The day began at 1:00 p.m. with a simple walk consisting of 14 stops. About twenty participants walked the “Path of Hope” in Lonay (near Lausanne, Switzerland), accompanied by Pastor Pierre-André Léchot. It was a beautiful way to begin the gathering—taking the time to walk, share, and remember that the journey toward 2033 is first and foremost a journey of faith, hope, and unity.
Then, at 4:00 p.m., the Gathering of Friends of JC2033 brought together 130 participants. Videos, testimonies, expressions of gratitude, prayer, singing, and sharing marked this significant event, with a central theme, “The Resurrection Brings Acceleration.”
Pastor Martin Hoegger led a reflection on the connection between the power of the Resurrection and the momentum that must drive the Church toward 2033. Elodie Rasolo gave us a joyful retrospective of the past 12 months and the progress of JC2033 worldwide. Barbara Allan humorously introduced the staff of the JC2033 International Office using a superhero theme, concluding that Jesus himself is our superhero.
With enthusiasm, Olivier Fleury outlined the future prospects and the acceleration of the movement. The program clearly encouraged us not only to look at what has already been accomplished but also to commit to the future, since there are only 6 years, 7 months, and a few days left. The wonderful couple, Nicola and Sonia Balestrini, moved and inspired us to sow seeds so that we can support this global acceleration.
Celebrating with joy… and plenty of humor!
After a generous reception provided by many participants, the day continued with a stand-up comedy show by Pastor Gilles Geiser, which drew a crowd of about 100 people. An original way to wrap up this gathering, because celebrating the risen Jesus also means knowing how to laugh! This day on August 29 ultimately summed up, in just a few hours, the three dimensions that underpin JC2033, walking in unity, bearing witness to hope, and celebrating with joy.
August 29 was therefore not just another gathering. It was an encouragement to pick up the pace, to enter a new phase, and to begin preparing today for what we want to experience together at Easter 2033. As the vision of JC2033 reminds us, one of the goals is to enable Christians to walk together toward the celebration of the 2,000th anniversary of the Resurrection, centered on three pillars, unity, witness, and celebration. However, the main goal is to let all the people of Switzerland (and the whole world) know that Jesus Christ died and rose again and that he continues to transform lives even today.
The journey continues.
Hope lies ahead of us. And the pace is accelerating at a breathtaking rate!
Olivier Fleury
To relive this day with us, here is the full video
Here is the link for the Paths of Hope in Switzerland
