HONG KONG (SE): The 61 participants of the Hong Kong diocesan delegation to World Youth Day 2023, arrived in Lisbon, Portugal, at the end of July after taking separate pilgrimage routes seeking to get ready to deepen their relationship with God.
Seventeen of went to Essen, Germany, before going to Lourdes, France. Twenty-six went on pilgrimage in France. Eighteen delegates chose to visit the Way of St. James [Camino de Santiago], and walked 100 kilometres along the route in northern Spain leading to the city of Santiago de Compostela, which was believed to be the burial place of the saint [Sunday Examiner, July 9].
Participants in Essen met with Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck on July 17. The bishop warmly welcomed the young people from Hong Kong and encouraged them saying that reading is an important way for strengthening their faith. They had an open sharing of the faith challenges for young people in both places.
They then visited the Essen Cathedral on July 18 and had the chance to see the Golden Madonna of Essen, an ancient sculpture of the Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus. On July 20, they went to the Gleis X Church, a church with traditional architecture and a wide range of facilities for young people, including a band room, a bar, a corner for young people to share their difficulties in life, etc.
Delegates in Paris visited Notre Dame Cathedral where a fire broke out in 2019 and prayed for its smooth restoration scheduled to be completed in 2024. They also visited the convent of Paris Foreign Missions Society, and the relics of St. Vincent de Paul at the church of the Lazarists, where they prayed for the poor.
Besides the diocesan delegation, there were also participants from different parishes and youth groups in Hong Kong.
Over 400,000 pilgrims from at least 143 countries registered for World Youth Day is held every three years for young people over the world to encounter Jesus.
