WITNESSES OF CHRIST FOR A EUROPE FULL OF HOPE
?Europe, come together again, be truly yourself. Discover your origins and revive your roots? was the call made by John Paul II at Santiago in 1982. And 30 000 young people have answered this call by committing themselves to the initiative of the ?European Pilgrimage? that had its peak from the 5th to the 8th August 2004. They came together in Santiago, in Galicia, to discover anew and more vividly the very identity and the historical, cultural and spiritual face of old Europe. They came together in Santiago during this first Compostelian Holy Year of the millennium to become men and women of Hope.
They shared in meetings, catechesis, prayer and friendship in response to the strong invitation: ?Dear young people, sentinels of the future, work so that the light of Christ, with your ideals, your work and your prayers may illuminate the future direction of Europe with renewed faith and hope?. It is the beginning of the journey, following the star, which will bring them to Colonia to celebrate the next World Day of Youth.
Cepam has organized recently two courses whose aim was to give to the participants the possibility of knowing and understanding better Marcelin?s personality and, at the same time, to help them to be enthusiastic animators when they will be back in their own provinces and fully engaged in the apostolic ministries.
The first course is called ?Cycle A?. It took place from 10 to 30 July and ten brothers, six from Brazil, three from Mexico and one from Argentina (see the picture) have participated in it. The number of brothers participating in such initiatives is always reduced, so as to have a better family atmosphere and a more serious possibility of work. Following this method we want to set up a way that helps the participants not only to ?study? Marcelin, but to ?live? him.
The second course was organized for a group of nine Marist Sisters coming from eight different countries. From 2 to 6 Augustt they have deepen Father Champagnat figure in relationship with the Society of Mary.