Milan, Italy - Six Italian youth gathered for the first working meeting of the Interreligious Youth Council in Milan on September 9. Since most of the participants (one Muslim, two Christians, and three Unificationists) had never met before, they dedicated the first hour to getting to know each other. After introducing themselves and sharing a little bit about their lives (studies, professional experience, faith affiliation, experiences abroad, etc.), everyone presented an object that he or she always carries around and that holds a special meaning. This small ice-breaker created a very positive and at the same time deep atmosphere.
The meeting continued with reading passages from sacred Scriptures about the family, and the discussion explored the role and meaning of the family in the different religious traditions. Although the discussion was heated at times, this indicated that people felt personally engaged. There was a desire to ltry to understand each other's deep concerns. The discussion led to exploring the definitions of concepts such as family and love, and how they should be understood and put into practice.
The topic of the next meeting will be the contribution of faiths in promoting the value of the family.
To email Paulo Hi-Seung D’Alberti, National Coordinator of Youth UPF Italia, click