Youth

The MAGiS 2011 experience is divided into three different geographical and pastoral stages, with different activities in each of them keeping the core elements because the magis starts in the prior of the WYD but it continues during the days in Madrid and we hope that it goes on in their daily lives back home. The three stages that make MAGiS 2011 are: the Ignatian gathering in Loyola, the experiments throughout Spain and Portugal, and the WYD at Madrid.

From February 3 to 7, Tinnah, Amity, and I joined around 3,500 young people in the Manila Meeting of the Taizé Pilgrimage of Trust on Earth. Young people from all over Asia and other continents attended, to pray and share about their faith and life experiences with others. It was really an experience—praying for an hour or even more three times a day, being in silence with thousands of people, conversing with different people about one God, and listening to the reflections of the Taizé Brothers.

Fr David Yen (CHN), director of Fu Jen Catholic University Service-Learning Centre in Taipei reports that a group of students and teachers from the University participated in a service trip to work in the houses for the dying in Kolkata, India that were founded by Blessed Mother Teresa. In fact, for a number of years, the Catholic University in Taiwan has been organizing yearly service trips visiting such places as India, Mongolia, Cambodia and parts of Taiwan where those most in need live. These missionary experiences of charity are aimed at help

MAGiS 2011 begins at Loyola on 5 August, moves to the provinces of Spain and Portugal for the experiments from 8 - 15, then to Madrid for WYD which concludes on the 21st. Organizers are planning for 3000 participants, each should be at least 18 years old as of 5 August 2011. Fr Abel Toraño (CAS) is in charge.

The World Assembly of SIGNIS (World Catholic Association for Communication) met in Chiang Mai, Thailand in October to discuss the theme Media for a Culture of Peace: Children’s Rights, Tomorrow’s Promise. The Assembly was conducted by SIGNIS President Mr.

Following last summer's wonderfully successful MAGiS08 event at World Youth Day in Sydney, MAGiS initiatives are springing up in many countries and regions.

MAGiS09 Africa is one - an Ignatian program for young adults in Kenya and Tanzania in August this year. MAGiS09 hopes to draw young people not only from the East African countries but also internationally.

The MAGiS08 Experiments in Cambodia gave an added impetus to Ignatian Spirituality in this Jesuit mission. The seeds that were sown in July 2008 have germinated into seedlings in the generous hearts of young Cambodian Catholics.

MAGiS has launched an extensive, worldwide review of the MAGiS08 programme, inviting participants of the World Youth Day Ignatian programme to take part in it. By gathering together comments, stories, and memories of MAGiS08, the ministry hopes to build an invaluable archive of the programme and to acquire guidance for the ministry's direction.

Three MAGiS08 Experiments were held in Cambodia, at Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Battambang from July 5 - 11.

With just over two months to go before the arrival of pilgrims in Sydney for World Youth Day, the Ignatian World Youth Day program, MAGiS08, has almost filled its registrations with young adults from 26 countries around the world. The MAGiS Provincial Delegate, Fr Edward Dooley, says he is thrilled that the East Asia and Oceania Assistancy will be well-represented during World Youth Day.