General Outline of GMG 2000 |
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Theme and Pastoral Programme The theme of World Youth Day 2000, chosen by the Holy Father, is: "The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us" (Jn 1:14). The mystery of the incarnation of the Word, focal point of human history, is announced at the threshold of the third millennium in the context of the Great Jubilee: this renders the 15th World Youth Day different from previous ones. First of all, it will include fundamental components of the Jubilee: pilgrimage, passing through the "Holy Door", profession of faith. Moreover, the hosting place for this event is Rome - symbolic city: the living memories of the Apostles and the early martyrs, the characteristics of this "shrine city" will make the experience of the pilgrimage particularly intense. Lastly, it will be the Pope’s turn to welcome the young people in his diocese, "at home", while on previous occasions the young people welcomed the Pope. All these elements have been included in the Pastoral Programme prepared by the Italian Committee for World Youth Day (GMG) to introduce the theological basis of World Youth Day. The programme is available in English, French, Italian, and Spanish, for all those involved in youth pastoral to help the preparation of the groups of young participants . The World Youth Day will start officially with the welcoming of the youth in St. Peter’s Square on Tuesday, August 15, 2000. In the morning of that same day, each group will celebrate the Eucharist for the Feast of the Assumption at their own lodging places. Focal points of this World Youth Day will be the "Jubilee Pilgrimage" to St. Peter’s tomb and the meeting with his Successor. In order to enable all the young pilgrims to experience both events, the traditional triduum of preparation preceding the Vigil and the Mass with the Pope will be modified. As it is foreseen that already from August 15-19 there will be hundreds of thousands of young people in Rome, they will be divided into three major subgroups, that will be lodged in three different areas and will carry on independent activities during the triduum (August 16, 17, 18). For every subgroup there will be one day reserved for the Jubilee Pilgrimage. This will begin in Via della Conciliazione, include passing through the Holy Door, and conclude with a stop inside the Vatican Basilica at the "Altar of the Confession", while multilingual Jubilee catechesis will be taking place along the way. The area, located in the historical centre of Rome, will be accessible only to the members of the designated subgroup, following a precise timetable. The day of the "Jubilee Pilgrimage" will also have a penitential dimension. At the same time, during the morning the other two subgroups will have the traditional catechesis and the Eucharistic Celebration in their own lodging areas, and in their own language. In the afternoon, time will be dedicated to meet with the hosting community, to visit the Basilicas, (with the exception of St. Peter’s), and participate in the Incontragiovani programme. On Friday, August 18, the Via Crucis will take place along Rome’s central streets, and at the same time, in some of the lodging places. Lastly, on Saturday morning all the groups will gather at the Campus of the Tor Vergata University, where the Vigil and the Eucharistic Celebration will be presided over by the Holy Father on the 19 and the 20 of August. The programme Incontragiovani will take place on August 16-18 afternoons (with the exception of the time dedicated to the Via Crucis). This will consist of various manifestations with the purpose of sharing artistic, religious, and spiritual experiences of faith and life of the young people from all over the world. Groups wishing to present a particular initiative can ask for it to be included in the calendar. However, initiatives should reflect the spirit of the World Youth Day. Namely, they should be:
Following
these criteria, prayer meetings, vigils, exhibitions, concerts, recitals,
theatre presentations and all kinds of activity could be organised, thus
including sharing meetings prepared by Movements, Associations, and
Communities, as well as gatherings with diocesan Bishops. Hospitality in the Italian Dioceses After consideration of the positive results of Loreto 1995 and Paris 1997, the CIGMG invites the groups to consider the possibility of visiting an Italian diocese immediately before World Youth Day, from August 10-14. Non-Italian youth groups, coming to Rome for the celebration, will thus have the opportunity of a close contact with the faith experience of Italian youth, and to establish or strengthen bonds between their ecclesial community and the one hosting them. All Italian dioceses will be offering hospitality, with the exception of those close to Rome, that will receive the pilgrims from August 14-20. The request for hospitality should be addressed to CIGMG that will encourage in every possible way the renewing of former contacts (twin-dioceses, "fidei donum" missionaries, previous encounters, Italian immigrants’ communities, etc.), trying to avoid concentration only on "tourist attracting" cities. The dioceses will offer free, simple accommodation, while the travel costs have to be met by the participants. In order to recruit and organize the largest possible number of volunteers needed for the year 2000, a Voluntary Service Centre has been set up. The Section regarding World Youth Day is located in the office of the CIGMG. The World Youth Day voluntary service will be divided in four branches: pastoral animation and welcoming at the celebration sites; information service; assistance for the disabled; practical services (food supply, accommodation, transportation ...) Requirements for volunteers are the following:
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