2019
Under the title of “Christus Vivit” Ankawa Youth Meetings (AYM) were launched in the summer of 2019, bringing together youth from different Chaldean dioceses across Iraq. Around 1000 young people participated in AYM, as well as the participation of Jesuit Fathers from Egypt.
The first day started with a welcoming speech followed by presentations by the Fathers about the “Gifts of the Holy Spirit”. After the lectures, youth went to the Catholic University in Erbil campus to attend an evening of hymns, presented by the choir of the Archdiocese (a unified choir presenting all parishes in Ankawa), along with Kukhy choir, which is the unified Choir of the Chaldean Patriarchate in Baghdad. The choirs performed Marian hymns. Following the evening, the day concluded with traditional and cultural songs and dances.
The second day started with a group prayer, followed by a speech by Archbishop Warda titled “Can the Church Trust the Youth?” during which he spoke about successful leadership in light of King David and his leadership to the Chosen People. After the Archbishop’s lecture, the Jesuit Fathers spoke about the Apostolic Letter “Christus Vivit” to groups of youth in different parishes. After the lectures and speeches, youth headed to Sts. Peter and Paul Parish where they participated in contests of question and answers about the Bible along with entertaining activities and games with special focus on teamwork. Then, the second day concluded with meditations upon the “Stations of the Cross”, followed by Eucharistic Adoration and Confessions.
The third day started with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy in Sts. Peter and Paul Parish. After Mass youth groups were again sent to the Parishes where they concluded their discussions about the Apostolic Letter from the previous day. Following, the groups discussed and shared the things they learned during the days of AYM 2019. The third day was concluded by sharing lunch, accompanied with a celebration.
