| Austria – Don Bosco Haus: 25 years of life |
| Spain – SYM meeting at the Madrid WYD |
| Austria – “Vamos” to WYD in Madrid |
On Sunday 26 June those signed up for WYD were invited to a preparatory meeting. Seventy young people from all over Austria gathered for a day together at the Salesian “Don Bosco Haus” in Vienna.
There was a full and varied programme. First of all using a variety of methods they got to know each other. This was followed by a short Spanish lesson in the basic expressions. Information was provided about the country which is to be their host, and finally the WYD programme was presented. Then all the young people joined in to produce a large banner to take to Madrid.
Divided into small groups they read and discussed the message which Benedict XVI has sent for the XXVI WYD: ““Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith.”
The meeting ended with Mass which was attended also by many parents and other young people who had arrived in the meantime. In his homily, Fr Siegfried Kettner, Delegate for Youth Ministry, spoke about following Jesus in daily life and invited some young people to speak about their own personal experiences. During Mass there were hymns in various languages.
“I can’t wait to go to the WYD in Spain,” Christine said after the meeting, while Marcel added: “Surely I’ll make new friends.”
In all 93 young people from the SYM in Austria will be travelling to Spain between 11 to 22 August 2011 to take part in the WYD. In the first part of their travels during the so-called “Diocesan Days” they will be staying with the Salesians in Barcelona. Once they arrive in Madrid they will be actively involved in the WYD celebration on 17 August and they will take part in the German catechesis programme.
Published 04/07/2011
