Portugal – SYM Summer 2020: Invited to Recreate

04 August 2020

(ANS - Lisbon) - From 20 to 24 July, the SYM Summer Camp 2020 took place, an online event that compensated for the cancellation of the National Camp of the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) which, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, was not possible.

SYM Summer 2020 brought together about 90 participants throughout the week, divided into the usual sectors for pre-teenagers, teenagers and young people. Every day, at 12:00 local time, the day's theme was presented through the Zoom platform. Creation was the common thread on which everyone reflected and which was fundamental for the challenges offered during the single day in which each young person was to participate to then share the fruit of their commitment on social networks such as Tik Tok and Instagram.

In the afternoon the different groups met to reflect on the questions that had been presented in the morning. And at 22:30 they met again in the common group to pray together and end with other properly recreational and educational activities.

Although the SYM Summer 2020 was not able to replace the National Camp in full, for a week the participants savoured Salesian youth spirituality, made up of prayer, games, companionship, joy and friendship.

The final Eucharist was also transmitted via Zoom, celebrated at the home of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in Setúbal and presided over by Fr Álvaro Lago, National Delegate for Salesian Youth Ministry. "In practice, we replaced one activity with another experience, but we did not want to lose the goals of when we are together and celebrate," said the priest in the homily. "We are Salesian youth spirituality in person and this is what makes it present in us," said the presbyter.

Fr Lago then launched one last challenge to the participants: that of celebrating the Creation today, so that everyone becomes the visible face of the life of communion with Jesus. “We are invited to live in such a way that those who look at us ask themselves: Why is this person joyful and happy?”

In the Eucharist it was also announced that Sister Alzira Sousa had completed her position as National Delegate for Youth Ministry of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, giving way to Sister Linda Vieira. After her very intense work with the SYM Council, the religious thanked all those who had worked with her in recent years.

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