9th International Youth Forum

Witnessing to Christ in the world of work
9th International Youth Forum
organised by
The Pontifical Council for the Laity
Rocca di Papa (Rome), 27 March - 1 April 2007

* * *
Programme

Tuesday 27 March
Arrival of participants and dinner (Free evening)

Wednesday 28 March
Theme of the day:
YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE WORLD OF WORK TODAY

8:30 a.m. Prayer
8:45 a.m. - Opening Address (Archbishop Stanis»aw Ry»ko, PCL President)
- Presentation of the programme (Msgr Francis Kohn, Head of PCL Youth Section)
- Introduction to the theme of the day
9:30 a.m. Lecture: Transformations in the world of work in an age of globalisation
(Prof. Giancarlo Rovati, lecturer in Sociology, Sacro Cuore Catholic University of Milan)
10:15 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. - Some young people from around the world tell about their experiences
- Open discussion
12:30 p.m. Lunch
3:00 p.m. - Lecture: Mobility, >precarity= and unemployment
(Prof. Michele Tiraboschi, lecturer in Labour Law, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia)
- Open discussion
4:30 p.m. Break
5:00 p.m. - Panel discussion: Work in a changing world
- The >new professionals= and the creativity and initiative of young people
- Creating new business ideas
- The frustrations, demands and expectations of young people in poor neighbourhoods
- Facing unemployment and crisis situations in professional life
- Open discussion
7:00 p.m. Holy Mass (Bishop Josef Clemens, PCL Secretary)
8:00 p.m. Dinner
9:00 p.m. Presentation of countries, movements, associations and communities

Thursday 29 March
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE APOSTLES PETER AND PAUL
A day of pilgrimage and encounter in Rome

8:00 a.m. Coaches leave for the Basilica of Saint-Paul-Outside-the-Walls
9:00 a.m. - Prayer
- Visit to the basilica in language groups
10:30 a.m. - Holy Mass (Cardinal Ivan Dias, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples)
- Prayer at the Apostle's tomb
12:30 p.m. Packed lunch
1:30 p.m. Departure for Saint Peter's Basilica
2:30 p.m. - Visit to the basilica in language groups
- Prayer at the tomb of John Paul II
4:30 p.m. Coach tour of Rome and return to the Forum headquarters
8:00 p.m. Dinner

Friday 30 March
Theme of the day:
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WORK IN HUMAN LIFE

8:30 a.m. Prayer
8:45 a.m. - Introduction to the theme of the day
- Lecture: Work as a Vocation: Drawing on the Catholic Social Tradition 25 Years after “Laborem exercens” (Prof. Michael J. Naughton, Professor of Catholic Studies and Theology, University of St. Thomas, Saint Paul, USA)
- Open discussion
10:30 a.m. Break
11:00 a.m. - Panel discussion: Work at the service of the person and the person's growth
- Using our talents in the choice and exercise of our profession
- Work as a place for human relations and solidarity
- Work, free time, consumerism and use of money
- Open discussion
1:00 p.m. Lunch
3:00 p.m. Working groups: The significance of work for young people today
4:30 p.m. Break
5:00 p.m. Synthesis of working groups
6:30 p.m. Holy Mass (Cardinal Renato Martino, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People)
7:30 p.m. Dinner
8:45 p.m. Prayer vigil

Saturday 31 March
Theme of the day:
PROCLAIMING THE “GOSPEL OF WORK” TODAY

8:00 a.m. Holy Mass (Archbishop Stanis»aw Ry»ko, PCL President)
9:00 a.m. - Introduction to the theme of the day
- Panel discussion: Christian witness in the workplace
- Pastoral ministry of workers today
- The role of Catholic associations
- Christians in trade unions
10:15 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. Lecture: “Ora et labora”: joining our professional life with our Christian life
(Most Rev. Gregor Maria Hanke osb, Bishop of Eichstätt, Germany)
11:30 a.m. - Personal experiences: In search of the Aspirituality of work@
- a young worker
- a young professional
- a young entrepreneur
- Open discussion
1:00 p.m. Lunch
3:00 p.m. Working groups: Young people, witnesses to Christ in the world of work: experiences and suggestions
4:30 p.m. Break
5:00 p.m. Synthesis of working groups
6:00 p.m. Forum conclusions (Archbishop Stanis»aw Ry»ko, PCL President)
7:30 p.m. Dinner
8:45 p.m. Festive evening

Sunday 1 April (Palm Sunday)
Rome diocesan celebration of the 22nd World Youth Day with the Holy Father

7:30 a.m. Coaches leave for Saint Peter's Square
10:00 a.m. Palm Sunday Mass presided by the Holy Father
12:30 p.m. Lunch and departure