Portugal - National Pilgrimage of Salesian Family and Salesian Youth Movement Day

30 May 2019

(ANS - Fatima) - "With Mary, sainthood is joy" was the theme of the 67th Pilgrimage of the Salesian Family of Portugal to the Shrine of Fatima, held on the weekend of 18-19 May. And also in Fatima, on Saturday 18, the young people of the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM), who attend the works of the Salesians and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), celebrated their National Day.

Guided by the Provincial of Portugal, Fr José Aníbal Mendonça, the Provincial of the FMA, Sr. Rosa Cândida Gomes, and by the National Delegate for the Salesian Family, Fr Joaquim Taveira da Fonseca, the pilgrimage brought together about 800 people in the devotion to Mary to several SF groups.

The highlight of the activities was reached on Sunday with the Eucharist presided over within the sanctuary by the archbishop of Evora, Msgr. Francisco Senra Coelho. The prelate, a Salesian past pupil of the Don Bosco Institute in Maputo, Mozambique, recalled in the homily the "complete and disinterested priestly testimony" of Don Bosco who was able to "love, defend, promote and give his life for children, adolescents and the poorest young people." For this reason he invited all pilgrims to be missionaries of God's love through "concrete gestures of the Gospel lived and shared."

Msgr. Senra Coelho, already the day before, had taken part in the "Salesian activities", joining the young people of the SYM for the exhibition "Art and Faith", which took place at the Paul VI Center, within the program of the National Day of the SYM.

Organized by the Salesian Youth Ministry and by the National Delegate, Fr Álvaro Lago, the youth meeting brought together 500 young people from the different houses of the Salesians and the FMA of Portugal, who celebrated Mary by living the youth spirituality inherited from Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello.

The young participants thus lived many moments together with the Salesian Family, such as the Greeting to the Madonna, the show "Art and Faith" and the Rosary in the Chapel of the Apparitions. During the day, they also participated in various workshops, and finally ended their activities with a prayer concert.

Source: Boletim Informativo Hoje

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