MCYMC participates in international youth conference

ROME – Two Malaysia Catholic Youth Ministers Committee (MCYMC) delegates participated in an international youth conference in Rome on 5-9 April 2017.

The two were Sr Terry Loukang fsic of Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese and Jacinta Fernandez of Kuala Lumpur Archdiocese.

The event themed From Krakow to Panama Conference: The Synod Journeying with Young People was held a the International Pontifical College Maria Mater Ecclesiae Rome.  It analysed the Krakow World Youth Day (WYD) in preparation for the 2019 WYD in Panama as well in preparation for the 2018 Synod of Bishops.

The c0nference was organised by the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, in collaboration with the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops.

The event gathered 300 delegates from 100 countries from all continents around the globe. Each episcopal conference, movement or community sent its delegates consisting of young people, priests, religious and laypeople to the conference to discuss ways the dioceses could prepare their youths for participation in the WYDs.

As for the preparation for the next WYD, the delegates were given time to speak during the conference, and the dicastery collected various experiences of evangelisation of young people in the world, as part of the ongoing synod works until 2018.

The novelty of this event was that the first two days were dedicated to the presentation of the Preparatory Document of the next Synod of Bishops.

Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, and Bishop Fabio Fabene, Under-Secretary of the Synod of Bishops, explained the Preparatory Document and the dynamics of the consultation in the local churches to the youth ministry directors of the episcopal conferences and the young people present.

On the evening of Friday, Apr 7, in the Sala Sinopoli of “Rome’s Music Park,” Gen Rosso and Gen Verde gave a concert to which hundreds of young people were invited and attended. The place was chosen carefully, as it was intended to be a “bridge” of dialogue and sharing for the young believers with all their peers.

Then, on Saturday, Apr 8, all gathered in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore together with Pope Francis for a prayer vigil in preparation for the Mass for World Youth Day, which would be celebrated at the diocesan level this year and again next year.

On Sunday, Apr 9, all the delegates participated in the celebration of World Youth Day at St Peter’s Square, where the Pope himself presided. – Sr Terry L