The program of the Congress

What do we expect of the V European Franciscan Youth Congress?

       

• Youth formation    
• Prayer and the Eucharist celebration    
• Fraternal feast    
• Celebration of 800 years of the Franciscan charisma    
• Connection with the Franciscan Youth from Central Eastern Europe showing them Youfra identity, helping to get into relationship with international Youfra and SFO    
• Renewal of Lithuanian Franciscan Family    
• Evangelization and witness out faith to society of Lithuania        
• Presentation of Lithuania (in the 2009 Lithuania will celebrate a Millennium since the first mention of its name in written records) its capital Vilnius (European capital of culture 2009)    

What are you going to visit in Lithuania?

       

Vilnius is the city of the first Franciscan martyrs in Lithuania. The Hill of Three Crosses marks the place of their death. Franciscan parish of Bernardinai with the largest Youfra fraternity in Lithuania is settled in Vilnius too.

       

Siluva is the first widely known apparition of the Mother of God in Europe Europe. In 1993 Pope John Paul II made a special pilgrimage to pray at this National Shrine of Our Lady in Siluva. Today it is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Lithuania which celebrates 400th Anniversary of the Apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

       

The Hill of Crosses is a sign of Lithuanian nation’s sufferings and martyrdom during soviet times. The Hill of Crosses is located in northern Lithuania close to the city of Siauliai Siauliai. The unique hill is estimated to have more 50,000 crosses dating back to the mid-1800s. Not only crosses cover the hill, but thousands of effigies, rosaries, crucifixes and carvings adorn this site.

       

Kretinga is a small town, but a very significant Franciscan place in Lithuania Lithuania. There are remains of Franciscan martyrs (friars and secular) in the cellars of Kretinga church. The living Church has grown out of this witness of faith.

       

The village Nida is the capital of the Neringa municipality along the shores of western Lithuania Lithuania, known as the curonian spit.  It is a favorite tourist destination for locals and visitors for its beauty, serene landscape and sand dunes.

       

Kaunas has a beautiful Bernardine friary and st. George the Martyr (St. George is honoured in the Catholic Church as one of the most illustrious martyrs of Christ) church which were turned into school of medicine and the drug storeroom in soviet regim times. In 1993 all ensemble was returned to Lithuanian order of friars minor. Now there is a strong SFO fraternity and growing Youfra.