Getting Ready for Madrid

Friars meeting in Madrid to discuss World Youth Day 2011

Minister General Friar Marco Tasca is second one from left in the bottom row

Next year – from August 15 to the 20 - young Catholics from around the world will gather in Madrid, Spain for the 2011 World Youth Day. The Conventual Franciscan Friars are already working to help make this experience one of true fellowship and spiritual growth.

Young people at the Sydney, Australia World Youth Day in 2008

celebrating after hearing that the next WYD would take place in Madrid

Last month, a number of the friars – including Friar Michael Lorentsen from the United States – flew into Madrid and met with Friar Marco Tasca – the Minister General of the Order - and Assistant General Miljenko Hontic to talk about next year's WYD. Details on plans for next year are still in development but the main idea is to have friars excite young people for World Youth Day and have them make the journey for the actual event.

A snapshot of Madrid

If the World Youth Day phenomenon can be described with one word, then perhaps that word should be community. So often we hear of people from various nations living in strife. At each and every World Youth Day, tens of thousands of young people from around the planet come together and celebrate their faith. They speak different languages and have various perspectives on life, but they are brothers and sisters in faith nonetheless. Conflict does not enter their minds.

(Sources of all related photos on webpage and homepage: multisanti at flickr.com, Conventual Franciscan Friars Immaculate Conception Province Provincialgram, and http://cache.virtualtourist.com/.)