A GROUP of 26 young people from around Australia is heading to Germany for a Jesuits’ seven-day Magis program from August 8-15, before going on to Cologne for World Youth Day.
Magis, a Latin word meaning “more”, was organised by German Jesuits with support from Jesuit youth organisations around the world.
Young Adult Ignatian Ministry co-ordinator Sacha Bermudez-Goldman, and chaplain Jesuit Father Robin Koning, accompanied the pilgrims to Frankfurt, where the Australians will be based during the five-day Magis program.
About 3000 young people from all over the world are gathering in 12 cities in Germany, France, Belgium and Luxembourg for the Magis program.
They will be divided into experiential groups of about 30 people and experience a spiritual journey through activities such as pilgrimage, social outreach, creative workshops, morning prayer, worship time, personal reflection and group faith sharing.
At the end of the five-day camp all groups will meet for two days at a campsite in the Loreley Valley, on the banks of the Rhine River, before travelling in two boats down the river to Cologne for the World Youth Day festivities.
The 26 Australians from Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney, range in age from 18-26.
Kathryn Cook from Brisbane said she looked forward to meeting “heaps of young people with a similar world view” during the trip.
“I’m interested in going because I went to the Easter event, which was held this year in Melbourne, and I really enjoyed myself,” she said.
