Rise Up Preparatory Encounters around the world
With 34 days left before World Youth Day (WYD) Lisbon 2023, many young people are already up and running. Several groups have already held Rise Up Preparatory Encounters and reflected on the main themes of Pope Francis' pontificate.
From the Diocese of Lancaster in north-west Britain, a group of 17 young pilgrims have held three Rise Up Preparatory Encounters in a single weekend retreat. From this weekend came the joy of those who saw in these meetings an opportunity to reflect on their own 'self', through reflection on topics such as 'how much I dwell on environmental issues', 'what friendship means to me' and 'Jesus - merciful to me'.
"I saw in these encounters a deep examination of conscience that incredibly warmed my heart and united it with a desire to establish an even deeper relationship with God in my next act of confession," Patrick Denton, Deputy Director of the Diocese's Youth Department, told us. Although aimed at young people, these encounters do not only "echo" in their hearts. "I was worried because I didn't know how much these meetings would help young people deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ, but in the end we all gained something from them and I was very touched," he said.
Dominic Wilson, 19 years old, saw in these meetings the answer to why he came to Lisbon to take part in the largest international gathering of youth with the Pope. "Listening to different perspectives and opinions showed me how, as a Christian community, we can bring Christ's teachings into our daily lives," he said.
In Belgium, about 20 small groups reflected on the main themes of Pope Francis' pontificate, in a dynamic guided by the Youth Ministry of Flanders. According to a representative of the Youth Ministry, "we heard the fantastic testimony of a young Belgian environmental activist who lost his girlfriend in the floods of 2021". At the end of each meeting, "the farewell was made with words of hope and all participants were invited to leave ideas on the wall," said Sofi Van Ussel, the group's director.
Besides these groups, in Cuba, Dublin, Portugal, France and other countries, young people have also come together to reflect on Integral Ecology, Social Friendship and the Great Announcement of God's Love.
The Rise Up Preparatory Encounters are open to all young people and groups who wish to participate, from catechesis groups to youth groups, movements and ecclesial realities linked to youth and university ministry, regardless of whether or not they are pilgrims to WYD Lisbon 2023. The groups will be able to organize the sessions according to their needs, and support material will be made available to them. In addition, all groups are invited to send in their reflections.
The itinerary of the Rise Up Preparatory Encounters has three defined stages until WYD Lisbon 2023: listening, through the preparatory meetings; dreaming, through the dialogue among the participants; and rising up, with the final synthesis of the meetings, in order to give continuity to this joint reflection.
