The youth have the floor!

Reflections during the festival about the Covenant of Love with and for the youth of the World

Intercambio en grupos

Group discussion

Austausch in Gruppen

Foto: Cabero © 2005

Mons. Franz Kamphaus, obispo de Limburgo, en la Misa en alemán, en la Iglesia de la Adoración Bishop Franz Kamphaus of Limburg, in the German Mass in the Adoration Church Bischof Franz Kamphaus, Limburg, in der deutschsprachigen Messe in der Anbetungskirche Fotos: Johannes Kaut © 2005
Misa en la Capilla de la Casa de Alianza Mass in the Chapel of the Covenant House Messe in der Kapelle des Bundesheims Foto: Cabero © 2005
Misa en la Iglesia de Peregrinos, en español, idioma materna de casi 75% de los participantes Mass in the Pilgrims’ Church, in Spanish, native language of almost 75% of the participants Messe der spanischen Sprachgruppe – fast 75% der Teilnehmer - in der Pilgerkirche
Mons. Valarezo, Ecuador: Predica Bishop Valarezo, Ecuador: sermón Bischof Valarezo aus Ecuador bei der Predigt
Mons. Valarezo, Ecuador: Predica Bishop Valarezo, Ecuador: sermón Bischof Valarezo aus Ecuador bei der Predigt
Fotos: © 2005

WYD-SCHOENSTATT, pca. The youth are the catalyst for change, for that reason, they met to talk about the Covenant of Love on the second day of the festival. Monsignor Franz Kamphaus, bishop of Limburg also reflected on the same subject during the Mass that was celebrated in the Adoration Church. In the message he gave the youth, he said: "the Covenant is valid when you give your entire heart and God is waiting for you."

Now that the last delegations and delayed luggage have arrived, we are ready to reflect. The participants of the journey got to know each other, they have visited the important Schoenstatt sites and they have registered as participants of the world journey.

Therefore, the dynamic for this day was different; today everyone can express their opinion. For this reason the groups were divided according to language, The Spanish, Portuguese, English, German groups were the largest., but there were also some Czech, Hungarian, Croatian, and Polish groups.

What does the Covenant signify for the Youth of the World?

Now the youth have the floor and together they reflected on the Covenant of Love for the youth of the world and the meaning that it has for the future life of each one. There were also testimonies and they shared experiences about the Covenant of Love.

This time the weather helped, since the sun shone in the Schoenstatt valley during this journey. This made it possible for the group session about the Covenant to be held outdoors and they (the youth) were the keynote speakers of the day.

At the end Eucharist was celebrated in different places according to language and the results of the group session were offered.

Covenant of Love means a total giving of self, "to the end"

The German Mass was in the Adoration Church and Monsignor Kamphaus, Bishop of the Diocese of Limburg was present. The church was full and the atmosphere was festive. For example, within the solemnity of the celebration, some of the songs were accompanied by the clapping of hands – including the priests and the bishop and this is not very common in Germany

In his homily Monsignor Kamphaus also spoke about the Covenant of Love. He recalled that Jesus sealed a Covenant of Love with the World and the symbol for this Covenant is the Cross. Covenant of Love means a total giving of self, "to the end", he affirmed. He also spoke of the meaning of the encounter in Cologne, and that the youth from all the continents could meet to share.

The Spanish speaking people celebrated the Eucharist in the Pilgrims’ Church. The celebration was presided by Monsignor Manuel Valarezo, Bishopof Galapagos who was accompanying the delegation from Ecuador.

Who drives the car of my life in the Covenant?

The English Mass was celebrated by Father Andrew Pastore in the Marian School. Charles Ozioko of Nigeria liked the analogy that Father Andrew made about the life of each person, comparing this with an auto; we all have the option of defining who will drive the car, that is to say who drives our lives. "And the Covenant means that God and the Blessed Mother guide our lives", Charles concluded.

In the Covenant we are not alone

An encounter of this magnitude also helps us to understand the magnitude of the International Schoenstatt Work. That was the impression of Agnieszka Brzoska and Alexsandra Navoicka from Poland: "in the covenant we are together, we are not alone, because we are an international community and we go with the Blessed Mother."

Translation: Celina M Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA