(ANS – Santiago de Cuba) – On Wednesday 27 March, the young people of the Parish of Mary Help of Christians had their most eagerly awaited event of the year - Young People’s Easter 2013. With great excitement and expectations, these young people decided yet again to spend five days in intense celebration of the culminating stages of the life of the One who gives meaning to history: Jesus of Nazareth, His Death and Resurrection.

The paschal symbols of water, the cross, reconciliation, Eucharist, the Word of God and oil were chosen to guide the periods of formation and reflection, of prayer and animation. In this way the participants were helped to see the Passion of Christ present in their own life of faith. At the beginning of the meeting, they were each given a Personal Faith Journal, a Compendium of the Catechism and a copy of the Bible.

They young people made use of these in exploring and expressing their doubts, hopes and fears.  With the Church’s Year of Faith in mind, the motto “Let me start afresh” was chosen.  It served as a programme for the activities of the thirteen leaders and animators, and in turn was received, shared and celebrated by over forty young people belonging to various groups of the Don Bosco and La Milagrosa communities.

The young people had several significant moments of celebration. On the first evening there was the usual welcome and a presentation on the overall meaning of Easter. After the Mass on Holy Thursday, they spent an hour of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.  On Good Friday, they viewed the film “Cristiada” followed by a procession. On Saturday morning the young people took part in a walk, and finally, on Easter Sunday, Mass was celebrated on the beach.

Published 12/04/2013