Rise Up Encounters
Rise Up is the new catechesis model for World Youth Day, which challenges young people to reflect on major themes launched during the pontificate of Pope Francis: Integral Ecology, Social Friendship, and Mercy.
Three Rise Up Encounters are planned to provide young people with an experience aligned with the ongoing synodal journey in the Universal Church. They will be organized in close collaboration with the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, on the mornings of August 2nd, 3rd, and 4th during the week of WYD Lisbon 2023. The Rise Up Encounters will take place in churches and in other spaces close to areas where pilgrims will be welcomed - there are about 270 locations. They will be organized by language - more than 30 languages - and provide a time for reflection, listening, and sharing.
The Marian themes for the three days are linked to the general theme for the WYD Lisbon 2023 which is, “Mary arose and went with haste” (Luke 1:39). They give young people a mission by saying that now is the time to dream and work for a new world, just as Mary did as a young woman. But how can we imitate Mary today? Those who strive to be like Mary – people who listen to the Word of God and stand up and set out on the road – are not people who remain seated on the couch or look at things from the balcony or window.
Pope Francis’ pontificate has presented some topics that are close to the hearts of young people. They point to concrete practicable ways for us to build a missionary outgoing Church in the image of Mary with Rise Up youth: integral ecology (Laudato Si'), social friendship and universal fellowship (Fratelli Tutti), and mercy (Misericordia et misera).
Biblical theme: Mary arose and went with haste towards the hills (Luke 1:39)
Gospel: Luke 1:39-45
«39During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah,40where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, 42cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord* should come to me?44For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.45Blessed are you who believed* that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”»
Topic for reflection: Integral ecology
The main objective of this meeting is to explore the general theme of WYD and to introduce young people to the experience of being loved and called by the Lord, like Mary. This experience propels us to go higher and to go out towards others, and to be reconciled with God, with our brothers and sisters and with creation.
Some food for thought can be found in the Apostolic Exhortation Christus Vivit 111-113 (the great proclamation for all young people) and from the message for WYD 2022-2023, in connection with the theme of caring for the common home (cf. Laudato Si' 1, 65, 66, 71, 80, 96, 97, 98, 100, 241).
Biblical theme: Do whatever he tells you (John 2:5)
Gospel: John 2:1-5
«1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.3When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”4 [And] Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” 5His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.”»
Topic for reflection: Social friendship
The meeting should aim to show young people specific ways to follow Jesus and imitate Mary and so give substance to their “yes” (cf. WYD 2021 Message). Young people should feel invited to participate in God’s dream for humanity and to actively contribute to transforming reality. The young people and the bishop should give testimonies of concrete actions already implemented, to show other young people that practical commitment is indeed possible and feasible. It should be explained to young people that praying is also a way of taking action, and they should be reminded of the power of prayer to God: through prayer, they are called to intercede for our wounded humanity, as Mary did at Cana.
Some food for thought can be found in the Apostolic Exhortation Christus Vivit 111-113 (the great proclamation for all young people) and from the message for WYD 2022-2023 in connection with the theme of social friendship and universal fellowship, as presented in Fratelli Tutti (1, 2, 276, 278).
Biblical theme: His mercy is from age to age (cf. Luke 1:50)
Gospel: Luke 2:15-20
«15When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”16So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.17When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.18All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds.19And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.20Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.»
Topic for reflection: Mercy
During the third morning, young people will be introduced to the importance of silence and contemplation. They will be encouraged to come closer and become friends of Jesus, “the man of the third day”, the one who was crucified and rose again. In this encounter with the Father of mercies, young people will be invited to re-examine the journey of their lives while they spend time in adoration, personal dialogue and reconciliation with God.
Some food for thought can be taken from the Apostolic Exhortation Christus Vivit 111-113 (the great proclamation for all young people) and from the message for WYD 2022-2023, in connection with the theme of mercy, which can be found for example in Evangelii Gaudium 3 and 144.
On the three mornings that the Rise Up encounters are held, young people will build a house together right after the dialogue with the bishop, which will synthesize several of the encounters.
Mary's readiness to arise and to go in haste to meet Elizabeth (cf. Luke 1:39) is an invitation for young people to imitate her as active protagonists of a "Church in her missionary outreach." The dynamism of Mary's journey highlights the symbology of the house Mary leaves in Nazareth and the home where she arrives - that of Elizabeth and Zechariah.
The idea of a house suggests a connection to our Common Home, given by God to everyone as a place to live (Integral Ecology); the relational dimension, where fraternity and the joy of living in communion are learned (Social Friendship); the Father's house, a place of mercy, where we came from and where we will return to, many times like prodigal children so that life and joy can be rediscovered and recreated (Mercy).
This activity, which will take place on three mornings, will aim to show young people that together, they can build a "common home" with their dreams.
