Representatives of the Episcopal Conferences and Youth Ministry from around the world, movements and congregations are meeting in Fatima in a preparatory meeting for WYD 2023. The meeting aims to present the organization as well as to outline strategies for cooperation with the most diverse agents of youth ministry.
With the participation of about 300 people from more than 100 countries, the IPM – International Preparatory Meeting, began on October 17, with a conference by the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life, Cardinal Farrel.
“May the next WYD be an open space where young people can encounter Christ and discover from him their vocation in life. May this WYD be for many of us and for society a new beginning”. With these words Cardinal Farrel expressed the common expectations of all the participants of the IPM.
In closing, he wished “Let us make this face-to-face meeting a sign of building bridges between nations and cultures. This is what the World Youth Days have stood for since their inception. This message is never old and is much needed today.”
Shalom in WYD 2023
The Shalom Catholic Community, was present at the preparatory meeting through the missionaries who represented the most diverse fronts of apostolate – the youth advisory in the person of Bertrand Wadi, the International assistance with Tiago Barroso, the San Lorenzo International Youth Center with Vitor Aragão and Fabiola Inzunza as well as Anderson and Father Jean Shalom missionaries who made up the delegations of their mission archdioceses – Hungary and Algeria.
“A young Church that loves young people,” as summarized the IPM, Tiago Barroso, – International Assistant of the Shalom Community – “it was very good to see the Church giving prominence to young people, preparing not only for them the WYD, but with them.
The Youth Advisor, Bertrand Wadi, highlighted the experience of synodality lived during these days in Fatima. “The presence of young people and delegations from various parts of the world was for me a sign of the evangelizing power of the Church as well as the great affection that she has for young people”.
Already Anderson, missionary in Hungary and representative of his mission diocese in the IPM highlighted the prayerful work “the cornerstone for me of WYD was laid and it was precisely adoration, we had the opportunity to work and intercede for all the young people who will come to WYD.”