BRAZIL, jumasbrasil.com. Many Schoenstatt youth were connected to their social networks following the intense and emotional moment when the official logo for WYD Rio2013 was announced. Moments later, the heart-shaped symbol had taken over Facebook profiles and Twitter updates. It’s a moment of celebration! WYD is starting!
Below is the article published on the Connected Youth site:
Over the last few days, millions of youth from all over the world waited expectantly for the announcement of the symbol for the next World Youth Day (WYD) Rio2013. The countdown ended on February 7th with the announcement of the official logo for the event. The launch took place in the auditorium of the John Paul II Building (Glória).
In addition to the president— the Archbishop of Rio, Orani João Tempesta— and the vice-presidents of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), Auxiliary Bishop Paulo Cezar Costa and Auxiliary Bishop Antonio Dias Duarte, the heads of the different sectors making up the committee were also present.
Other dignitaries included the president of the Brazilian National Bishops Conference and Archbishop of Aparecida, Cardinal Raymundo Damasceno, and the current secretary for the Congregation of Bishops in Rome, Lorenzo Baldisseri. Some one hundred bishops also gathered at the Sumaré Student Centre for the 21st Bishops’ Course, an initiative promoted by the Archdiocese of Rio.
During the event, Archbishop Orani announced the winner of the logo competition, Gustavo Huguenin (25) from Cantagalo, Serrana do Rio. The launch also included artistic performances by Olívia Ferreira, Eliana Ribeiro and the Museum Music Project.
“I am here to express my eternal gratitude to God for the fulfillment of this dream, once so unthinkable and now so real. I am very happy to be a young person who can proclaim to the whole world the joy of belonging to the Holy Catholic Church,” declared Gustavo Huguenin.
At the moment that the logo was announced, the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio lit up in green and yellow, the colors for the next country to host the WYD.
The archbishop of Rio reminded the youth that World Youth Day goes much further than Rio de Janeiro or Brazil. “The youth will leave here taking new values to the world. I am glad to see that we can transform this local work into a service of love for the world. We will influence the present and the future,” concluded Archbishop Orani.
Rio Mayor, Eduardo Pae, said that the city will mobilize itself to hold the largest WYD in history. “It will be an event of love, peace, faith and Christian values,” Paes said.
The governor of Rio de Janeiro, Sergio Cabral, said that this is a turning point for the city. “After Christ the Redeemer became one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Rio became more daring. And this event will consolidate this peaceful city. It will be the event of all events, and we will do everything for WYD to be the most extraordinary of all,” Cabral stated.
Archbishop Orani emphasized that the logo carries with it the forests, sea, the Sugarloaf Mountain, and all of Rio’s wonders. “We all have this mark. Here, there is a heart that beats strongly and says: Come and experience God,” he assured.
Source: www.jovensconectados.org.br/www.jumasbrasil.com
Sarah-Leah Pimentel: Portuguese/English translation – M.Peña-Janknegt: English edit
