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by Fr. Abe Feliciano, SDB
The 2019 World Youth Day in Panama was truly a grace-filled experience for the pilgrims in attendance. For the members of Don Bosco’s Family, it was a very “Salesian” World Youth Day.
In addition to the tremendous joy and pride that we felt from St. John Bosco’s being one of the official patrons of this year’s WYD, all of the distinct elements of Salesian youth spirituality were palpably present throughout the experience: at the opening Mass, at which the local archbishop, José Domingo Ulloa Mendieta, presided; in Pope Francis’s homilies throughout the various liturgies; in the very Marian theme; in the overwhelming, genuinely affectionate welcome that every pilgrim received from the citizens of Panama. In all this we pilgrims were able to have an authentic experience of God in the events of our daily lives.
We were able to journey with Jesus as our brother and friend as we walked the streets of Panama City; to experience legitimate joy whether sharing a meal or waiting for Pope Francis to arrive; to grow in our sense of being one family, not only with the groups with whom we traveled, but also with all those we met over the course of our pilgrimage; really to experience the presence, guidance, and maternal care of Mary our Mother, as well as to be inspired by her example, which we recalled every time we sang the theme song; and to become ever more conscious of our responsibility and commitment to go out to the peripheries of our daily lives as missionary disciples to share the Gospel, especially with those most in need...
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