Vatican City, Nov 22, 2016 / 07:43 am
On Tuesday the Vatican announced the themes for the next three World Youth Day encounters, which are focused on Mary and form the basis of a spiritual journey culminating in the next global encounter in Panama in 2019.
A Nov. 22 Vatican communique revealed that the themes for 2017 and 2018 diocesan-level events as well as the international gathering in 2019 will all be taken from Chapter 1 of the Gospel of Luke, centering on Mary in the scene of the Annunciation and her Magnificat, spoken after her cousin Elizabeth's declaration that "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb."
The theme for the 2017 gathering will be: "The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name," taken from Lk 1:49, while the theme for the 2018 encounter is: "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God," which the Angel Gabriel spoke to Mary in Lk 1:30.
The three-year journey will culminate with the global encounter to be held in Panama in 2019, and which will reflect on the theme, "I am the servant of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word," spoken by Mary after the Annunciation in Lk 1:30.