6th Asian Youth Day (13 -17 August 2014)
Background and History
Asian Youth Day (AYD) is the coming together of Catholic youths from different Asian countries. This weeklong life experience enables young people to gather in formation programs and plan their future spiritual lives. At the same time, the gathering aims to provide an opportunity for Catholic youths to explore and renew their faith, so that they can share the Gospel with others through the work of justice and peace. AYD also includes the sharing of faith with other religious groups.
In 1991, during the World Youth Day in Czestochowa (Poland), representatives from over 30 Asian countries attended the Third International Youth Forum. At the forum, they expressed their hopes of establishing different channels and networks for various kinds of exchanges and organizing activities especially designed for Catholic youths in Asia.
In 1993, a youth consultation conference was held in Bangkok, Thailand. Participating youth representatives at the conference suggested that a youth working group be formed as a parish-based subsidiary of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences in an effort to gather support for youth leaders within the organization and to enhance mutual cooperation and links among youth parish groups from Asian countries.
In this way, the Youth Desk was officially established in 1994. Since its opening, the team has successfully organized a series of activities for Asian youths and youth leaders, including the Asian Youth Gathering during the World Youth Day, Asian Youth Ministers’ Meeting and Asian Youth Day.
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Welcome Message from Archbishop Patrick D'Rozario
Dear Young Friends of Asia, In the name of Jesus, who loves you so much, I personally welcome and invite each one of you to participate in the great event of the 6Th Asian Youth Day, to be celebrated in August this year in Daejeon, Korea! I am extremely glad to share exceedingly good news that our beloved Holy Father, Pope Francis, with his gracious presence, will bless this event organized by the Youth Desk of Office of the Laity and Family of Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC).
This Asian Youth Day, like the previous ones, will be a very effective gathering for you, youths of Asia, to come together to reflect, to deepen and to interiorize the message of the AYD theme: ASIAN YOUTH! WAKE UP! The glory of the martyrs shines on you! This tri-yearly Asian youth event will also bring to you occasions and opportunities to exchange your views, share your life as Christian and to pray together. I would like to invite you to
• remember the roots of our faith
• re-discover the faith (values) that we have lost
• walk together, in the world of today, as witnesses, with Jesus and the martyrs
during your spiritual journey and pilgrimage of the Asian Youth day.
We wholeheartedly welcome the Holy Father to this jubilant Asian Youth Day. We felicitate with high appreciation the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea for making the Holy Father’s presence possible in the AYD. And of course, our sincere gratitude goes to Most Reverend Bishop Lazzaro You Heungsik, the bishop of Daejeon and his team for hosting the 6Th Asian Youth Day 2014.
We hope to see each other in Daejeon, Korea. May our Lord Jesus Christ, the greatest of all martyrs, encourage you to ‘take up your daily cross to follow him’. May his Mother and our Mother protect you with her love and affection! While waiting for the event let us also pray that the Holy Spirit will shine upon all of us.
God bless you!
Theme
ASIAN YOUTH! WAKE UP! The glory of the martyrs shines on you.
Bible Verse
"We have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him" (Rom 6,8)
Main Objectives
To remember the roots of our faith.
To re-discover our faith.
To walk along with Jesus and the Martyrs as witnesses in today's world.
Daily Objectives
- Days in Dioceses : August 10 - 13, 2014
- 6th Asian Youth Day: August 13 - 17, 2014
1st DAY : August 13 (Wed.): "Come and see."(Jn 1:39)
2nd DAY :August 14 (Thu.): "Let's discover the roots of our faith "
3rd DAY : August 15 (Fri.): "Youth, Knock!!!"
4th DAY : August 16 (Sat.): "Let’s walk along with Jesus and the martyrs."(Jn 1:39)
5th DAY : August 17 (Sun.): "Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel"(Mk16,15)
Logo
Source: ayd2014.org
