Asian Youth Day (AYD) is an international Catholic event organized by the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences, Office of Laity & Family, Youth Desk and the host country. The event, which is held every three years, brings together Catholic youths from all over Asia. The event is similar to World Youth Day.

The week long gathering enables Asian youth to experience the Gospel with others of different cultures and how the modern world celebrates the Gospel, and how it applies to current issues like social justice, leadership among its youth. The week festivities include prayer, forums, and workshops. The event is used to enrich, inspire, and renew the spiritual lives of Catholic youth of Asia.

History

In 1991, during the fifth World Youth Day in Czestochowa, Poland, delegates from numerous Asian countries expressed their desire to create a network and various channels of their own, to inspire the Catholic youth on the Asian continent.

In 1993, a youth consultation conference was held in Bangkok, Thailand. Participating youth representatives at the conference suggested that a youth working group be formed as a parish-based subsidiary of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences in an effort to gather support for youth leaders within the organization and to enhance mutual cooperation and links among youth parish groups from Asian countries.

The Youth Desk was officially established in 1994. Since its opening, the team has successfully organized a series of activities for Asian youths and youth leaders, including the Asian Youth Gathering during the World Youth Day, Asian Youth Ministers’ Meeting and Asian Youth Day.

Asian Youth Day Host Countries
Order Year Date City Nation Theme Notes
1st 1999 August 7 - August 12 Hua Hin  Thailand Asian Youth journeying with Jesus towards the New Millennium
2nd 2001 August 11 - August 17 Taipei  Republic of China We are called to Sanctity and Solidarity
3rd 2003 August 10 - August 17 Bangalore[1]  India Asian Youth for Peace
4th 2006 July 30 - August 5 Hong Kong[2]  People's Republic of China Youth, Hope of Asian Families
5th 2009 November 20 - November 27 Imus[3]  Philippines YAsia, Fiesta! Young Asians: Come Together, Share the Word, Live the Eucharist
6th 2014 August 10 - August 17 Daejeon[4]  South Korea Asian Youth! Wake up! The Glory of the Martyrs Shines on You! Attended by Pope Francis.[5]
7th 2017 July 30 - August 6 Yogyakarta  Indonesia Joyful Asian Youth: Living the Gospel in Multicultural Asia!
8th 2021 October  India

See also

References

  1. ↑ "3rd Asian Youth Day draws to a close | Bengaluru News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  2. ↑ "Asian Youth Day: Catholic, Buddhist youth from Thailand share experiences".
  3. ↑ "Philippines to Host 5th Asian Youth Day - Asia & Pacific - International - News".
  4. ↑ "Pope Francis visits Korea". Archived from the original on 2016-02-24. Retrieved 2016-02-16.
  5. ↑ "Pope Francis Arrives in South Korea on First Trip to Asia as Pontiff". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
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