Zimbabwe: Thousands attend local WYD in Harare

Young people from the Archdiocese of Harare turned up in their thousands to celebrate the local World Youth Day [WYD] at St Peters Kubatana on 2 and 3 May. Many young people from the archdiocese and neighbouring dioceses came for the day, which was a preparation of the international event scheduled to take place in July 2016 in Krakow, Poland.

This year's event was 24 hour non-stop - characterized by activities such as the Way of the Cross WYD Pure Hearts Procession from St Mary's Parish to the venue, Pachiroma Challenge, Vocations Fair, WYD Word of God Liturgy, Beatitudes with Chishawasha Hymns, Pure Heart Adoration as well as the official WYD opening and closing Mass and performance by the guest artist aka King Shady.

In her welcoming remarks, the Youth Coordinator Sr Anita Jonga LCBL said: "This celebration is meant to rejuvenate and reinvigorate your spiritual life as youths on your pilgrim journey of faith. It is also a unique way to grow closer to Christ and a strong reminder of the strength and confidence that you bring to the Church today."

The official opening Mass was celebrated by the Papal Nuncio to Zimbabwe, His Excellency, Archbishop Marek Zalewski. He said: "Jesus looks upon young people with a special love, yes Jesus loves and calls you his friends. His love is not a passive love but an active one, he takes the initiative to meet you and he wants to accompany you to ends of life, listen to you and he awaits your faith."

His homily focused on the beatitudes, challenging the young people " for you can't be poor in spirit without having a pure heart, you can't morn for things that displeases God without having a pure heart, can't you hanger or thirst for righteousness, you can't be merciful, you can't be a peace marker or be prepared to stand persecution for the name of Christ without having a pure heart."

Source: In Touch