WYD DON BOSCO 23 is the organization of the Salesian Youth Movement responsible for inviting young people from various Salesian environments around the world to take part in WYD Lisbon 2023, living it according to the charism of Don Bosco.
In addition to this, WYD DON BOSCO 23 also seeks to integrate WYD 2023, following all the dynamism and planned moments, as well as valuing, on a particular day, the “SYM Day”, all its associative and youthful dimension.
In this presence, young people will naturally be the protagonists. In fact, the “SYM Day”, the day on which the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) meets, has gained dimension and strength in the last editions of the World Youth Days.
At WYD Lisbon 2023, the “SYM Day” will be celebrated on August 2, at the Salesian house in Estoril. It will be attended by the Rector Major, Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime, and Sister Chiara Cazzuola, who will participate for the first time as Mother General of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.
This day will be one of the highlights of SYM’s participation in WYD Lisbon 2023 and will be divided into three major moments:
This is a time of meeting with the Rector Major of the Salesians, with the Mother General of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and some other superiors of groups of the Salesian Family. During this meeting, young representatives from different countries reflect and debate on a particular topic and also have the opportunity to ask questions to the Rector and Mother General. At the end, a message addressed to SYM youth is prepared. This space for youth protagonism closes with the celebration of the Eucharist.
The SYM Party, which takes place in the afternoon, is intended for all members of the Salesian Family who are present at WYD. It is characterized by joy and fraternity, with music, animation and games, in a typical oratorian style.
There will be several activities promoted by the organization and others prepared by the countries participating in the party. There is also the possibility to celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation and to pray in the chapel. Sport will also be present through football and volleyball tournaments.
The Vigil, which is lived at the end of the day, is a time of prayer and Eucharistic adoration. We live in gratitude for the richness of Don Bosco’s charism, which makes us witnesses of Jesus. Prayer, typically Salesian, lived at this moment, leads to the essential, is lived in community and is expressed in music and in the joy of feeling that we are brothers in Christ, children of Don Bosco. This moment ends with the traditional Good Night by the Rector Major and the Mother General of the Salesian Sisters.
WYD DON BOSCO 2023 comes from the acronym, in English, which refers to the World Youth Day, as well as the word “with”; to Saint John Bosco, usually referred to as Don Bosco, as an aggregator of the Salesian Family; and the date of the meeting.
WYD DON BOSCO 2023 wants to be a hallmark that identifies the Salesian Youth Movement, that motivates young people to make this pilgrimage, that reinforces their faith and that challenges others, who are further off, to know the Living Christ.
The WYD Don Bosco 23 logo was inspired by the figures of Don Bosco and Mary Help of Christians. The basis of the entire logo is Mary’s mantle that appears to “embrace” all the other elements.
Inside the mantle we find the tricorn of Don Bosco, an element so characteristic and distinctive of our holy founder; as well as two crosses, symbols of our faith. There is also a rope that reminds us of the performer, in an allusion to the fact that Don Bosco used play and juggling as a way of captivating young people and bringing them to the Church, winning their hearts.
The yellow band, which appears on the right side of the logo, suggests an upward movement, which invites us to get up and leave and which leads us to the WYD Lisbon 2023 motto.
The chosen colors, green, yellow and red are inspired by the colors of the portuguese national flag.
