Halleluya Lisboa began on Tuesday afternoon (1), in Alameda Dom Afonso Henriques. The five concerts and adoration rocked the afternoon and evening of many pilgrims who passed by the stage, as well as the stands, the mercy space and the chapel were an opportunity to meet God at the beginning of WYD.
>> Check out the Halleluya Music Festival Lisbon program
The highlight of the day was Italian rock band The Sun, who played hits such as ‘Hasta La Muerte’ and ‘Onda Perfetta’, rocking the pilgrims after the opening mass.
Exceeded all expectations
It is the fourth time that The Sun group has performed at World Youth Day. For them, the experience has lived up to expectations.
“We had already done the Halleluya festival in Krakow and Panama, and it was one of the stops on this WYD tour that we were most looking forward to. We met a super brilliant team from Shalom, very well prepared, all smiling and this also helps our work”, details the vocalist Francesco Lorenzi.
The Italian band was awarded the Pontifical Medal in 2004 for their work in developing Christianity in the arts. On evangelizing young people through music, lead singer Francesco says it is the means they have found to witness the band’s experience with Jesus Christ.
Piseiro in Portugal
The singer Fabricio Freitas, from the Alliance of Mercy community, animated the afternoon of Halleluya. With a dancing and joyful rhythm, many Brazilians identified themselves and let loose on the Alameda lawn.
With almost 10 years of career, Fabrício says that, even though it was not the first time, the experience was unique. “Even with the sun, you could see the joy, which is a gift of the Holy Spirit,” says the singer. “My desire is to lead people to praise God, to see that even in times of difficulty there are reasons to praise God.”
In addition, the Shalom Community has a “Hurry up” stand, a Seminar on Life in the Holy Spirit done in four languages. The objective of offering this service within Halleluya is to introduce the Charism to the Portuguese people who do not yet know the work in the country, as well as to spread it internationally.
There will be four days of preaching, ending with the effusion in the Holy Spirit on Friday (4).
Music and Church
Even amid the scorching Lisbon sun, many pilgrims were excited by the opportunity of a much-used event within a World Day. Polish priest Bartlomiej Zakrzewski took to the festival stage for his experience in Krakow in 2016.
“It was a very good experience in Krakow and, from that, I got to know the Community. And after that, I met the missionaries and I could see that they are all good people who seek God”, concludes the priest.
For the Angolan Isabel Gonzaga, the opportunity to participate in a festival like Halleluya opens up possibilities for doing Church. For her, “one might think that a festival like this only exists outside the Church and knowing that it has this inside is very good.”
Halleluya Lisboa continues until this Friday (4) at the same location. Until then, you can check out our live stream on the Halleluya Festival profile on Youtube.
Follow the live stream:
https://www.youtube.com/@festivalhalleluya
Service
Halleluya Lisboa
When: August 1st to 4th, 2pm to 11pm
Where: Alameda Dom Afonso Henriques, Lisbon – Portugal
Follow: @juventudesh_