Youngsters mark Pentecost

Maltese children and adolescents yesterday joined their friends in various countries and took part in a symbolic walk aimed at spreading love throughout the world and making universal brotherhood a reality.

Young members of Teen4Unity, within the Focolare Movement, walked for the cause in an activity carried out all over the world and across time zones to celebrate Pentecost.

About 240 children and adolescents from various schools and movements walked for an hour, between 4 and 5 p.m., as they set off from the Attard primary school and made their way to San Anton Gardens where they met President Eddie Fenech Adami and presented him with a message of peace.

An hour later, while still at the gardens, there was a satellite link with Piazza Navona in Rome where 2,000 young people took part in a programme that was transmitted via internet and satellite.

Earlier, there were also live links with Sicily and Argentina where the Teen4Unity walk took place.

At about 7.30 p.m., a group of older youngsters joined the rest of the group after carrying a cross symbolising World Youth Day during a carcade. The whole group then walked to the Archbishop's residence in Attard where Mgr Paul Cremona joined them in a walk to Victor Vassallo Street where he celebrated an outdoor Mass.

Transport was then provided from Attard to near St Sebastian church in Qormi where the over-16s took part in a walk to a youth village at the Marsa Sports and Country Club where a night vigil was held.

Mgr Cremona is due to join youngsters again this morning for prayers and breakfast provided by the Institute for Tourism Studies.