A Gathering in Durban of young Catholics from Southern Africa
Dbn Exhibition Centre and surrounds: 6 – 10 Dec 2017
June is the month earmarked on our national calendar to celebrate and consider the young people of our land. To this end, June was chosen as the time to publically announce the “mini” World Youth Day which will be held in Durban from 6 to 10 December 2017 at the Durban Exhibition Centre and surrounds, to unite Catholic young people from Southern Africa to celebrate their Christianity, community and unity while experiencing the chosen theme of “young people, faith and vocations.”
The intention is for the five day formal gathering to bring together young people between the ages of 18 and 35 years from South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. Young people from all walks of life, representing different cultures, different languages and different geographical locations will come together to deepen their faith and to be encouraged to become more active, thoughtful, engaging and caring global citizens. Over the five days, there will be community engagement; prayerful activities; discussion groups and pilgrimages.
Booking for the conference is now open, and early booking is encouraged as delegate numbers are limited.
World Youth Day (WYD) is an event for young people organised every few years by the global Catholic Church. World Youth Day is celebrated at the diocesan level each year on Palm Sunday. The World Youth Day concept was initiated by Pope John Paul II in 1985 and took place in Rome. The Mini World Youth Day which is taking place this December in Durban, is sandwiched between the July 2016 international event which took place in Krakow, Poland and the next World Youth Day which will take place in 2019 in Panama. The Panama event will be the 15th such global gathering.
The 1995 World Youth Day closing mass in the Philippines set a world record for the largest number of people gathered for a single religious event with five million attendees – a record surpassed when six million attended a mass celebrated by Pope Francis in the Philippines 20 years later in 2015.
The theme was chosen by Pope Francis for the three-year World Youth Day journey that will culminate at the international celebration to be held in Panama in 2019. The selected motto “young people, faith and vocations” will be key in the extensive programme that is being planned and compiled by the local organising committee.
The Blessed Virgin Mary is at the heart of the themes which are taken from the Gospel of Saint Luke: “The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is His Name”.
“If you have been fortunate enough to attend a World Youth Day conference internationally, you will know what a wonderfully spiritual privilege this is and should encourage others to attend the Mini Youth Day conference in Durban to celebrate our Christianity together as Africans,” said Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier OFM, who heads the local organising committee.
Bookings are now open for the Mini World Youth Day. All information and booking details can be found on the conference website: https://miniworldyouthday.co.za/. Included in the registration fee charged for the three days will be accommodation and catering. The conference is open to Catholic youth between the ages of 18 and 35 years.
A professional team, The Conference Company, has been appointed to work closely with the organising committee to ensure that all logistical arrangements are managed to ensure the conference is a success.
For more information, please contact Barbara Koorbanally at the Archdiocese of Durban on 031 303 1417 or the Conference Company on 031 303 9852 – both during office hours; or visit https://miniworldyouthday.co.za/ or email louise@confco.co.za.
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