Philippines to Host 5th Asian Youth Day

The goal of the event is to "renew Asian youth's faith in and love for the Word of God and the Eucharist" and to help them integrate these realities into their lives.

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MANILA, Philippines (Zenit) - The capital of the Philippines will host the next world youth day in Asia, from Nov. 20-27.

The 5th Asian Youth Day, organized by the youth department of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC), will focus on the Eucharist.

The FABC reported that the goal of the event is to "renew Asian youth's faith in and love for the Word of God and the Eucharist," and to help them integrate these realities into their lives.

The meeting, which aims to gather 2,000 young representatives from 22 countries, draws its theme from the synod of bishops on the Word of God last October in Rome.

The Asian Youth Days began in Thailand in 1999, and the most recent was held in Hong Kong in 2006.

Similar to World Youth Days, the Asian event will include the welcome of pilgrims by parishes and host families, plenary sessions on the Word and Eucharist, reflections and testimonies, workshops, times of prayer and liturgies.

The encounter's focus on the Eucharist will be in conjunction with the theme of the 9th plenary assembly of the FABC, to be held Aug. 10-16 in Manila. The session will center on the topic of "Living Eucharist in Asia."

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