WOMEN AND MYSTICISM
Mary anoints Jesus’ feet at Bethany (John 12:1–8). The scene is part of a series which represents passages of women with a prominent role in the Scripture. The decorations are placed around the sides of the Tabernacle in the Chapel of Meditation at the University of Mystics in Avila, Spain. Mary listens to and manifests her love for Jesus. Contemplation becomes the mesh in which her Spirit-led actions find their meaning and support.
RADAR
Young Hong Kongers in Rome ahead of World Youth Day
As part of the 2 500 Asian Catholics attending World Youth Day (WYD) in Lisbon, the young people of Hong Kong stressed the importance of integrating their “small community” into the larger group of Catholic pilgrims embarking on a spiritual journey toward Christ
BY Edoardo Giribaldi
Several young pilgrims from Hong Kong expressed their excitement for their participation in the WYD which starts in Lisbon on 1 August stating that “It really makes you appreciate how something small can be so grand and big.”
A delegation of 300 pilgrims stayed in Rome before going to Lisbon. They are part of a larger group of 2 500 Asian Catholics who participate in WYD. A large portion of them, a total of 1051 official delegates, travelled from South Korea.
Missionary mandate
The Hong Kong pilgrims, who were entrusted with a special “missionary mandate” from Cardinal-elect Stephen Chow Sau-yan, S.J., highlighted the value of the event as a sort of “transmission of faith” process.
Jamelin, one of the pilgrims, recounted how, as a kid, she “watched our group leaders going to previous WYDs, and it’s always been very cool to see how they’ve taken” and shared “what we have in Hong Kong.”
A unique opportunity
For a small community, being part of “a bigger and larger Catholic group” is essential and beneficial, especially for the unique opportunity to spend time with different people and share in many “views from across the world.”
Young Hong Kongers in Rome
Jamelin also recalled the emotions she felt while listening to Pope Francis’ words about climate change in St Peter’s Square, filled with young people from all around the world. “It means a lot to me, as someone who is still pretty young, I hope!”
Around the world
Derek, another young pilgrim from Hong Kong, a parishioner at St Margaret’s Church, shared the itinerary of his group. After spending five days in Rome, they go to Porto and finally to Lisbon, where they will join peers from all over the world as WYD kicks off.
| Dates To Remember |
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August 9 – SA National Women’s Day 9 – International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 12 – International Youth Day 19 – World Humanitarian Day 20 – Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 21 – International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism 22 – International Day in Honour of the Victims of Violence Based on Religion or Belief 23 – International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition 31 – International Day for People of African Descent September 1 – Beginning of the Season of Creation 5 – International Day of Charity 7 – International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies 7 – International Literacy Day 12 – International Day for South-South Cooperation 15 – International Day of Democracy 18 – International Equal Pay Day 21 – International Day of Peace 23 – International Day of Sign Languages 24 – SA Heritage Day 26 – International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons 27 – World Tourism Day 28 – World Tourism Day 29 – International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste |