The Portuguese team responsible for the animation and participation of the young Salesians in this WYD 2023 event received this news with calm and ease, ready to double their efforts in preparation for what shall thus be an extra year of intense work and prayer.
The participation of young Salesians from all over the world in this mega-meeting will take place within the framework of the organization "SYMinWYD" (Salesian Youth Movement on World Youth Day) which, in addition to the proposal to participate as pilgrims to the WYDs, will transmit a markedly Salesian character to them.
The young people, coming from Salesian houses all over the world, will be hosted in the Portuguese presences of the Salesians and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, and shall be guided and accompanied by young people from the Salesian Youth Movement of Portugal with various activities specially prepared for them. Among these, the SYM Forum, which will bring together animators from dozens of countries and, as the most awaited moment, the SYM Festival, which will gather thousands of young people for an afternoon and an evening of Salesian-style celebrations: activities in the courtyard, playgrounds, with lots of entertainment, music and choreography, moments of prayer and the typical "Salesian goodnight".
At this moment the coordination of Salesian participation in WYD is finalizing the work plan and invitations for the different teams that will collaborate in this beautiful, demanding and huge meeting. As the Provincial of the Salesians of Portugal, Fr José Aníbal Mendonça, said in a recent communication sent to the members of this team, "SYMinWYD's brain and heart are already in full swing, so that everything goes smoothly."
João Fialho
