On 26 September, the Shalom Catholic Community’s Setúbal Mission marked its 14th anniversary, and on the following day, 27 September, it officially inaugurated “SH82”, the Community’s first evangelization café in Portugal.
The celebration began with a Thanksgiving Mass presided over by Cardinal Américo Aguiar, Bishop of Setúbal, at Our Lady of Grace Parish in Corroios. After the Eucharist, the inauguration of “SH82” followed with the symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony.
In his address, Cardinal Américo expressed his gratitude for the presence of the Shalom Community in the Diocese — not only in Setúbal but also in Braga and Lisbon — recalling with esteem the founder, Moysés Azevedo. The Cardinal encouraged everyone to continue the mission of evangelizing young people:
“We must be capable, with new ways of evangelizing, of going out to meet the world to captivate young people and proclaim to them the face of the living Christ. This café is a response given to the Church,” he emphasized.
The celebration was attended by members of the Community of Life, the Community of Alliance, and the Shalom Work, as well as many friends and collaborators: the Parish Priest of Corroios, Father José Maria Furtado; Father José Cachaço; seminarians from the Major Seminary of St. Paul in Almada; João Gato from the Youth Department of the Diocese of Setúbal; and numerous parishioners from Corroios and surrounding parishes.
A dream come true
SH82 is inspired by the experience lived by Moysés Azevedo and other young people in the 1980s in Brazil, when, seeking new ways to draw youth to Christ, they created a neutral space for the proclamation of the Risen Christ and His love. This experience gave birth to the Shalom Community, which today is present in more than 30 countries, evangelizing with creativity, music, arts, and new languages.
Located at Rua Cidade de Leiria, no. 3, in Corroios, “SH82” is a welcoming space for young people and families, offering a café and snack bar service, rooms for prayer groups, and a chapel for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. It is also the new address of the Mission’s Bookstore and Evangelization Center, previously located in Almada.
According to Célia Soares, a consecrated member of the Community, the goal is that “everyone, everyone, everyone” may feel welcome and there experience the real and living presence of Jesus Christ, participating in times of prayer and in the various weekly evangelization activities.
“We praise and bless the Lord for the countless blessings and graces of these 14 years. “SH82” is the dream come true. It is a space where today’s youth as well as past generations have a place,” she shared.
Marcelo Souza
Photos: Ricardo Perna / Maria Chiara Panizzi
