August 19, 2011 - Day 4 of World Youth Day 2011 began with the the third day of Catechesis held at different parts of Madrid. Mostly this Catechesis session is not only about Bishops teaching and talking, but most of all encourages interactions among the young people. I remember when I attended our own version of Catechesis back in 1995 wherein 5,000 delegates were present inside the school and listening to the Papal Nuncio speaking inside the Gymnasium. After the talk there are sharing activities wherein you will be mingled with other delegates you don’t know and for 1 hour, you will have the opportunity to talk and share your thoughts about the day’s theme and talk. The activity ends with a Mass presided by the Bishop speaker for that day. Many years later, the format and essence is still the same. The formula of Catechetical events are very effective. It balances the excitement of young people during major activities of world youth day while Catechesis events calm them down in silence, enabling them them to listen and reflect for a while. On the same day, Vocation Cafe was held in a Real Madrid Stadium where music and prayer are intertwined. Vocation Cafe is becoming a tradition in world youth days. The purpose of vocation cafes is to cultivate vocations among young people. Last WYD 2008 in Sydney, Vocation Cafe was held in actual coffee shops wherein Bishops where the actual speakers discussing religious vocation and celibacy.

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