ETHIOPIA: Youth delegation is Prepared Various programs for 37th International Youth Day in Lisbon
Bezawit Assefa
The Ethiopian youth delegation held a preparatory virtual discussion for World Youth Day, which is organized every two years at the international level. In the discussion, the historical beginning of the World Youth Day, reflections and the purpose of the Church were explained by various bodies, and international coordinators from Lisbon, Portugal attended and explained the process of the event. The participants were able to raise questions the youth had enough understanding about the World Youth Day and the events to be held.
As this year’s World Youth Day is the time of the synod on synodality, the representation of Ethiopian Catholic Church, 96 youth from 10 different dioceses, will be a symbolic example for the way of synod in communion, participation and mission. The delegation will be led by Abune Roberto Bishop of Apostolic Vicariate of Gambella, who is the leader of family, laity and youth in the Ethiopian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, and will head to Lisbon, Portugal with the youth.
Ethiopian Catholic Church’s youth office will have a sendoff Holy Mass for Ethiopian pilgrims to world youth day on Sunday, July 23rd, 2023 in Archdiocese of Addis Ababa of Nativity of Mary Catholic Cathedral. On July 24th, 2023, the delegation will receive the blessing of His Eminence Cardinal Abune Birhaneyesus, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia.
