Halleluya Festival is known as the biggest integrated arts festival in Brazil, leading young people to have an experience with God through arts, sports, courses and Eucharistic celebrations. But one of the main places in the event is the area dedicated to the Sacrament of Reconciliation held in the so-called “Mercy Area”. In Fortaleza city, Brazil, where the festival was born, about three thousand confessions takes places during the event every year.
This year, the area will be widen up. It has been defined as the Feast of Mercy as we are in an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. One of its editions will take place in Poland during WYD, the land where Jesus would make known to the world His mercy through Saint Faustina Kowalska, canonized by St John Paul II, patron of WYD. In addition to the 15 attractions of music, theatrical performances and dance, the festival will offer short courses, confessions, spiritual counseling and a place open for those who whish to stay for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
During WYD 2016, there will be priests available for confessions in many languages such as: Portuguese, English, Polish, French, Spanish and Italian. Among them, there will also be priests who are missionaries of mercy, who have received the blessing and authorization of the Pope to forgive sins reserved to the Holy See. The area will be open throughout the whole event that will take place on the 27-29 July in Szczepanski Square in Krakow.
John Paul II, the pope of mercy and Shalom Vocation
For Shalom Catholic Community, organizer of Halleluya Festival, performing for the first time the festival in Poland has a special importance because it was at the foot of the Polish John Paul II that the Community was born out of the inspiration of God to their founder. On July 9th, 1980 Moyses Azevedo Filho, then 20 years old, was invited to offer something to the pontiff during offertory at the mass celebrated by the Pope in Fortaleza city, Brazil. It was the occasion of the X National Eucharistic Congress. In prayer, Moyses decided to write a letter to the Pope in which he offered his own life for the evangelization of young people.
Exactly two years later, with the inspiration to start a snack bar to evangelize, Moyses and some friends were was starting something bigger then they thought: it was a new charisma in the heart of the Church, a new vocation called Shalom Community. Its main mission is to lead men to make an experience with the Risen Christ, especially the most distant ones from Him. This also fulfills the mandate of Benedict XVI, during a Mass which celebrated the final approval of the Community’s statues, “be a joyful instrument of God’s mercy.” 33 years since its foundation, Shalom is present in all Brazilian states and over 20 countries, including the city of Krakow, home of WYD 2016.
Larissa Moura
When?
Wednesday 27th: 14:00-23:00
Thursday 28th: 14:00-16:00 and 20:00-23:00
Friday 29th: 14:00-16:00 and 21:00-23:00.
Where?
Szczepanski Square