Halfway There!

I've been in Lisbon for five months! Time goes by so fast when you are joyfully serving the Lord with others. The World Youth Day (WYD) Lisbon 2023 Local Organizing Committee (LOC) is growing visibly, together with the work that is getting more intense. Worry also multiply yet we work with commitment and surrender to the certainty of companionship and support from Jesus and Mary. With 4 months until WYD Lisbon, I wish to update you about this beautiful mission the Lord has given!

Together with Pope Francis, it is our dream that young people from all over the world will be represented in WYD Lisbon 2023. As part of the international relations team, I help the Asia and Oceania episcopal conferences in their journey to WYD. Our department director went to Suva, Fiji last February 5 - 10 for the Federation of Catholic Bishops Conference in Oceania (FCBCO) assembly inviting the bishops to send their young people to WYD Lisbon 2023. Since then, our correspondence with Oceania has intensified. It is beautiful to see the collaboration that is happening to reach everyone one by one.

Also, our department has moved to a new office! The LOC is growing and with it the space we occupy. Caminho 23 is now on the ground floor of the LOC headquarters. You are welcome to visit us! We have daily Mass at 12:30PM and Eucharistic adoration every Thursday.

This Lent, LOC's internal pastoral team has been providing weekly proposals on how to live the season with the Lord. Also, our department (Caminho 23) went to Sintra last March 3 for a day of silent retreat. Last March 17, the LOC prayed together the stations of the cross around the headquarters. We also had a day of penitence last March 30 where confessions and animated adoration were available. These were beautiful moments to be all together to stop and pray.

The WYD Lisbon 2023 diocesan organizing committee (DOC) and local organizing committee (LOC) also organized external pastoral activities for all the young people in Portugal. Last February 24, we prayed the Via Crucis with the Cardinal-Patriarchate of Lisbon in Parque Eduardo VII, which is one of the main locations for WYD Lisbon this August. Last March 25, all the youth in Portugal prayed together, even if geographically distant, at the WYD vigil. In Lisbon, it was held in the Igreja Santa Maria de Belém.

The WYD Lisbon 2023 LOC was represented in Lisbon's Faith's Night Out (FNO) last Februrary 25 by three of our department teammates! The FNO is an event organized by the Jovens das Equipas de Nossa Senhora, which brought together a total of 12 speakers who spoke about their experience of living the Catholic faith.

There was a DOC and LOC meeting in Aveiro last March 18 where some international volunteers like me took advantage of the available transportation to visit the beautiful city for the weekend. The Diocese of Aveiro is one of the 17 dioceses in Portugal hosting the "Days in the Dioceses", the gathering of young people from all over the world that precedes WYD Lisbon 2023. We were generously hosted by our fellow volunteer Francisco and his family. I was most touched by their warm welcome and witness of faith and love.

I continue to be amazed with God's surprises for me in this mission, both the challenges and joys. To be honest, my first three months of navigating Portugal as an alien was not easy. With many things new like work, culture, language and relationships, my heart ached for something familiar and someone who gets it. Thankfully, Mary shows me the way of going out of one's self. She guides me to not focus on my own challenges, but to arise in haste towards serving others, confident in God's plan.

When I started to surrender my struggles to Jesus, it was easy to see his presence and gifts in my life. My aching heart also finds rest in him in this exodus. I may be far away from the comforts and familiarity of home and family in the Philippines (at least 27 hours in transit), but the Lord has generously provided me with more than what I need in this journey. I continue to ask for your prayers!

Look Ahead

5% discount on registration for pilgrims. Until 19 April

Easter Triduum in Lisbon. April 6-8.

LOC pilgrimage to Fatima. April 22-25.

And a few days of Easter vacation!