Portoalegre (Portugal). From 19 to 24 August 2024, the volunteer camp “Mission Portoalegre 24” organized by VIDES Portugal in collaboration with the Secretariat of Youth and Vocations Pastoral of the Diocese of Portoalegre-Castelo Branco, Portugal, was held in Portoalegre.
There are about 300 young people from the Provinces of Europe who in the summer of 2024, accompanied by FMA, lived a missionary experience.
The experience, coordinated by Sister Fernanda Luz, Daughter of Mary Help of Christians of O. L. of Fatima Province (POR), Vides Delegate and Director of the Secretariat, with the testimony of Sister Isabel Mira, FMA, missionary in Angola, was attended by 42 young people from 16 to 30 years old, divided into three service areas – children, the elderly, and people with disabilities – in five locations of the city of Portoalegre.
“The young people of the Diocese of Portoalegre-Castelo Branco are fighters, determined, eager to be protagonists of the various events planned for 2024/2025”. This is what Sister Fernanda called them in an interview with the Agência Ecclesia.
The pastoral year 2023/2024 had as its theme, “Dream and servants”, challenged by Pope Francis who at WYD in Lisbon 2023, encouraged young people to “be entrepreneurs with their dreams” by inviting them to service.
Thanks to the Pope’s encouragement, there has been a greater participation of young people in the life of the Church, with involvement both in catechesis and in liturgical animation. Sister Fernanda explained that the two biggest new proposals in this pastoral year were the volunteer camp in Portoalegre-Castelo Branco and the Young Easter in the city of Portoalegre, which involved 38 young people. The hope is that in the future, we will be able to reach various rural areas.
“Mission Portalegre 24” was appreciated by the children, the young people who participated, and also by the organizers. Among them the parish priest of Portalegre believes that “the greatest wealth is for those who do this volunteering”, and emphasizes the attitude “of yes and of making oneself available to others”, to go beyond oneself and meet others.
“Many of these young people who are here with us have participated in the World Days and felt, in fact, that this week marked them so intensely as to give their lives for others. Or, as Pope Francis says, to leave your home and sofa to meet young people and evangelize other young people. And I think, above all, it was this encounter” explained Father Rui Rodrigues, the parish priest of Portalegre, to Agência Ecclesia.
Inês Ribeiro, the only one of the three young people interviewed who participated in the WYD 2023 in Lisbon, recalls that this “was one of the best weeks she has ever lived” and its spirit continued this year. “We got to meet a lot, we had parties, and that week was really liked very much by us.”
Another participant, Mariana Lourenço, expressed her satisfaction with the camp. “I think it was a beautiful experience and it was good to see that there are many people who are willing to come from far away to witness their faith to others. And our relationship with everyone was good.”
