(ANS – Madrid) – Yesterday afternoon, 28 September, over 250 people gathered together at the Salesian house of Atocha to say a big “thank you.” All those present in fact had collaborated with the Salesian community in welcoming the thousands of pilgrims from the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) who arrived for the World Youth Day (WYD) and organising various activities.

The celebration was intended to draw to a close all this work by  Salesians, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and volunteer on behalf of the 7,000 young people from the SYM, from  60 different countries for the meeting with the Pope.

First of all a video was shown in the Atocha theatre with a selection of photos recalling the WYD week. Time was then spent reflecting on what had most touched the hearts of the volunteers, the memories of those days, and suggestions about what might have been done better especially regarding the welcoming of the young people.

The FMA Provincials of  Madrid and Leon and the Salesian Provincial of Madrid thanked the volunteers, collaborators, leaders, young people, members of the Salesian Family, teachers, Salesians and FMA who had been involved during the WYD. In particular, they mentioned how all the houses had been ready to welcome and work with so many young people of the SYM at a Universal Church event.

Then in the school chapel there was a moment of prayer to “thank the one really responsible for what happened during WYD , Jesus Christ,” as Fr Rosendo Soler, National Delegate for Youth Ministry said. During the prayer moment those present were able to write on a piece of paper a memory or a prayer which were then placed at the foot of the crucifix which had been set up at the Vigil on 17 August. This was accompanied by a commitment to keep alive the enthusiasm evoked by the WYD  and this was represented by everyone lighting a small candle from a  large one.

Then as everyone chatted and shared their thoughts and memories it became evident that everyone had the same ideas: they felt they had received far more from all the young people who had come to the WYD than they had been able to give. There was great satisfaction for the work done. The atmosphere created  in the Salesian houses was very good. In those days the young people had shown a great spirit of prayer and depth. Finally they had all felt very proud to belong to the  Salesian Family and that working together as a family they had been able to organise a great event like this.

Published 29/09/2011