Portugal. On 13 January 2024, the Salesian Youth Movement of Portugal organized two meetings that gathered the adolescents of the Salesian Houses of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of O. L. of Fatima Province (POR) and the Salesians of Don Bosco of Saint Anthony Province (POR) of the north and south of the Country. The meeting of the north was held at the SDB House of St. John Bosco in Porto, and the FMA House of St. Ann of Setúbal in the south.
What a dream! This is the theme – inspired by the celebrations of the Bicentenary of the “Dream of at 9 years” of St. John Bosco (1824-2024) – that moved and made meet about 440 teenagers (300 in the south, 140 in the north) to celebrate Don Bosco and his legacy, led by more than 50 animators: Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Salesians of Don Bosco, Salesian Cooperators, and other members of the Salesian Family.
Dance, prayer, workshops, sharing, and a lot of joy characterized this day that favored the encounter between the participants from the various houses and the gift and witness of many adult referents.
The meetings began with the greeting and a word of welcome from the Directors of the Houses, Sister Maria da Conceição Santos, the FMA House of Setúbal; and Fr. José Cordeiro, the Salesians of Porto, and the national leaders of Salesian Youth Ministry, Sister Linda Vieira and Fr. Juan Freitas. In the south, the participants were also able to enjoy the presence of the National Director of Youth Ministry of Portugal, Nuno Camelo.
The meeting ended, both in the north and in the south, with the Eucharistic Celebration, in which thanks was offered for the gift of the Salesian Charism and for the beautiful day lived together.
