The Diocesan Youth Service of Angra held the II Diocesan Youth Meeting, from September 4 to 6, at the Sanctuary of the Lord Good Jesus of Pico, on the island of Pico, in the Azores. The meeting featured young representatives from 13 of the 17 deaneries of the diocese and youth pastoral assistants, under the theme "Sent to be truly human".
During the meeting, the young people handwrote a "Charter of Fraternity" with 12 commitments, which they undertook in their communities and in the diocese. Among the commitments are having greater openness to attract more young people, ensuring that others do not feel alone, giving voice and place to the other, being Jesus for the other, and transforming barriers into bridges and persisting in the face of adversity. The charter resulted from two days of reflection, sharing, and joint discernment, with moments of formation, prayer, and fellowship.
The director of the Diocesan Youth Service, Gisela Batista, explained that the first day allowed for personal introspection about life's journey and reflection on the path taken by people and communities. Gisela Batista highlighted the intensity of the sharings and considered that the testimonies revealed "a spirit of unity and fraternity". In the "Laboratory of Fraternity," the young people reflected on spirituality, community, mission, integral ecology, and presented proposals for the Village of Fraternity.
One of the objectives of the meeting was to prepare the diocesan initiative "Aldeia 2027", with the theme "From Hope to Fraternity", scheduled for July 19 to 23, 2027, in the Deanery of Povoação, on the island of São Miguel. The participants also voted on the hymn and logo for this initiative, inviting young people to be protagonists of a project that aims to transform hope into commitment and fraternity into reality. The first diocesan youth meeting of Angra had taken place at the Episcopal Seminary, in Angra do Heroísmo, on the island of Terceira, in October 2024.
