WORLD YOUTH DAY LISBON 2023

Like Mary, let us move forward in haste towards WYD 2023!

Our Congregation has registered 167 participants for the World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal. Among the thousands, 167 PM youth, religious and adult companions, are preparing their journey to Lisbon in order to live an exciting time with Pope Francis. World Youth Day is an open world youth event which will be held from July 26^thto August 6^th 2023 with the theme: “Mary arose and went with haste.” (Lk 1:39)

Since January 2023, the youth group of the Casa de Maria of the Province of Portugal and the General Administration have organized ZOOM meetings for those who are responsible for each delegation.

Some group participants in their own countries, have initiated weekly, biweekly or monthly sessions making use of the spiritual preparation created by the WYD Committee, in Lisbon. There are participants who have prepared videos to promote the event locally. Some groups have initiated projects to help raise funds for their group by selling creative products like water bottles, handmade rosaries and personalized pens.

The WYD Lisbon PM Group will participate in the Diocesan Days while staying in our PM House of Welcome in Fatima. It is a wonderful opportunity to experience up close the presence of Our Lady of Fatima. It was in 1917 that Our Ladyof the Immaculate Heart appeared to three local children named: Lucia, Jacinta and Francesco. The latter two children were canonized on May 13, 2017: St. Francisco and St. Jacinta. Lucia has just been proclaimed “Venerable” by Pope Francis. For over a hundred years, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima is a place renowned for prayer, silence, and pilgrimages. It is also a place to ask for the grace of repentance and conversion.

From August 1^st to 6^th, our PM WYD participants will be welcomed in the Casa de Nossa Senhora de Saúde in Setubal. Setubal is a city located approximately 48 kilometers south of Portugal’s capital, Lisbon. It is a place for beach and seafood lovers. It is also where the Portuguese Province’s Provincial House ‘Quinta da Boa Vista’ was established in 1938 by Madre Maria da Santissima Trindade, a zealous daughter of Saint Marie Rivier. (please click here to read the history of the Province of Portugal)

The Youth MinistryCasa de Maria of the Province of Portugal is the organizing committee of the PM Group for WYD Lisbon. It has a long list of things to do in order to help us live meaningfully the great event with our Holy Father Francis. We thank you! A big thank you also for the Council of Congregation 2021 which supported this PM project for WYDLisbon 2023.

God bless you all!

PM Youth on the way to WYD2023 Lisbon!

Let’s go! On y va! Vamos! ¡Vamos!