On September 4, the symbols of World Youth Day, the Pilgrim Cross and the icon of Our Lady Salus Populi Romani, arrived in the diocese of Vila Real, beginning their pilgrimage through all the archdioceses. The aim of the pilgrimages of the symbols through the dioceses is to transmit the Gospel and accompany the youth on their way to the Day of Protest that will take place in Lisbon next year.
On September 24th, the day on which the Salesians recall Our Lady Help of Christians, the parish of Poiares had the honour of receiving these icons with much joy and love from the young people of the community.
Its members provided a moment of prayer, reflection and an encounter with God for all who were present.
The parish is grateful for the incredible and, most likely, unique opportunity to have been present and to have felt the love of the WYD symbols. For, like Mary, the community is rising, full of enthusiasm, to continue its journey towards WYD Lisbon 2023.
Some young people, who were present at this very important moment, also wanted to leave their testimony:
“The arrival of the symbols in my parish triggered a feeling of togetherness in me, seeing so many people gathered, willing to say yes to a meeting of young people from all over the world with the Pope, to say yes to a meeting between cultures, to say yes to a moment of sharing and fraternity showed me that we are all gathered by faith, united by the teachings of God our Father.
Knowing that these icons have already travelled through various countries, and that they are now travelling through my community, becomes a sign of hope for those who see them, and they can bring the most distant people closer to Jesus and make them walk towards WYD, an experience that certainly no one should miss.
