Dear Brothers,
This letter is to inform you of the initiatives being undertaken by the General Council in collaboration with those responsible for the Spanish region of the CORI, FAM and SANG Provinces in preparation for the World Youth Day (WYD) encounter due to take place in Madrid, Spain, from August 16th to 21st of next year, 2011.
Official Registration. It would be wise to write-in now, because the official registration for participation in the WYD next year is likely to be opened July 1st this year of 2010.
Web Page. Information on the official web page at the link shown here will be available in English, Spanish, French, Polish, Italian and German. http://www.madrid11.com
Young Passionists Encounter.
I would like to inform you once again that the World Youth Day will afford an opportunity for an encounter on Formation, and dialog, between young Passionist Religious and the General Council. This encounter will take place on the 12th – 13th – 14th August 2011 at our Peñafiel Retreat House and Community, situated some 190 Km (119 miles) from Madrid.
Participation Young Passionists. Our hope is that the above-mentioned encounter will enjoy the participation of Passionist youth from our various Configurations. For more precise information and in order to establish the number of young religious who will represent the various areas, a later letter will be sent to Provincial, Vice Provincial and Regional Vicariate Superiors. Likewise, in the course of the coming General Synod in Rome this October we can talk about the WYD encounter.
Lay Youth. Regarding the participation of young lay people belonging to our extended Passionist Family, or of youth in one way or another associated with our ministry, the Planning Commission of our Spanish Provinces has proposed the following plan:
- It is recommended that each parish or youth group attached to one of our shrines or Retreat Houses sign-up for the WYD on their own, for the week starting Monday afternoon August 15th and ending the morning of Monday August 22nd .
- At the moment of signing-up it is recommended that the all-inclusive Package A1 be selected, as this provides for both board and lodging (breakfast, lunch and dinner.)
- A special day will be set aside for Passionist Lay Youth. An invitation is to be extended to those groups attached to us to participate in an encounter at our St. Gabriel’s school (“Colegio San Gabriel”) in Alcalá de Henares, situated approximately 25 Km (15 ½ miles) from Madrid. The day will be animated by youth groups of the Spanish Passionist Family. Coaches will be provided to transport everybody there and back.
I close with the assurance that once the plans for this encounter have been confirmed, all the necessary information will be duly relayed to you.
Fraternally,
(Most Rev) Ottaviano D’Egidio, C.P.
Superior General
Retreat of Saints John and Paul,
Rome, May 19th 2010
