Today, the Church all over the world celebrates the feast of Christ the King. It is a feast that concludes the Church’s liturgical year and opens up a window for a new liturgical year. By the turn of Next Sunday, the church will begin the season of Advent. The Correspondent of RECOWACERAO NEWS AGENCY, peeping around the world has gathered that for this year’s feast, there was a Planned Celebration of Christ the King, Patron of Angola’s Catholic Youths, and the “pinnacle” of Youth Ministry.
The planned celebration of the Solemnity of Christ the King, the patron of Catholic youths in Angola, is the summit of youth ministry in the Southern African nation, the Communication Coordinator of the country’s Catholic Archdiocese of Huambo overseeing the Youth Pastoral Secretariat (SAPJ) has said.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, November 20, Jaime Dionísio de Oliveira shed light on the three-day celebration that is to conclude on Sunday, November 24, the Solemnity of Christ the King.
“Christ the King Solemnity represents the unity of youth from different parishes, all with the same goal: to live their faith. It is the pinnacle celebration for our youth ministry,” Dionísio said about the November 22-24 celebrations to take place at Our Lady of Angels Longonjo Parish of Huambo Archdiocese. He added, “Based on site visits, plans for the reception of pilgrims are well in place.”
The three-day celebrations are being realized under the same theme as the upcoming Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year, “Pilgrims of Hope”. On January 21, Pope Francis announced the start of a Year of Prayer in preparation for the Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year, the second in his Pontificate after the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in 2015.
On May 9, the Holy Father solemnly proclaimed the upcoming Jubilee Year 2025 at a ceremony in St. Peter’s Basilica, during which he delivered the Bull of Indiction of the planned Jubilee, “Spes non confundit” (Hope does not disappoint).
The Jubilee Year provides the people of God across the globe an opportunity to participate in various planned jubilee events at the Vatican and in their respective Episcopal Sees, countries, and Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (ICLSAL).
At the November 20 press conference, the Communications Coordinator of Huambo Archdiocese reflected on the theme of the planned celebrations, saying “Pilgrims of Hope” has informed the preparations of the Christ the King celebrations.
“Additionally, we will address another important topic tied to the youth and the vanities of the world in our daily lives,” Dionísio further said, alluding to the need to address the value system of young people in Angola, from mundane to heavenly pursuits and altruism.
On preparedness ahead of the celebrations, he said, “We have visited the camp area where the event will take place. Accommodations will be provided in primary and secondary schools, offering the basic conditions a pilgrim needs to experience Christ the King over three days.”
“We will be housed in classrooms, and for those who cannot be accommodated there, campsites will be available,” the youth official told journalists.
Regarding participants in the three-day celebration, he said, “It is challenging to provide an exact figure because youth participation can be unpredictable. Each coordinator keeps track of their group’s numbers, but the final registration count will be discussed in a meeting scheduled for Thursday (November 21).”
Dionísio also shed light on Saturday, November 23 events, saying participants are to engage in discussions on social and spiritual matters.
“The first lecture will delve into the event’s theme, particularly youth and the world’s vanities. We will also have a session on social issues, examining major armed conflicts and their economic and social consequences,” Dionísio explained.
He added, “In light of ongoing geopolitical conflicts, such as those in Mozambique, Sudan, and other parts of the world, it is essential for young people to understand the socio-economic consequences of these actions.”
Participants are also to engage in social action in an initiative he said would focus on environmental awareness.
“We are bringing global issues to the youths’ attention, integrating them into global challenges. On Saturday, we have planned a philanthropic activity tied to the environment, including a tree-planting exercise in a pre-identified area,” Dionísio said.
Christ the King celebrations for Angola’s youths are to culminate on Sunday, November 24, with a closing Mass. The youth official in Angola said, “We invite all young people to join this major event.”
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