Youth for our Common Home

“National Youth Day” (DNJ) is celebrated annually by the Brazilian Catholic Church. It offers young people an opportunity to reflect on topics usually aligned with the Fraternity Campaign carried out each year by the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB).

And so, on October 20th, we held the DNJ for the Diocese of Ipameri, located in the city of Orizona (Forania Norte). Over 900 young people from different cities attended the event as well as priests, friars, religious sisters, and members of the lay community.

Our shared day was marked by reflection on the theme “Youth and Our Common Home” and the motto “those who hope in the Lord and do not grow weary” (cf. Is 40,31). The goal of the discussion was to make young people aware of how important it is to preserve nature by understanding that it is the greatest asset that God has imparted to us.

Young people were eager to participate in this meeting with its joyous atmosphere, filled with music, theater, dancing, and lots of entertainment! Throughout the day, many participants sought out priests to receive the sacrament of confession as well as spiritual guidance.

The presence of religious communities, vocation ministries, and Franciscan friars also caught the attention of the young people, as they were able to learn more about the charism and work developed in the Church and in society.

To close the day, the diocesan bishop Dom Francisco presided over the Holy Mass. In his homily, he highlighted the importance of family and of positive coexistence in the lives of young people.

There was a different vigor and emotion in celebrating the DNJ this year. After all, seeing almost 1000 young people from our diocese united in prayer makes me believe that we can have faith in youth and in a better future.

The event’s theme, “Youth and Our Common Home,” was very appropriate, since we live in a world increasingly taken over by catastrophes and climate imbalance, which are caused by a lack of awareness and human action. As young people, we have the mission to salvage what is possible, and, united in God, the journey will certainly be easier and happier.

In short, this will be a day to remember because I repeatedly felt the presence of God through the joy and expression of each young person present there. I could see God in the sharing of our reflections and especially during the celebration of the Holy Mass with Dom Francisco, our diocesan bishop, emphasizing the importance of young Christians serving God and others, having a good family life, and living their youth in holiness and joy.

Thais Aquino