Vatican City – 15th to 19th September 2015
By Camille Konkobo, Vocation Director, Zambia
I was invited to take part to a meeting organized by the Vatican for the young consecrated people across the world. The meeting started on 15th September with a vigil prayer. 4000 people were expected but we ended up with 7000 participants.
The gatherings took place at St Paul VI Hall each morning while the afternoons were set aside for group discussion in various places in Rome, according to languages. A Mass was celebrated at the end of the day followed by visits of Vatican touristic sites.
In line with the theme of this event “Wake up the world”, the Pope encouraged us to build-up joyful communities that unite all the members into one family of trust and love. The Pope asked us to throw our nets into deep waters by promoting vocations and helping the youth to discover or experience de love of God. A Congregation that doesn’t promote vocations is subjected to death.
We got a lot of encouragement from Pope Francis telling us that we should take up the challenge and cultivate a spirit of creativity hence bringing together or being a channel between generations within our own communities.
We were five missionaries of Africa present from different Provinces: Joseph Giday from Ethiopia (EPO), Camille Konkobo from Burkina (SAP), Prosper Harelimana Mamadou from Rwanda (GhNgr), Adrien Sawadogo from Burkina Faso (PAO), Jean-Pierre Mbiringaniné from Congo DR (EAP)
