Crowded streets and jubilation among the young people is what was experienced on the first day of the World Youth Day 2023, in Lisbon. In any public square, park or parish you can see thousands of WYD T-shirts and flags of the various countries of the world present.
On the morning of August 1, about 5 thousand young people of Regnum Christi celebrated the International Meeting in the “Parque da Quinta das Conchas e dos Lilases”. They began at 9:30 a.m. with the Eucharistic hour in an atmosphere of silence and prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. The music of Kenósis RC Spain animated the prayer.
At the conclusion of the Eucharistic blessing, the young people had moments of encounter, conviviality and fun with the concert of Kayrós who traveled from Guadalajara, Mexico to celebrate before thousands of young people from Regnum Christi as well as legionaries of Christ, Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi & Lay Consecrated Men of Regnum Christi.
The countries present at this first event were from Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Poland, the Philippines, Slovakia, Spain, the United States, the Philippines, France, Italy, Mexico, Poland and Venezuela.
At the conclusion of the International Gathering the Regnum Christi youth moved to the Opening Mass at the Eduardo VII Park in the Colina do Encontro where thousands of people gathered to kick off the 38th World Youth Day.
During the homily, Cardinal Manuel Cardinal Clemente, Patriarch of Lisbon, welcomed all the participants. “Welcome also in the ecumenical, inter-religious and good will amplitude that these days have kept and that today bring us together”.
The Mass being celebrated is the Visitation of Our Lady, which is the general motto of the Day: Mary arose and left without delay to meet Elizabeth. “It is an evangelical step that also includes us,” he mentioned.
The Cardinal said that when he told Pope Francis the motto of the Day: Mary left in a hurry... he told him: “in a hurry, but not with anxiety”. His message to the young people was: “Be in a hurry but not anxious, as one who shares what he has”.
At the end of the Eucharistic Celebration, the atmosphere of WYD was filled with joy, dancing and flags.
(Photos: Irene Ferreira)
