News and Events

French Youth Participate in French Liturgical Day

Submitted by Madeleine Marchildon, Prince Albert

“In Christ our faith! - En Christ notre foi!” Such was the opening song of WYD 2011 resounding from the Sacred Heart Cathedral March 19. Approximately 50 WORLD YOUTH DAY youth and their elders from the French and bilingual parishes from the Saskatoon and Prince Albert dioceses had gathered for a liturgical day of mini-conferences, witnessing, testimonies of 2008 WYD, interviews of the 2011 WYD pilgrims to Madrid, Spain, and a Seder meal.

After the opening prayer led by Omer Ranger, Anita Francon inspiringly developed the Lenten liturgical theme “Le Seigneur regarde le Coeur - The Lord sees the heart”, and the Easter theme “Vous êtes des pierres vivantes - You are living stones” to help us all prepare for the Pascal mysteries. Then everyone had the chance to listen as the 2008 WYD pilgrims related their cherished memories and experiences in Sydney, Australia.

Following these testimonies, Bishop Albert Thévenot explained the theme for the upcoming WORLD YOUTH DAYS from August 16 to 25 in Madrid, Spain as “Enracinés et fondés en Christ… Affermis dans la foi - Planted and built up in Christ… Firm in faith (Col. 2.7)”.

Bishop Thévenot convincingly expressed the world’s great need and longing for disciples deeply rooted in Christ to commit themselves to Christ in this world of ours. No doubt, Pope Benedict XVI was responding when he chose this theme for the youth of WYD 2011. “We are rooted in Christ”, Thévenot insisted. It is through our baptism that we belong and become one with Him and His Church. There is much relativism in the world, but youth want faith, a relational faith – relational to God, others and self!

Following the Bishop’s powerful talk on accepting to live out our calling, the nine WYD 2011 pilgrims were interviewed and ask to give reasons for their decision to go on this pilgrimage, their itinerary and their commitment to serve the Church upon their return. The parishes, in turn, committed themselves to support the pilgrims in prayer, encouragement, and fundraising and to involve them in parish ministries. Mary Perrault gave the Pilgrims’s 7 Be’s - Be prompt, be polite, be positive, be patient, be prepared, be proper and be prayerful. One youth added the participants are expected to be prepared to participate and pull together. Once Father Maurice Fiolleau had outlined the pilgrimage itinerary for the 71 pilgrims of the Prince Albert diocese, Bishop Thévenot listed the important religious sites to be visited as Rome, Assisi, Florence, Avila. He expressed his wishes on having a commissioning celebration to send off the pilgrims prior to their departure. They are being sent to represent the diocese. Likewise, he plans a similar liturgical celebration upon their return to be able to witness to “how God works in their lives”.

A Jewish Seder meal took place to commemorate the liberation and journey of the People of God from slavery to freedom in the Promised Land. In the afternoon, the Bishop and the WYD 2011 pilgrims sat at the Seder table while the other numerous participants sat in two concentric semi-circles in front to be able to celebrate in unison.

Following the joyful, prayerful, meaningful celebration of the Jewish Passover, a Round Table presentation on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil and Resurrection, and the link of our spiritual liberation and journey to freedom with the day’s themes was made.

As part of the Diocesan Commission for Liturgy, the French component “Animation liturgique” formerly known as ALPEC will be celebrating 35 years of dedication. As a part of their mission, they strive to improve the quality and understanding of the liturgy. French and bilingual parishes from the Dioceses of Saskatoon and Prince Albert meet twice a year, spring and fall. The next meeting will take place on November 5, 2011 at the Sacred Heart Cathedral at which they will be deepening their understanding of the Eucharist and studying the upcoming changes proposed by the Church.