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As has happened on previous occasions, the young people coming to the WYD in Madrid from various Salesian centres in addition to taking part in the catechetical programme, in the Vigil and Mass at Cuatro Vientos will be meeting together on Wednesday afternoon 17 August. This one at Atocha, considering all the efforts being made by the Salesians in Spain, will be the most impressive SYM celebration so far organised during a WYD. About 7000 young people are expected to take part.
On Wednesday afternoon 17 August the SYM groups present in Madrid will be invited to take part in a gathering to be held in the Salesian centre in the Athoca district not far from the Madrid central railway station. Among those present will be the Rector Major of the Salesians, Fr Pascual Chávez, and the Mother General of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Sr. Yvonne Reungoat.
The programme will be in two parts. The first between 17.00 and 20.30 (GMT+1), will include various activities, as people are welcomed and invited to take part in work-shops, musical performances by young people from different countries and the building of a “speaking wall” on which they can communicate and share their worries and their write about and draw their dreams. In the courtyard with their own stands will be 10 Salesian NGO showing the young people what they are doing.
In the Church of Mary Help of Christians the young people will be able to pray, go to confession and visit the attached Chapel of the Salesian Martyrs. Just off the yard there will also be a chapel for private prayer.
The second part of the programme, between 21.00 and 23.00 (GMT+1), will be devoted to a prayer vigil, centred around the Word of God, the Cross and the Mass. The Vigil, as well as some parts of the first part of the programme, will be broadcast by a Missioni Don Bosco production, on Telepace, other European Catholic programmes and via streaming. Fr Chávez and Sr Reungoat will give the young people the traditional Salesian Good Night.
A large number of volunteers are working on the organisation of these events. Just to give some idea of the scale of the SYM Celebration on 17 August: an international choir of about 200 voices with young people from 15 countries will be taking part at various times in the programme; together with 50 young musicians from Portugal.
Further information about the SYM Celebration or other aspects of the Salesian presence at the WYD can be found on www.bosco2011.com
Published 04/07/2011
