Fr Chagas, director of youth affairs in the Congregation for the Laity, Family and Life, witnessed Portuguese hospitality and the enthusiasm of young people in Portugal. The Diocesan Days before the Congress took place in 17 dioceses of Portugal from 26 to 31 July.
(Vatican News Network) Before the official opening of the World Youth Day in Lisbon, 17 dioceses in Portugal hosted young people from all over the world from July 26 to 31. The six-day event, also known as “Diocesan Days”, aims to help young pilgrims integrate into local groups and parishes in Portugal and learn about its customs and customs. Fr Joao Chagas, Director of Youth Affairs of the Congregation for the Laity, Family and Life, arrived in Lisbon on July 17 to accompany the local preparatory committee in Portugal in the final preparations before the Congress, telling this news network What he saw and heard.
Fr. Chagas himself participated in the celebration of the arrival in Lisbon of WYD symbols such as the pilgrimage cross and the statue of Our Lady of the Help of the Roman People. It was the Mass at the end of the World Youth Day symbol’s tour of Portugal, presided over by Cardinal Manuel José Macário do Nascimento Clemente, Patriarch of Lisbon, in the historic Cathedral of Our Lady. Father Chagas said that the atmosphere of World Youth Day is full of joy, celebration and faith. “These young people are immersed in great peace, tranquility, harmony, and friendship, and they let go of their defensive defenses.”
Talking about the reception work of the Portuguese parish and family, Father Chagas pointed out that on the day of World Grandparents and the Elderly Day, he met an old man who was a great-grandmother in the parish and was going to host about five young people to live in her home. Fr. Chagas said: “We will also live this experience of intergenerational encounters, which is really beautiful. I have also visited several parishes in the past few days to celebrate Mass. I saw that each parish received volunteers and Pilgrims, it is wonderful to see families and couples accepting them like the “parents” of young people these days, preparing meticulously! Another day, they vacated and marked the area for sleeping bags in the parish, installed drinking water Equipment and sanitary facilities. These little details are for the proper reception of guests. The Portuguese people are very hospitable.”
Link URL: www.vaticannews.cn
#World #Youth #Day #Lisbon #diocesan #day #Portugal #hosts #young #pilgrims #Vatican #News #Vatican
2023-07-29 07:39:59
