“Healing Spaces”
Global Webinar on the Occasion of the Ecumenical International Youth Day 2026
A Gathering Affirming the Importance of Youth in the Present and Future of the Ecumenical Movement
On the occasion of the Ecumenical International Youth Day 2026, a global online Ecumenical webinar was held under the title “Healing Spaces”, organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC), in partnership with ACT Alliance, Oikoumene Pasifika, and the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).
The webinar took place on Thursday, August 13, 2026, under the theme “Restore – Empower – Strengthen – Thrive.” It brought together youth from around the world, alongside representatives of many regional and international Ecumenical organizations and bodies. Among the participants were Ms. Maria Bzdigian, Project Coordinator in the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department, and Elia Nasrallah, Communication and Media Officer in the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department.
The gathering aimed to provide a space for dialogue, reflection, and Prayer, while also strengthening the presence and role of youth in the global Ecumenical movement. It focused on the concept of healing spaces in its various Spiritual, Ecumenical and humanitarian dimensions. The webinar also highlighted the importance of youth engagement in building a better future through safe and welcoming spaces for all. Spaces that contribute to fostering hope and strengthening relationships of fellowship, love, and mutual respect.
The program featured interactive Ecumenical and humanitarian sessions. It began with a message for the World Council of Churches (WCC) General Secretary Reverend Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay, which was read by the Director of the WCC's Commission of the Churches on Health and Healing Dr. Manoj Kurian. The message emphasized the need to create spaces that embrace youth and enhance their participation.
The webinar also included Prayers, reflections, and spiritual moments addressing healing from various perspectives, as well as the importance of accompanying people amidst the challenges that the world is facing today, as well as the values of listening, dialogue, and embracing one another.
For her part, Ms. Maria Bzdigian, from the Middle East Council of Churches, who participated in preparing the webinar, presented many reflections for the occasion. She also delivered an intervention focusing on the meaning of healing in spiritual and human life, highlighting the role of Ecumenical communities in providing genuine spaces for healing where youth can express themselves and share their views and experiences.
Hence, the gathering provided a shared space for Prayer, listening, and participation, reaffirming that young people are a fundamental pillar of the present and future of the Ecumenical movement.