Two thousand Salesian pilgrims left Lisbon in the morning for a day’s visit to one of the greatest places of Marian devotion in the world. The Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, also took part in the pilgrimage to the Shrine of Fatima.
It was at the Marian shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary in Fatima that the last stage of Salesian participation in World Youth Day Lisbon 2023 took place. Two thousand Salesian pilgrims left Lisbon in the morning for a one-day visit to one of the greatest places of Marian devotion in the world. The Rector Major of the Salesians, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, also participated in the pilgrimage to the Shrine of Fatima.
The organisation WYD DON BOSCO 23 prepared a visit itinerary, with the main sites related to the apparitions of Our Lady in Fatima. With the prayer proposals for the trip, about 30 buses left for the shrine to live an intense day of spirituality and devotion to Our Lady.
In the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, the Rector Major, the Provincial of the Salesians of Portugal and Cape Verde, Fr José Aníbal Mendonça, and his successor, Fr Tarcízio Morais, and other Salesian priests concelebrated the Eucharist.
In the assembly, the young people heard a homily specially dedicated to them. It bridged the gap between the word, the experience of World Youth Day and the message of Fatima. They recalled Our Lady’s question to the little shepherds of Fatima, “Do you want to offer yourselves to God?”, and the words of courage that the Pope left to the young pilgrims to live life as a gift, like Jesus, and without fear.
At the same time, the Eucharist for international pilgrims was celebrated in English in the Chapel of Apparitions. Several Salesian priests concelebrated.
