By Linda Busetti
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 6/20/02)
Kevin Bohli, director of the diocesan Office of Youth Ministry, will lead approximately 180 pilgrims from the Arlington Diocese to World Youth Day in Toronto, Canada, July 23-28.
They will join about 100,000 pilgrims in optional social service projects on the afternoons of July 24 and 26 — the first time such projects have been included in World Youth Day events.
On June 12, organizers launched the World Youth Day social service program at Yonge Street Mission in downtown Toronto, with representatives from 60 agencies that will work with WYD participants. Twenty agencies are affiliated with the Catholic Church and 40 are aligned with other religions or have no religious connection.
"Social service is an innovative interfaith and civic dimension of our World Youth Day," WYD National Director Father Thomas Rosica said. "Christ identifies Himself with others, in particular with those who suffer. He said: ‘For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink … As you did it to one of the least of my brethren, you did it to me.’ Pilgrims will draw closer to those in need in response to the invitation of Christ. Volunteer service will leave a legacy of charity and goodness to Toronto and Canada."
Youths will participate in one of three ways: direct service, discussions or service tours. Direct service includes sorting food at food banks, environmental clean-ups, hospital visits and working with the elderly, homeless, disabled or young people in need.
In discussions on poverty, hunger, homelessness, aboriginal issues and international development, young people will learn how to get involved in social service and social justice activities in their home communities. On tours of Toronto social service organizations, youths will have the opportunity to ask staff members about their work and the people they help.
In addressing youths at World Youth Day in Rome two years ago, Pope John Paul II reminded pilgrims, "You have come in search of Jesus Christ … And we often meet Him in the distressing disguise of the poor."
The Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace has designed Two Feet of Social Justice, a Local and Global Actions Workshop, a preparatory tool to complement WYD’s social services program. The workshop links local and global actions and considers the root causes of poverty and hunger. The purpose of the workshop is to get youths to think about the relationship between faith and action.
For information on the workshop, contact Genevieve Gallant, Youth Programs Development and Peace, at 416/922-1592 or by e-mail at ggallant@devp.org. For information on WYD social service projects contact Julie Rawson at 416/971-6733 or by e-mail at jrawson@wyd2002.org.
Copyright ©2002 Arlington Catholic Herald. All rights reserved.
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