Young people at AYD are inspired while sharing - Card. D’Rozario ‎

Young people at AYD are inspired while sharing - Card. D’Rozario ‎

Card. Patrick D'Rozario of Dhaka, Bangladesh, preaching the homily at the opening Mass of the AYD7 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia Aug.2, 2017.- RV

The 7th Asian Youth Day (AYD7) kicked off on Wednesday in the city of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, with an inaugural concelebrated Mass in the evening followed by the official opening ceremony that showcased the cultural richness of the 21 participating countries.   The main event unfolding in the cultural and intellectual heartland of Indonesia, August 2-6,  was preceded by the Days in the Dioceses (DID), July 30-August 2, during which the over 2000 youth participants lived, shared and exchanged experiences with their counterparts while living in local families of Indonesia’s 11 dioceses.

Bangladeshi Cardinal Patrick D’Rozario of Dhaka, chairman of the Office of Laity and Family of theFederation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) was the main celebrant of the opening Mass.  The Youth Desk of FABC’s Office of Laity and Family organizes the AYD in collaboration with the country’s bishops’ ‎conference body and its youth commission.  ‎In his homily, Card. D’Rozario reminded the young people that the reason behind their joy was that Jesus loves them despite their unworthiness and sinfulness.  His homily echoed the theme of the AYD7: "Joyful Asian Youth! ‎Living the Gospel in Multicultural Asia.”  

Well, Vatican  Radio’s Stefano Lesczynski who is in Yogyakarta, managed to catch up with Card. D’Rozario to know how he is feeling about the AYD.  The cardinal first explained why he thinks the AYD is important.

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