Festival of encounter and solidarity

For the fourth consecutive time, Malta will participate in the World Youth Day in Cologne. After a lot of effort, preparation, sacrifice and energy, 15 youths from the Nazarene Youth Group of Xaghra, together with their catechists and two priests, will be taking part in this awesome encounter.

World Youth Day is actually a pilgrimage of young people and a festival of encounter and solidarity. The invitation is directed at young people from all over the world. The purpose of World Youth Day is to take up the main concern of Pope John Paul II - a renewal of evangelisation that is also to reach young people. World Youth Day gives young people the opportunity to discover the "young and modern mystery of the Church" (John Paul II) through the common experience of pilgrimage, prayer and worship.

Different forms of encounter have developed over the history of World Youth Day, enabling a deeper experience of spirituality and community. Besides the large-scale celebrations of Mass, with up to 800,000 participants, there are many smaller, decentralised programmes. The variety of the Church is illustrated in the catecheses celebrated by bishops and young people from all over the world in their own national languages. The Youth Festival combines joy and encounter with music, theatre, dance and more.

Between today and Monday, young people are guests in parishes all over Germany. The central events of the XX World Youth Day will begin on Tuesday and will end on August 21.

World Youth Day is designed to benefit both hosts and guests.

"The Church has much to say to young people and they have much to say to the Church. This mutual dialogue must be open-hearted, clear and courageous. It fosters encounter and exchange between the generations and becomes a source of wealth and youth for the Church and society" (Pope John Paul II).

We ask readers to pray for us so that all participants will return truly transformed.