Inter-diocesan Catholic youth camp in Guinea Bissau
This year we, the Catholic young people, had our national and inter-diocesan youth camp in Bafata, with the theme: Pilgrims of Faith,Hope and Love (Charity).
The camp lasted for 3 days, from 24th to 26th April, in which we were also privileged to unite with the Christians of the Diocese of Bafata for their Silver Jubilee.
It was a moment of exchanging ideas, sharing our faith in love that saves.
It was a wonderful experience for us as young people, meeting and sharing our joys and struggles, particularly in this difficult and challenging era in which the world keeps changing so fast, the experience of lost identities, confusion, political instabilities, and immense poverty in all dimensions.
It was our joy to meet our Apostolic Nuncio of Guinea Bissau, Cabo Verde, Mauritania and Senegal. It was a transformative encounter with Christ who is always present in our midst. Sometimes, due to many struggles we meet as young people, it’s hard to experience Christ in silence and therefore, we end up being hopeless and unhappy in life.
The Bishop of Bafata, His Lordship Victor Quematcha guided us in a night vigil and adoration of the Holy Eucharist. He talked to us about the widow of Nain (Luke 7.11-17)whose only son had died and was in great agony thinking that it was over. At that moment Jesus revealed His great love for her and touched the woman’s son, raising him from the dead.
His discourse was such consoling that helped us to see the world with the eyes of a true Christian. Looking at the world with hope for a better tomorrow despite the fact that so many young people are without jobs and live an extreme exclusion. Like that woman whose only hope was gone, our beloved land Guinéa Bissau for so long has suffered poor governance, health and education forcing young people to leave for other countries looking for jobs and a better life.
Nevertheless, our eyes were opened and filled with a spirit of hope, renewed faith and great inner and radical desire to be testimonies of love to all, starting in our families,communities, parishes extending to the nation and to the whole world.
We were encouraged that Christ, who everyday wins death, lives in us and in His own time what is due to us will be granted .
We concluded with a solemn Mass on Sunday and our Bishop mandated us to be signs of hope,faith and true love in a world full of agony.
Sr Purity Mutono, MC
