Timor Leste hosts Claretian youth assembly
2019 in Panama, in which he invited young people to be in solidarity with current realities and to become icons of hope, he said.
For many delegates this was a first time to participate in a youth gathering. For Andrew Yousung Seo from South Korea, AEYG provided an unforgettable encounter. “While searching for my vocation, I happened to know about the AEYG from my parish sister. She recommended me to participate in the event and also other people around me encouraged me to do it. It was the first time for me to participate in a global event, and this made me feel afraid and anxious. However, Everyone took care of and encouraged one another, and it gave me an unforgettable experience. I’ve never had before such a moment that I felt childlike, joyful and comfortable like this. I’m really grateful to God, and all the people who made this possible.”
Fr. Jose leads the delegates from Hong Kong and Macau
Young people from Asian countries
served by Claretian Missionaries have gathered in Timor-Leste with
the theme for a week-long assembly to renew their commitment as Christ’s
witnesses. The Asia East Youth Gathering (AEYG) took place from
August 5 to 11 in Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste, with the theme ‘The solidarity
of Christ impels us: go, sell, share and follow.’
The gathering is held every two
years and is the third such event since the first was held in the Philippines
in 2015. 125 young delegates from China, Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South
Korea, Philippines, Indonesia and Timor-Leste participated in the event.
Bishop Virgílio do Carmo da
Silva of Dili welcomed the youths on August 6, telling them to overcome
the challenges of globalization and a society where young millennials are
accused of “having no empathy and being selfish.” "Solidarity with Christ
means that Christians must share and give their lives to others in need of
help," he said. He hoped that Timor-Leste youths can learn from the
gathering so they can transform communities where they live.
Claretian Father Emanuel Talok, the
event coordinator said that “We are here united as Asians … to establish the
true character of Catholic youths, as the bearers of the Christian message and
witnesses to the joy of the Gospel." The theme of Solidarity follows up
Pope Francis’ message during World Youth Day
2019 in Panama, in which he invited young people to be in solidarity with current realities and to become icons of hope, he said.
For many delegates this was a first time to participate in a youth gathering. For Andrew Yousung Seo from South Korea, AEYG provided an unforgettable encounter. “While searching for my vocation, I happened to know about the AEYG from my parish sister. She recommended me to participate in the event and also other people around me encouraged me to do it. It was the first time for me to participate in a global event, and this made me feel afraid and anxious. However, Everyone took care of and encouraged one another, and it gave me an unforgettable experience. I’ve never had before such a moment that I felt childlike, joyful and comfortable like this. I’m really grateful to God, and all the people who made this possible.”
Veronique Crystal Rivera, one of the
delegates from Hong Kong was pleasntly surprised to find the delegates from
other regions very friedly, open and highly talented. “I got to spend time with
a lot of friends from different
countries and bond over weird common things that I wouldn’t expect others to
have in common! The people in Timor Leste were so optimistically open, friendly
and very talented. They sang lots of songs I really couldn’t understand, but
were great and did a lot of traditional dancing. Getting to see and experience
how different people have their ways of living and entertainments were very
experiential,” she said.
The next edition of AEYG 2021 will
be held in Ormoc City, Philippines.
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