Guinea-Bissau: Thousands of young people participate in inter-diocesan youth day.

Casimiro Jorge Cajucam - Radio Sol Mansi, Bissau.

Gathering under the World Youth Day theme, “Mary arose and went with haste,” the Inter-diocesan Catholic Youth Day initiative is always held in the year of the World Youth Day.

Mary arose and went with haste

For three days, about 7 000 young people from the two dioceses of the country, Bissau and Bafatá, engaged in various activities ranging from adoration, confessions, catechesis, peace march, concerts, and the celebration of the Eucharist.

The official closing Mass of the gathering was presided by the Diocesan Administrator of the Diocese of Bafatá, Father Lucio Brenegani, who, during his homily, insisted that young people should rise to the occasion and assume their various responsibilities, especially in fighting the evils that affect the Guinean society, specifically corruption.

Youth: A living force within the Church

Reflecting on the three days, Father Lucio highlighted the importance of the three days in the lives of the young people of Guinea-Bissau.

“It was an exciting meeting for young people. The youth demonstrated once again that they are ready to be a living force within the Catholic Church,” said the Diocesan Administrator. He added that the presence of so many priests and religious sisters was also an important testimony for the young people.

WYD 2023

The three days Inter-diocesan Catholic Youth Day was also a preparation for World Youth Day, which will take place from 1 August to 6 August of this year in Lisbon, Portugal. It is organised by the Diocesan Commissions for Adolescence and Youth in the dioceses of Bissau and Bafatá.

World Youth Day (WYD), to be held this year in Portugal, is the gathering of young people from all over the world with the Pope. It is also a pilgrimage, a celebration of youth, an expression of the universal Church and an intense moment of evangelisation for the youth of the world