St. Charles Lwanga Delegation participarticipate in World Youth Day and Claret Way
The trip to Portugal to attend the World Youth Day in conjunction with Claret-Way Global Network of Claretian Family was an initiative of the CMF General Prefect of Youth and Vocations in collaboration with Advisory Council and Claretian Family member institutes. Therefore, our trip was to represent our delegation at the World Youth Day in Portugal as well as to attend the side events of the Claret-Way Network. Claret-Way Network is a global body aimed at bringing all the youths, who are in touch with the Claretian Missionaries and all other congregations of sisters who share in the spirit of Claret, together and to link them to each other and From St. Charles Lwanga Delegation we intended to take two youths, but due to visa issues, we manage to take only one from Tanzania by the name Rose Tarimo Claudi together with Fr. John CMF, Delegation Youth Ministry Coordinator.
Delegation Youth Ministry Coordinator
Therefore, the youths who went to Portugal under the umbrella of Claret-Way Network from all over the world had a privilege to attend side events that were organized four days in Porto before the World Youth Day events and two more days after the World Youth Day in Lisbon. Therefore, these two events, combined as one, brough youths from all over the world. The Claret-Way Network brought 1400+ youths between 18 to 30 years of age to Portugal, that is, 800+ than what was expected. Claret-Way event was held in Porto from 28th to 31st of July 2023 after which youths travel to Lisbon for World Youth Day that was held from 1st August to 6th of August 2023, after which Claret-Way continued from 7th to 8th August 2023.
On 6th August 2023 was the day we had mass with the Holy Father and we closed the World Youth Day. It was an enriching experience. His message to the youth was based on the theme “Mary arose and went with haste……” Lk1:39. Through this bible text, he reminded the youths that the word arise reminds them to get up from slumber and wake up to the life around them, bring the good news to all, set out to bare witnesses, act quickly and serve others like Mary. After the mass it was announced that the next World youth Day will be in South Korea-Seoul in 2027. However, there is also an event of world youth Day that is due to take place in 2025 as an anniversary since the beginning of this world gathering of Catholic Youths by Pope St. John Paul II. This implies that within four years we shall have this major youth gathering twice instead of once.
