At 11:30 yesterday morning, there was a Press Conference held in the John Paul II Hall at the Vatican Press Office. Archbishop Rino Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization explained the details of the Day of Seminarians, Novices and those who are discerning a vocation, which will take place this coming weekend - from July 4 to 7 at the Vatican.
The celebration of the Year of Faith continues its passage, and now experiences its latest stage with a day dedicated to Seminarians, Novices and those who are discerning their vocations. The program has been developed in the light of the theme: I trust in you! in order to indicate the act with which young people can still find the strength and the courage to consecrate themselves to the Lord in the priesthood and in the consecrated life as signs of generosity toward God who calls us to serve him. During this Year of Faith, we could not neglect such an expressive moment. The desire to bear witness to the joy of so many youth who receive a vocation and despite various difficulties in life, courageously commit to this act of faith which plays out throughout their lives. In fact, a vocation to this way of life calls for those who accept it to leave many things behind, sometimes to leave everything, in order to demonstrate the fact that commitment to the real aim of being a disciple of Christ. Trusting in His word and spending one's life in service to the Church and to others is a choice which demands much; it requires the strength that comes from a personal encounter with Christ.
With particular joy, we will welcome about six thousand young people from all parts of the world who will participate in the events of the coming days. They represent many other thousands and thousands of young people who are spiritually united with them in bearing witness to their vocation. Participants are coming from 66 countries, some of which are very far away: Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, China, Japan, Vietnam, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Uruguay, Chile and many other countries, to attest to the Catholicity of the Church and the common foundation of vocation. The programme will involve some moments which are public in nature and others of a more private nature.
On Thursday, July 4, there will be a pilgrimage to the tomb of Saint Peter. It will begin in the gardens of Castel Sant'Angelo and will continue along the Via della Conciliazione, ending in Saint Peter's Square, after the participants have made a Profession of Faith at the Altar of the Confession, where the tomb of the Apostle can be found, with a reflection led by His Eminence Angelo Cardinal Comastri.
On Friday, July 5, the morning will be dedicated to catechesis for various language groups. Several churches in the historic centre of Rome have been chosen to host the young people in a number of language groupings: Italian, English, French, Polish, Spanish, Portuguese and German. In the afternoon of that day, participants will have an opportunity for visits and mediation in some locations which house the sacred relics of various saints who have had a special relationship with Rome, and who represent important milestones along the path of discerning a vocation: Saint Monica and Saint Augustine, Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Catherine, Saint Philip Neri, Saint Ignatius Loyola, Saint Aloysius Gonzaga and Saint John Berchmans, Saint Gaspar del Bufalo, and Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. The day will end in Piazza del Campidoglio where there will be a party hosted by Carlo Conti. Along with singers Rosalia Misseri and Giò di Tonno, a young seminarian from the United States of America, another from Nigeria, and an Italian novice will give their testimonies.
On Saturday, July 6, the morning will be dedicated to the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and to a period of Eucharistic adoration. Superiors and those who accompany the young people in their discernement will have an occasion on that day to reflect on the formation of young seminarians and consecrated youth in light of the New Evangelization. This session will take place in the main hall of the Lateran University. In the afternoon, participants will assemble in the Paul VI Hall for a brief moment of prayer and a reflection shared by Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, Prefect of the Congregation for Clergy. They will then wait there for a meeting with the Holy Father, Pope Francis who will recount the privileged witness of his vocation and encourage young people to consider various issues pertaining to their vocational journeys. Other witnesses will also precede the Holy Father, including Father Robert Barron, Rector of the Mundelei Seminary in the United States of America, founder of Word of Fire Ministries for the New Evangelization; Sister Maria Piccione, cloistered Religious of the Order of Saint Augustine from the Hermitage of Lecceto, and Juan Manuel Cotelo, journalist and director of, among others, the film The Last Summit, which recounts the adventure of Pablo Dominguez Prieto, a 42-year-old priest who died in a mountain climbing accident. The afternoon will be moderated by television journalist Rosario Carello and will include appearances by the successful Irish group The Priests and Sister Glenda Valesca Hernàndez Aguayo from Chile. The evening will end with a Marian procession through the Vatican Gardens, concluding in the square in front of Saint Peter's Basilica, where a final reflection will be offered by Joao Cardinal Braz de Aviz, Prefect of the Congregation for Consecrated Life.
On Sunday, July 7, at 9:30am, Mass will be celebrated by Pope Francis in Saint Peter's Basilica, and will be followed as usual by the recitation of the Angelus.
As you can see, these days anticipate the intense experience of World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro. We are confident that the theme of vocations to the priesthood and to consecrated life will also be highlighted during that upcoming encounter. The Church expects alot from the generous response of so many young people who experience this call. Offering in the coming days, the joyful witness of those who have already begun to respond to this call, we hope to demonstrate the beauty of following Christ in service to the Church through a commitment that lasts a lifetime and that fills us with a sense of personal fulfillment. We hope that these days of intense prayer, reflection, friendship, singing and joy may develop in all people, beginning with the participants, the true meaning of active and fruitful participation in the life of the Church.
Also present to present details about the upcoming celebration were His Excellency, José Octavio Ruiz Arenas, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization; and Monsignor Graham Bell, Undersecretary of that same Pontifical Council.
Presentation of His Excellency, Rino Fisichella
President of the Pontifical Council
for the Promotion of the New Evangelization
The celebration of the Year of Faith continues its passage, and now experiences its latest stage with a day dedicated to Seminarians, Novices and those who are discerning their vocations. The program has been developed in the light of the theme: I trust in you! in order to indicate the act with which young people can still find the strength and the courage to consecrate themselves to the Lord in the priesthood and in the consecrated life as signs of generosity toward God who calls us to serve him. During this Year of Faith, we could not neglect such an expressive moment. The desire to bear witness to the joy of so many youth who receive a vocation and despite various difficulties in life, courageously commit to this act of faith which plays out throughout their lives. In fact, a vocation to this way of life calls for those who accept it to leave many things behind, sometimes to leave everything, in order to demonstrate the fact that commitment to the real aim of being a disciple of Christ. Trusting in His word and spending one's life in service to the Church and to others is a choice which demands much; it requires the strength that comes from a personal encounter with Christ.
With particular joy, we will welcome about six thousand young people from all parts of the world who will participate in the events of the coming days. They represent many other thousands and thousands of young people who are spiritually united with them in bearing witness to their vocation. Participants are coming from 66 countries, some of which are very far away: Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, China, Japan, Vietnam, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Uruguay, Chile and many other countries, to attest to the Catholicity of the Church and the common foundation of vocation. The programme will involve some moments which are public in nature and others of a more private nature.
On Thursday, July 4, there will be a pilgrimage to the tomb of Saint Peter. It will begin in the gardens of Castel Sant'Angelo and will continue along the Via della Conciliazione, ending in Saint Peter's Square, after the participants have made a Profession of Faith at the Altar of the Confession, where the tomb of the Apostle can be found, with a reflection led by His Eminence Angelo Cardinal Comastri.
On Friday, July 5, the morning will be dedicated to catechesis for various language groups. Several churches in the historic centre of Rome have been chosen to host the young people in a number of language groupings: Italian, English, French, Polish, Spanish, Portuguese and German. In the afternoon of that day, participants will have an opportunity for visits and mediation in some locations which house the sacred relics of various saints who have had a special relationship with Rome, and who represent important milestones along the path of discerning a vocation: Saint Monica and Saint Augustine, Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Catherine, Saint Philip Neri, Saint Ignatius Loyola, Saint Aloysius Gonzaga and Saint John Berchmans, Saint Gaspar del Bufalo, and Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. The day will end in Piazza del Campidoglio where there will be a party hosted by Carlo Conti. Along with singers Rosalia Misseri and Giò di Tonno, a young seminarian from the United States of America, another from Nigeria, and an Italian novice will give their testimonies.
On Saturday, July 6, the morning will be dedicated to the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and to a period of Eucharistic adoration. Superiors and those who accompany the young people in their discernement will have an occasion on that day to reflect on the formation of young seminarians and consecrated youth in light of the New Evangelization. This session will take place in the main hall of the Lateran University. In the afternoon, participants will assemble in the Paul VI Hall for a brief moment of prayer and a reflection shared by Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, Prefect of the Congregation for Clergy. They will then wait there for a meeting with the Holy Father, Pope Francis who will recount the privileged witness of his vocation and encourage young people to consider various issues pertaining to their vocational journeys. Other witnesses will also precede the Holy Father, including Father Robert Barron, Rector of the Mundelei Seminary in the United States of America, founder of Word of Fire Ministries for the New Evangelization; Sister Maria Piccione, cloistered Religious of the Order of Saint Augustine from the Hermitage of Lecceto, and Juan Manuel Cotelo, journalist and director of, among others, the film The Last Summit, which recounts the adventure of Pablo Dominguez Prieto, a 42-year-old priest who died in a mountain climbing accident. The afternoon will be moderated by television journalist Rosario Carello and will include appearances by the successful Irish group The Priests and Sister Glenda Valesca Hernàndez Aguayo from Chile. The evening will end with a Marian procession through the Vatican Gardens, concluding in the square in front of Saint Peter's Basilica, where a final reflection will be offered by Joao Cardinal Braz de Aviz, Prefect of the Congregation for Consecrated Life.
On Sunday, July 7, at 9:30am, Mass will be celebrated by Pope Francis in Saint Peter's Basilica, and will be followed as usual by the recitation of the Angelus.
As you can see, these days anticipate the intense experience of World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro. We are confident that the theme of vocations to the priesthood and to consecrated life will also be highlighted during that upcoming encounter. The Church expects alot from the generous response of so many young people who experience this call. Offering in the coming days, the joyful witness of those who have already begun to respond to this call, we hope to demonstrate the beauty of following Christ in service to the Church through a commitment that lasts a lifetime and that fills us with a sense of personal fulfillment. We hope that these days of intense prayer, reflection, friendship, singing and joy may develop in all people, beginning with the participants, the true meaning of active and fruitful participation in the life of the Church.
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