From Rome to Alexandria: The Jubilee of Young people continues its mission in Egypt

After the conclusion of the jubilee of young people in Rome, which had a strong presence of Christians from the Middle East, including a delegation of Egypt, the city of Alexandria has launched its own jubilee of young people, organized by the local Latin Church.

The initiative seeks to include young people who could not travel to Rome and is being carried out in two phases: the first took place from August 9 to 12 and the second from August 12 to 15, mainly involving Sudanese and Eritrea communities in the house of San Marcos in Borg el Arab.

The jubilee is under the sponsorship and presence of the Apostolic Vicar of Latinos in Egypt, Bishop Claudio Lurati, and is organized by his delegate, Mons. Antoine Tawfiq and sister Chiara Latif of the Franciscan Sisabellar sisters. It has been carried out in collaboration with the Egyptian Youth Committees and Sudanese-Relitus, together with the Combonian Priest Deus Gratias.

Events participants include young people from several Egyptian governorates, as well as others from African and European countries, including a delegation of how (Italy), which came to help in the organization of the event.

The retirement days began with a mass in the Cathedral of Santa Catalina in Alexandria, chaired by Lurati and marked by the reception of the Blessed Carlo Acutis relics.

Before the Mass, attendees were offered a brief presentation on Acutis’s life to encourage them to follow their example of holiness and prayer, especially because he has an age close to that of many of them. After the Mass, the participants were blessed with the relics.

In a symbolic gesture, the young people returning from Rome delivered the “Grand Cruz” to their peers who could not travel, who then presented it to Lurati.

At the Santa Clara de Asís party, on August 11, the participants visited the King Mariout area, home of one of the monasteries of the poor people, the order founded and directed by Santa Clara in the thirteenth century. They met with seven sisters, prayed with them and listened to the story of Santa Clara. There, Lurati explained the meaning of the jubilee and the plenary indulgence that can be obtained, and spoke about the importance of walking with God and others in joy, peace and hope.

The Jubilee program also included a penitential service, talks about the meaning of the jubilee, youth life and the Bible, as well as a presentation of the achievements of the Latin Church in Egypt and its future plans. The organizers put a special emphasis on prayer, introducing new devotions such as the “Rosario de la Esperanza” and the “Camino de la Luz”.

The participants of both phases of the event also met for a shared day, during which Tawfiq and Sister Latif shared their experiences of the jubilee of young people in Rome.

The second phase concludes on August 15 with a Mass in the cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Alexandria, where several young people will receive the sacrament of confirmation.

Translated and adapted by the ACI Press team. Originally published in Aci mena.