As news coverage of the World Youth Day in Madrid subsides, I want to highlight an event in Spain which preceded the four days in Madrid but which did not receive world press coverage. 400 Marist youths from 18 Provinces and one District attended the Marist International Youth Festival from August 10th until August 13th. They gathered in four different locations so that there would be the opportunity for them to get to know each other in a smaller setting, but then came together at our school in Buitrago de Lozoya for the conclusion of the festival. Excitement and enthusiasm ran high as students from Canada had the opportunity to meet students from war-torn Cote D'Ivoire, for example. It didn't take long for communication to be established through common symbols and dramatic presentations. The theme of the conference was BELIVIN'...Be Living, Be alive, Believe! Naturally, the students discovered many familiar Marist elements among each other which helped them to bond even closer. Vocations as well as how to spread the Marist message were explored and the conference ended on a pledge to live that mission as well as to gather again in 2013 in Rio de Janeiro before the next World Youth Day. The Festival was a vibrant testimony of the vitalityof our Marist Spirituality and Message of making Jesus known and loved, especially to the least favored under the patronage of Mary. How pleased St. Marcellin must be.
Bro. Rene
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