They particularly would like to know about Salesian participation. “We would like to know what the SYM are doing in each country, their plans, activities, how they intend to travel to Madrid... everything that may be of interest to the Salesian Family and to the media”, Fr Javier Valiente, National SC Delegate says.

A special  e-mail has been made available for this purpose to send photographs and news items connected with the SYM and the WYD. They will be forwarded, as appropriate, to the Spanish media who might be interested to know about them.

Among the first initiatives was a workshop, organised by Italian SYM between 19 and 21 November at Genzano, Rome. Attended by about 60 people including Salesians, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians young people and Provincial Delegates there was also a representative group from the Secretariat of  European SYM - Michele Zecchin (Italy), David Viagulasamy and Simon-Pierre Escudero (France), Borja Pérez (Spain) and Sr Runita Borja from the FMA Youth Ministry section.

The idea was to prepare spiritually and logistically  for the participation of Italian SYM at the WYD in Madrid.

On Saturday 20 November Fr Fabio Attard, Councillor for Youth Ministry and Eric Jaquinet, from the Pontifical Council for the Laity looked at the theme for the WYD 2011 from the theological and  Salesian points of view.

The WYD Cross and icon continue their travels through the parishes in Spain. On the morning  of  1 December they were in the Salesian parish of Mary Help of Christians in Puertollano where they were welcomed by the young people and the Rector Fr José Carlos Sobejano, and the Bishop Antonio Algora.

Published 10/12/2010