A World Youth Day for Arab Christians
Aleppo (AsiaNews/CWN) - Church leaders in the Middle East are planning to organize World Youth Day activities for the Arab world. Diocesan officials engaged in youth ministry met in Aleppo, Syria last week to discuss plans for an Arabic observance of World Youth Day. Later in the week, the first-ever "Day for Young Christians" brought together about 4,000 people in Syria, including delegations from Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan. Catholics of several different rites participated in both meetings. Bishop Scandar's initiative was based on the idea that young Christians, who represent a distinct minority in the predominantly Islamic region, should become better organized. He noted that the Pope's messages to the world's young people, delivered for each year's observance of World Youth Day, are not readily available in Arabic translation, and sought to establish a mechanism that would allow for these translations, and also establish ready communication among Catholics in the Arab world. Finally, the bishop's goal is to strengthen the Church's efforts to evangelize young people in the Arab world. That effort is doubly important
because of the steady emigration of young Arab Christians to the Western world-- a trend that has severely eroded the Catholic presence in the region. Father Francis Kohn, an official of the Vatican's Congregation for the Laity, was a participant in the discussions. Upon his return to Rome, he reported that the meeting had been held at the suggestion of Bishop Georges Scandar, a retired Maronite prelate. The goal, Father Kohn reports, was to establish "a new process in a region of the world where there is no lack of problems." Father Kohn remarked that the first international meeting of young Catholics was greeted enthusiastically by the participants. The meeting included catechetical talks, meditations, and daily Mass, all under the direction of the Melkite Bishop Clement Jeanbart of Aleppo. The Arab Catholic organizers of the July meeting hope to convene another such gathering prior to the celebration of World Youth Day 2005 in Cologne, Germany. Organizers are hoping to attract representatives from Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Israel and the Palestinian territories, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and even Sudan.
because of the steady emigration of young Arab Christians to the Western world-- a trend that has severely eroded the Catholic presence in the region. Father Francis Kohn, an official of the Vatican's Congregation for the Laity, was a participant in the discussions. Upon his return to Rome, he reported that the meeting had been held at the suggestion of Bishop Georges Scandar, a retired Maronite prelate. The goal, Father Kohn reports, was to establish "a new process in a region of the world where there is no lack of problems." Father Kohn remarked that the first international meeting of young Catholics was greeted enthusiastically by the participants. The meeting included catechetical talks, meditations, and daily Mass, all under the direction of the Melkite Bishop Clement Jeanbart of Aleppo. The Arab Catholic organizers of the July meeting hope to convene another such gathering prior to the celebration of World Youth Day 2005 in Cologne, Germany. Organizers are hoping to attract representatives from Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Israel and the Palestinian territories, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and even Sudan.
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