Aged 43, he was appointed to lead Salesian Youth Ministry in the days following the World Youth Day. In this interview, Fr. Juan Freitas provides a ‘post-mortem’ of the gathering, its impact on the Church, young people, and Youth Ministry.
More than four months after the World Youth Day, what echoes remain among young people, educators, and the media?
The world, young people, and families thirst for God, for good people, for peace and joy.
The Days were something special because the Church in Portugal was able to give ‘everyone, everyone, everyone’ a beautiful, genuine,spontaneous experience that responds to what the heart of every human being is seeking.
In a global context of war,lies, fear, and sadness, the echo that endures in my heart is this: let us live the spirit of the Days, let us follow this ‘wave’ of joy, communion, service, welcome, and faith. The living Christ whom we experienced at WYD is counting on us,waiting for us.
The Salesian Youth Movement managed to bring together more than 8,000 young people from all over the world in Lisbon to participate in WYD and the MYS celebration. It was indeed the ecclesial movement with the largest representation at the Day. Does this surprise you?
I think there were groups and movements with more participants. For example, the Neocatechumenal Way gathered 75,000 young people in Algés. Perhaps the Salesian Youth Movement registered as a larger single group, as we also had participants from a greater diversity of countries and contexts. This is also due to us being the religious family with the greatest diffusion in almost all countries of the world, with young people coming not only from works linked to the Salesians, but also from the entire Salesian Family including the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Canção Nova, etc. There are 33 groups of this vast Salesian Family movement that make up the Salesian Youth Movement.
You assumed responsibility for the Salesian Youth Ministry, at the Provincial level, in the days following the end of WYD. How did the MYS emerge from WYD?
The MYS of Portugal finished WYD very happy! I think the feeling of all the communities, groups, and people was unanimous: people were tired, but with a full heart, with a feeling of duty accomplished, of humble gratitude because, amidst so many worries, fears, and weariness, the Lord provided. There were so many miracles of WYD that our heart leaves, therefore, rejuvenated, happy, strengthened in its identity, as children of Don Bosco, in communion with the Pope, children of Our Lady, who is our mother and guide, and grounded in the Living Christ, our pillar and our hope.
Are the seeds sown germinating or are there already seeds sprouting?
There are many seeds growing, and they are more than usual! Many people were involved and touched, and therefore a movement of young volunteers in social action, catechesis, and children’s and youth groups. The work with university students and young families, there is a sea of things happening, a vocational hope.
Using a figure of speech, isn’t it unsettling that young people, in their environment, continue in “silence,” as in the Vigil, and do not appear in “crowds” to sing and pray as in Eduardo VII Park?
Perhaps the young people are asking us for more moments of silence and prayer. Moments of encounter with Jesus. Increasingly, young people seek moments of peace, silence, communal and personal encounter with Christ and perhaps we are still too accustomed to providing and promoting moments of noise,a lot of talk. Today we are bombarded with immense information and we are thirsty for peace. To rest in the Lord as the Bible repeats several times.
It is important to give voice and turn to young people. In this sense, how is their inclusion in local structures (Schools,Parishes, Youth Centers) and provincial ones being done, at the Salesian level?
This modality is nothing new to us. The voice of young people is something present in our lives and in our daily action. Just think of the various dynamics of youth protagonism that exist. For example, the Associations of students in our schools that dynamize, collaborate in the pastoral animation of the houses. The MYS Council wants at the national level, or locally with the respective referents,to give the word to young people, in addition to this it is also consolidated in the different Salesian presences the presence of some young people on the Council of the Educational-Pastoral Community which is a regular meeting of pastoral animation of the different Salesian presences, or pastoral councils. In addition to these natural dynamics, this year we will have a National Salesian Youth Synod on January 28 in Fátima. This meeting is preceded by a Synod in each Salesian presence in preparation for the World Youth Synod of the Salesian Youth Movement to be held in Colle Don Bosco between 10 and 16 August 2024.
You are a parish priest in a parish in the center of Lisbon. Do you want to tell us about what is being planned and done so that young people are the protagonists?
We are still arriving. There is a good group of young people, young couples,volunteers, scouts, etc. There are many dreams and projects! We are still in a process of listening and organizing. We have many dreams and challenges ahead.
With WYD having taken place in Lisbon, a city of ships and missionaries, do you feel a new missionary impulse among young people?
Yes. From repeating so much: “he got up and left in a hurry” I think you can feel the “hurry in the air to leave”. This year among the Salesians, missionary volunteer projects have had more demand and adhesion. In the different Salesian presences, the Mission Anima emerged in almost all of them and there are various local projects of International Missionary Volunteering.
After this time, is there already something new and exciting happening in the country?
Young people have an increasingly decisive role in the life of the Church. There are thousands of Portuguese young people who want to follow Jesus. With a desire to be serious Christians and that is the best thing that can happen.
In your contacts with colleagues from other nationalities, do you realize that a new youth dynamic is being felt?
With the meetings of other countries, it is pleasing to say that everyone never tires of thanking Portugal, WYD, unanimously,everyone thanks the welcome, the joy, the great opportunity. The new dynamic felt goes through a new social and human reality that needs this adaptation permanently. There is more communication and communion, we meet more frequently, we share, we help each other and that helps us a lot. There are more training proposals.
In your opinion,what should change in the Church so that it is available to welcome “everyone, everyone, everyone” as Pope Francis told us?
To welcome and bring everyone closer. We Salesians have this openness intrinsically, our schools, our social works, youth centers, and works are open to everyone. Whether they are Catholic or not, whether they are from another country, religion, etc… whatever it is, they are human beings, there is a mission there and therefore our way of acting is gradual and progressive, it passes very much through true human relationships, in the search to witness a living Jesus who speaks through life. And it is beautiful how students from various backgrounds after some journey in our homes approach, meet, find meaning in life in the light of the Gospel and its values.
In one word, what was WYD for you?
Joy!
Published in the Salesian Bulletin nº 601 of January/February 2024
