Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Arcidiocesi Concepcion
Concepción (Agenzia Fides) - The young people of the Archdiocese of Concepción are also ready to meet Pope Francis during the World Youth Days which will take place from August 1 to 6 in Lisbon. Preparations for them began last year and have evolved into numerous activities. "In the Archdiocese of Concepción there is currently a delegation of 160 people, including many young university students, coming from schools, parishes, movements and other realities of our Church", reports Fides the Episcopal Delegates of the Vicariate for Youth Ministry. "In view of the next World Youth Day, all have been working and making pilgrimages since last year. Some have started their way to WYD since they were offered to participate in the event in Portugal". "Our work, explained to Fides one of the delegates, consisted essentially in accompanying, through diocesan meetings, the young people of the diocese but also those who are part of movements and congregations. Along the way, campaigns of support have been put in place to raise the necessary funds.We have prepared moments of formation, including five diocesan meetings during which young people who have participated in previous WYDs shared their testimonies. Among other initiatives, we held meetings on fraternity as well as prayer, motivational coaching, leadership development".
"On July 15, we celebrated a sending Mass in the Temple of San José de Concepción, for pilgrims and families", the delegate continued. The Temple of San José is important because it houses the Youth Encounter 'Cristo Vive' Space, where various activities for young people take place. Created following the apostolic exhortation Christus vivit that Pope Francis published in 2019, the Youth Meeting Space is a place that the young people of the parish themselves requested directly from the Archbishop of Concepción, Fernando Chomali, where they can carry out activities of different kinds, ranging from meetings to prayer, cultural encounters and sharing.
Inaugurated on September 3, 2021, despite the pandemic, this place is not reserved exclusively for young Catholics, but everyone can use it for free". Furthermore, on November 11, on the occasion of the largest youth pilgrimage in southern Chile, held in the town of Yumbel, the young people who will participate in the WYD in Lisbon will meet to share their testimonies so that the whole community of the archdiocese can participate. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 19/7/2023)
