The Diocese of Roseau Youth Commission in collaboration with the Parish of St. Patrick is organizing its annual Diocesan World Youth Day Rally to be held on Saturday March 19, 2016 at the Grand Bay Roman Catholic Church.
Pope Francis has declared the following theme: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Mt 5:7). The rally will begin at 12:00 pm with a Praise and Worship procession from the Grand Bay Community Center to the Roman Catholic Church. Hundreds of young persons from every Parish community are expected to participate in the rally.
A special feature of this year’s Youth Rally will be the Parish Banner Competition. All parishes participating in the rally will be designing and presenting banners based on the theme of Mercy. Highlights of the day will include: performances, testimonies, Confession and a dramatization of the Palm Sunday Passion Reading. His Lordship, Bishop Gabriel Malzaire will be present throughout the day and will be the main celebrant at the closing Eucharistic Liturgy which will begin at 3:45 pm.
World Youth Day is celebrated worldwide in the Catholic Church on Palm Sunday. Pope Francis, in his message to the youth of the world states: “We must ask the Lord to give us the grace to be merciful to those who do us wrong. Jesus on the cross prayed for those who had crucified him: “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (Lk 23:34). Mercy is the only way to overcome evil. Justice is necessary, very much so, but by itself it is not enough. Justice and mercy must go together. How I wish that we could join together in a chorus of prayer, from the depths of our hearts, to implore the Lord to have mercy on us and on the whole world!”
The Diocese of Roseau Youth Commission invites all youth and interested adults to join in this chorus of prayer through a day of fellowship, witness, hope and mercy.
The following is a traditional Catholic Hymn which some of you may not have heard or some have forgotten”
An Army of Youth
An army of youth flying the Standards of Truth,
We’re fighting for Christ the Lord;
Heads lifted high, Catholic action our pride
And The Cross our only sword.
On earth’s battlefield,
Never a vantage we’ll yield
As dauntlessly on we swing;
Comrades true, dare and do,
Neath the Queen’s white and blue (Our Lady)
For our flag, for our faith of Christ the King.
Christ lifts his hands, The King commands;
His challenge: “Come and follow Me.”
From every side, with eager strife
We’ll form in the lines of victory,
Let foe men lurk and laggards shirk,
We throw our fortunes with the Lord,
Mary’s Son, “til the world is won,
We have pledged You our loyal word.
Chorus, An army of youth . . .
There is another verse.
I certainly wish I could attend; too far away. I will be present in spirit.
Pray for the Minors and young children who are the victims of sexual abuse. They need more help at this stage in their lives.
You do likewise. You are not exempt. God expects this from each one of us. It also includes their parent(s) whom God expects to nurture them appropriately.
Yay!
Pray for our young people they need it