World Youth Day 2019 held in Panama from Jan 22-27 will bring together Catholic youth from around the globe. St. Don Bosco, the founder of the Salesians, chosen as a patron saint.    

NEW ROCHELLE, NY (Jan. 17, 2019) Salesian Missions joins with the Salesian Youth Movement and Catholic organizations around the globe in celebrating World Youth Day 2019, which will be held in Panama from Jan. 22-27. The worldwide encounter with the Pope is celebrated every three years and held in a different country. The event is a way for youth to deepen their faith through prayer, the sacraments and joining together with thousands of other youth who share their interests and ambitions.

During the event, youth pray their intentions for themselves, their loved ones and the whole world. These prayers are often entrusted to the intercessors chosen as patrons for World Youth Day. This year, the Salesian founder St. John (Don) Bosco was chosen as one of the patron saints. During his remarkable lifetime—which spanned 73 faithful and devoted years—Don Bosco transformed the hopes of thousands of marginalized youth who otherwise would have had none. He also founded a global order of Catholic priests, brothers and sisters known as the Salesians of Don Bosco.

“We are thrilled to share our patron saint with Panama, and honored that he has been chosen as one of eight special intercessors for World Youth Day 2019,” says Father Mark Hyde, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco.

To celebrate, Salesian Missions has a special landing page on its website and is offering free, limited-edition prayer cards specifically for World Youth Day. More information about the life and work of Don Bosco and instructions for getting the prayer cards are available at SalesianMissions.org/wyd. They are also inviting all youth taking part in World Youth Day, as well as the general public, to participate in the celebration via social media using the hashtag #WeAreDonBosco.

Fr. Hyde adds, “To date, more than 3 million youth have participated in Salesian programs operated by more than 30,000 Salesian missionaries in more than 130 countries around the globe. Salesian programs provide poor youth and their families access to education, workforce development, humanitarian relief, youth clubs, health services, feeding programs and more.”

In addition, Salesian missionaries educate more than 1 million youth in more than 5,300 primary and secondary schools and nearly 1,000 vocational, technical and agricultural schools. Salesian missionaries are widely considered one of the largest private providers of vocational and technical training in the world. Through Salesian skills training programs, youth are able to gain the skills necessary to find and retain stable employment. This work helps grow local economies and breaks the cycle of poverty for poor youth and their families.

Members of the Salesian Youth Movement have been preparing to participate in World Youth Day and will meet during at the event for a day of reflection, sharing, celebration and prayer, together with the Rector Major of the Salesians and the Mother General of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.

For more information, please visit SalesianMissions.org/wyd.

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Sources

World Youth Day 2019