Last Sunday (24), in Lisbon, a solemn Mass was hosted to celebrate the foundation of the Shalom Mission in the city. The first 6 missionaries have arrived and are ready to offer their lives on this new mission land of evangelization. All are working side by side with the Diocese of Lisbon and the Dicastery of Laity, Family and Life to prepare for the World Youth Day 2023 (WYD) and the start of a new Shalom mission.
At the invitation of the Patriarchate of Lisbon, the Shalom Catholic Community began its missionary presence in the Portuguese capital, headquarters of the next World Youth Day in 2023. The first missionaries (Zeca and Pedro) arrived in mid-July last year. Gradually, the other missionaries arrived, until earlier this month they were able to compose the house with 6 missionaries, 3 men, among them a priest, and 3 women.
Initially, the apostolic work of the mission will integrate the work of the Local Organizing Committee that organizes the WYD. After the event, the goal is to remain with this mission carrying out the Evangelization activities proposed by the Evangelizing Plan of the Community. Evangelization on the streets, prayer groups to get to know the new people God has given us as Community.
Operation of the Lisbon Mission
So far and thanks to the divine providence they already have some benefactors of peace and close friends with whom the first missionaries have established fraternal bonds.
According to the local Responsible and Apostolic Coordinator, Patricia de Morais Correia, the intention in this beginning of foundation is to give support with the Shalom missionary presence at the service of the Local Church, contributing with the organization of WYD.
Brief sharing
“A strong experience that we are having on in this beginning of foundation is how the Divine Providence leads us and opens doors for Evangelization in its own way and according to its wisdom. We strongly feel how the Holy Spirit blows where he wills and takes us like instruments in his hands to lead us wherever he wants. Soon after the arrival of all the missionaries that make up the house, we were invited by two close friends who already attend the Shalom Work in one of the closest missions, to pilgrimage to Fatima in order to pray consecrating this beginning of the mission to Our Lady.
Divine Providence gave us a very nice gift. A sister who is doing her vocational discernment path with the Community invited a friend whom she had evangelized before. The young woman did not know the Community and was able to have her first contact with the charism through the missionaries. By the end of the tour I asked her how she liked the pilgrimage. She said that she had liked it a lot. ‘I had come other times. But this time it was different, I enjoyed it much more, thanks to your presence’ said our young friend.
‘For us, the presence of this young woman was a great sign of God who calls us to always be on mission and to show that our life offered in simplicity and joy is an instrument of God’s love for all peoples, ‘said Patricia.