International Meeting of Marist Youth
The positive experience of the meeting of youth from all over the world held in Sydney (Australia) in 2008, the week prior to the WYD, led the Superiors to think it worth the effort to continue along the road started there. This could be an excellent opportunity to reinforce the work carried out with young people in each Marist administrative unit, as well as help the Institute listen to the young.
The participants in the 21st General Chapter had the opportunity of attending an information session on the activities being planned for the World Youth Day, scheduled to be held in Madrid (Spain) in August 2011. In July 2009, an international team, appointed by the General Council, established the aims and characteristics of the different activities and procedures, after listening to the Provincial Councils of Europe. From August 2009, co-ordination was assumed by a team appointed by the provinces with a presence in Spain, plus a representative of the General Administration.
Taking advantage of the celebration of the WYD in Madrid, the Marists of Spain propose three offerings. The first is the ?International Marist Youth Meeting?. This meeting is intended by the Marists for the youth of their educational works around the world. To take part in this meeting, a process similar to that of the ?International Marist Mission Assembly? will be followed. That is, all the administrative units are invited to set in motion a process with their youth groups. The youth will take part in a dynamic which culminates in Provincial meetings, and finally in an International Meeting. The latter will be held during the days leading up to the WYD, from 10 to 14 August 2011. Participation will be limited to a maximum of 5 youth delegates from each administrative unit plus an accompanier. The Preparatory Team is going to send out the materials necessary for carrying out the process.
In the second case, the rest of the youth from each administrative unit who want to take part in the WYD in Madrid are invited to get to know the Marist situation in Spain and to interact with the Marist youth of the country, through some activities organized in the different provinces.
For the third offering, the day of the 15th of August is planned as an institutional festival event, open to all, those taking part in the ?International Meeting? as well as those coming from the various provinces with a presence in Spain. The details will be published later.
The Spanish Marist Conference Team (CME), which is preparing and co-ordinating the various events, will send out the necessary information as time goes on.