Those invited to the camp were not only university students, but also professors and guests who came to the university city of Araçatuba. The climate was one of interaction and dynamism, evidenced by conversations, laughter and an overall family atmosphere.
During the first conference on the evening of Saturday 19 March, the participants were invited to reflect on the mercy of God the Father. This first session also gave many young people the opportunity to go to confession.
The Mercy Camp continued with several other intense moments to experience deeply the love of God in the university environment where often it's hard to accept the Christian message on account of the presence of conflicting or opposing ideas,
There were many Christian symbols. One of these was the "Agape Meal" which recalled the institution of the Eucharist and the Christian life of love. On the first morning of the next day they had other moments of deepening of faith, ending with the celebration of the Holy Mass by Fr João Neto. In the homily, the priest asked participants to be disciples of God who gave himself on the cross for love. "It was God himself who earned our salvation through his pain and suffering."
After a whole night of prayer, meeting and reflection, each young person received a scapular highlighting some of the works to be done if we are to live fully the Year of Mercy.
"The essence of university life,” the Pope said in a message to university students “consists of study, hard work and patient thought that reveals a man's aspiration to truth, goodness and beauty. (...) Do not settle for partial truths or reassuring illusions."
