AWALI (Fides): “We are ready to join other young people from different parts of the world on this pilgrimage, full of hope in the mission of sharing Christ’s love, especially with our peers. We have hope, because we know that God loves us, ” Father Rodel Aclan, head of the Youth Ministry of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia [AVONA], said on July 28.
Twenty-two young pilgrims, accompamied by Father Aclan and three other priests, had arrived in Rome for the July 28-August 3 Jubilee of Youth.
Bishop Aldo Berardi, the apostolic vicar of Northern Arabia, would join the delegation “during the most significant moments,” Father Aclan added.
“This is a moment of grace for the Church, and especially for young people, who represent the hope for a better future. It is an opportunity to share experiences with peers from different countries, to gain awareness of one’s own culture and Catholic practices, and to inspire one another on the journey of faith,” he emphasised.
“This celebration sends a clear message to all young Catholics and to young people throughout the world: they are important and have not been forgotten. They, too, are protagonists of the faith and of the society in which they live,” he said.
We are ready to join other young people from different parts of the world on this pilgrimage, full of hope in the mission of sharing Christ’s love, especially with our peers. We have hope, because we know that God loves us
Father Aclan
Following the commencement of the Jubilee Year in December 2024 and the unveiling of the planned events for the year, Bishop Berardi assigned Father Aclan as the youth director of the vicariate, with the responsibility of preparing young people for this occasion.
Explaining how AVONA’s youth ministry carries out its work, Father Aclan said: “We could divide it into two large groups. On the one hand, adolescents, sons and daughters of migrant workers from the vicariate, who attend local schools. On the other, young professionals of various nationalities who work in the countries under our jurisdiction: Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.”
He said, “Our youth ministry faces numerous challenges, one of which is the ability to meet in person and in large numbers. Space for meetings and activities is limited,” adding, “Teenagers or students rely on their parents for transportation to church, so their participation in youth activities and training depends on their parents’ availability. Young professionals often have to prioritise work or careers, especially because they are new to the country, resulting in very limited time for youth ministry activities.”
Father Aclan said, “We trust that youth ministry will continue to grow and accompany the young people of the Vicariate. The participation of youth from this part of the world will truly inspire them to encourage and bring others of their age closer to our Mother Church.”
