On 9 April, 2017, Palm Sunday, in Rome, Pope Francis entrusted the WYD symbols to young Panamanians: thus began the pilgrimage of the cross and the Marian icon, first to the dioceses of Panama and, later, to other countries of the Americas.
In the first week of April 2018, the Salesian parish "Mary Help of Christians" hosted and held the two symbols in the name of the Diaconate of Tegucigalpa. The activities planned for the occasion were attended by young people from different parishes and, amid songs and prayers, a large procession was held on the main avenue leading to the parish church. The curiosity of many people watching from their windows to witness the passage of the two symbols represented the effectiveness of the testimony of the many young participants.
Then, in the parish church, the Eucharist was celebrated, presided over by Fr Guido Maroto, SDB, and concelebrated by Fr Lenin Cruz, of the parish "El Calvario". During the homily by Fr Cruz, much attention was paid to the importance of "Easter joy in youth, because only in the life that Jesus gives us is that full happiness our heart seeks." Fr Cruz also encouraged everyone to live the WYD with joy and hope, and to cultivate in Honduras the seed of the Gospel, sown by the young people themselves.
At the end of the Eucharist there was an opportunity for the various delegations for a moment of veneration and prayer before the two symbols, as well time for some souvenir photos.
"The visit of these symbols to Salesian parishes commits us to continue to walk with young people in Easter joy and with our hand in the hands of Mary, our Mother," one of the supervisors declared.
