EUROPE
FRANCE: European YouthComing from six European countries, thirty young adults connected with the Oblates met this summer in Marino, Italy. Laetitia, Herman and Lawrence represented France.
Our goal was to create a European network of young people who live the charism of St. Eugene de Mazenod while respecting each other’s culture.
The day to day sharing of life took place in “life teams”, regardless of the language spoken. The missionary interchange took place in language groups. The delegates took turns in presenting the situation of youth in their countries as well as their experience of mission, personally and together with the Oblates within their own society.
The young people of Ukraine discussed the rebuilding of places and communities in their country; those from Poland spoke of the festivities of their spiritual movement “Niniwa”; the Italians spoke of the “Costruire” movement; the Spanish, of their parish groups; the Irish, of their service to the sick in Lourdes and their mission in South Africa; and the French, about “The School of Mission.”
There was a special theme for each day. There was time for socializing, personal reflection, prayer and sharing. Thanks to a day in Rome, visiting the tomb of St. Peter and the General House of the Oblates, our youth were able to live a universal dimension that was even broader than the European meeting itself.
The meeting left the participants very enthusiastic: they continue to communicate with each other through MSN and Skype, and look forward to meeting again in Malaga and Madrid for the World Youth Days in August 2011. (Vincent GRUBER in Audacieux pour l’Evangile, October 2010).
