Rome (Italy). It’s time for the young to get their backpacks and leave. The destination is Panama for the WYD with Pope Francis. There are hundreds those of SYM who decided to leave facing the challenges of this unfavorable time, of high cost, of a long trip, and the first of them are already leaving on Tuesday to live the ‘Diocesan Days’.
The 34th World Youth Day will take place from January 22 to 27, 2019 in Panama. About 250,000 young people are expected (200,000 from other countries and 50,000 locally), between 15 to 30 years of age, coming from 190 countries. In addition, about 500 Bishops from the whole world and 4,000 journalists will also participate.
WYD is an international event for young Catholics from the whole world with the Pope. For the Salesians and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians it is a group proposal that unites and makes the faith grow through sharing, solidarity, and above all, friendship with Jesus. the encounter in Panama acquires a special meaning for Don Bosco and for Blessed Sr. Maria Romero Meneses, FMA, the patrons of WYD.
Within WYD, as is traditional, a time of festivity is planned for the youth of SYM. The Forum of the Salesian Youth Movement will be held on Wednesday, January 23, 2019 at the Basilica of St. John Bosco in Panama, on the theme “Life in SYM. Looking to the Future”.
The goal of the event is that the youth of SYM of the whole world may have a time of deep encounter in which they are offered a family experience that reinforces them as young protagonists and gives them the opportunity to know the charismatic Salesian richness throughout the world.
There are hundreds of young people who will participate in this huge world event, together with the
Rector Major of the Salesians and the Mother General of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, who will be able to listen to and dialog with the young people.
In the afternoon, all the SYM groups will meet together, including those of Don Bosco Technical Institute. The objective of the meeting is to live the feast as an experience of family, of world fraternity, of youth as protagonists, and of grace. During the feast, the groups will be able to participate with an artistic program that shows the culture of their Country or diffuses Salesian Joy. They may present an initiative, a Salesian work, an apostolate, or a youth program at the Salesian Fair of information and visibility of the young.
WYD is an occasion to strengthen the role of the young in the life of the Church and of the world.
