International event that takes place at the end of WYD, brought together young people from various countries in the Parish Church of São Domingos de Benfica this Monday, (7), in Lisbon. There were moments of praise, adoration, presence of the Shalom Missionary, with emphasis on the moment of testimonies.
Bertrand Wadi, Youth Advisor and Consecrated of the Community of Life, said that the presence of young Shalom at WYD is important: “To show that we love the Church, the young people, the Holy Father. The young Shalom make a point of being at WYD because they are pilgrims, missionaries and also to show that our charism is at the service of the Church.”
Shalom for all peoples
During the time of testimonies, young people of various nationalities shared their experience with the Charism. Poles spoke of God’s voice through prayer; Rosa Akane, a young Japanese woman, shared something that touched many of those present.
Keep reading: All Together: ‘WYD strengthened my faith’, says young Japanese woman
The young Americans and the brothers from the Holy Land prepare respectively: a poem reading, a song and a video presenting their country. It was a strong experience of the internationalization of the charism in which the brothers could feel the experience of unity through faith and the charism that unites cultures, languages and diverse expressions.
Isabele Miranda, 17, Work in the Mission of Palmas (TO – BR), says that the experience of All Together was invigorating. “As much as there are the “hardships” during WYD, closing with All Together was the key, the final point, the icing on the cake, because it was bringing the Community together, an opportunity for several people to get to know [the charism] and to listen to the words of the founder, it was great.”
“WYD is something supernatural”
During the meeting, Moysés Azevedo, founder of the Shalom Community, gave some words to the young people based on the messages of Pope Francis addressed to young people.
The Founder spoke of the immense joy that the Pope had in being with the young people, of the fact that WYD was a hope for the Community and for the whole world.
We need to “engrave the Pope’s messages in our minds and hearts,” Moysés said.
He recalled Francis saying that God wants to attract everyone.
“The Church is a place for everyone, works in all, and sanctifies all.”
Francis said during the Day that “the only time it is permissible to look down on a person is to help them get up” and Moysés added “That is our mission” and that it is necessary to train.
Moysés spoke about the Pope’s visit to Fatima to pray for peace and for the sick and shared about the devotion to Our Lady in haste proposed by Francis.
In closing Moses said to the young people:
“Dear young, when you do not know what to do, when afflictions are many. When you do not see the door, run to her [Mary], indeed, she has already run to you because she is hasty, and throw yourself into her lap.”
Moysés gave the same tip to young people who see others in distress and anguish: to run to that person. To be like Our Lady in haste who went out to meet Elizabeth.
During the Eucharist, presided by Bishop Américo Aguiar, Auxiliary Bishop of Lisbon, and concelebrated by some priests of the Shalom Community, Father Franco Galdino and Father João Wilkes, some members of the Dicastery for the Laity were also present.
Dom Américo in delivering his words said “We count on Shalom to shout and make the Word reach everyone.”
A new, missionary joy
Bertrand Wadi, concluded by sharing the fruits that can be seen in Shalom youth after All Together, he says:
“A new, true, renewed joy on the part of the young people, which is the fruit of perseverance on the path proposed by the Church, by the Pope during this journey, and it is beautiful to see today, after the All together, on their faces a happiness, a new joy, which is missionary to be able to tell the experiences they have lived here.”
Elisangela Assis