most Blessed Sacrament was displayed in the Jesus Youth International Office Chapel in Kerala, India, and thousands of our members and other faithful joined through the Jesus Youth International YouTube channel. "The young people of Pakistan participated with enthusiasm and awareness of being "baptized and sent, missionary disciples".
Shoy Thomas notes: "Jesus Youth is a missionary movement, and our members have the Eucharist, the Church and the missions of the Church at heart". "This initiative - he continues - responds to the call of Pope Francis: all the young people of our movement reflected on the theme 'Here I am, send me', based on the Message of the Holy Father who exhorts us to continue our missionary journey in the midst of the challenges of the current pandemic". In addition, during the week leading up to World Mission Day, an Internet seminar was organized dedicated to Pope Francis' Message for World Mission Day. Fr. Martin Ignacio Esguerra Lopez, of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, addressed the representatives of Jesus Youth from more than 35 countries, reflecting on the theme of the Message.
An international team of the movement has organized initiatives for the missionary month including international webinars, promotion of the missionary rosary, missionary meetings which, concludes the Coordinator, "promote awareness of our call to mission. (AG-PA) (Agenzia Fides, 19/10/2020)
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