DILI, July 17, 2023 (TATOLI)— Executive Director of the Catholic Youth Day Commission of Dili Archdiocese (COJUCAD), Father Cirílio dos Santos Maia informed 53 young pilgrims from Timor-Leste are ready to leave for Portugal on July 21 to take part in World Youth Day (WYD) 2023.
“The number who will depart from Timor on July 21 is more than 50 pilgrims, but many pilgrims from Timor-Leste have also been waiting in Lisbon Portugal and therefore it is been confirmed that more than 100 pilgrims will attend WYD 2023,” Fr. Cirílio told Tatoli on monday.
The costs for the journey from Tumor-Leste to Portugal itself will be the joint responsibility of the pilgrims, CNJCTL, and the Government through the State Secretariat of Youth and Sports (SoSYS).
He revealed that in the presence of the Timor-Leste pilgrims, there would also be a cultural dance performance.
Fr. Cerilio added that many young Timorese wish to participate in this event however they do not have passports and other travel documents.
“Many people from Timor-Leste wish to attend the World Youth Day but some do not have complete documents and do not meet the existing requirements,” he explained.
The registration has been opened by CNJCTL last year and closed in March 2023, it opened to young people aged 18 to 25 with good health conditions.
Celebrations for WYD will start on 01 to 06 August 2023, the pilgrims will leave for Portugal on 21 July 2023, because before the peak celebration, the pilgrims will attend “Days in the Diocese”.
The “Days in the Dioceses”, a gathering of young people from around the world that precedes WYD Lisbon 2023, will be held from 26 to 31 July 2023 in 17 dioceses across Portugal.
Also on islands like the Algarve; Angra; Aveiro; steel; bragas; Braganca-Miranda; Coimbra; Evora; Funchal; guarda; Lamegos; Leiria-Fatima; Portalegre-Castelo Branco; Porto; Viana do Castelo; Real Villa; Viseu.
The main theme of WYD 2023 is «Mary got up and left in haste» (Lk 1:39) is a Bible quote chosen by Pope Francis as the motto of World Youth Day (WYD) which will be held for the first time in the capital city of Lisbon, Portugal.
In the Bible episode The Visitation, the standing action presents Mary as both a woman of charity and a missionary woman. Leaving in a hurry represents the attitude described in Pope Francis’ indication for WYD Lisbon 2023: «May the evangelization of young people be active and missionary, because in this way they will recognize and bear witness to the living presence of Christ».
Specifically addressed to young people, and challenging them to become courageous missionaries, the Pope wrote the following in his Apostolic Exhortation Christus Vivit: Where is Jesus sending us? There are no boundaries, there are no boundaries: he sends us everywhere.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Nelia
