Portugal and Brazil host a series of Catholic youth and community events

In Portugal, the Diocese of Setúbal marked the third anniversary of the 2023 World Youth Day, recalling the participation of thousands of volunteers, families and authorities. The same year, the national youth gathering “Rejoice” in Lamego brought together about 1,200 young Catholics, fostering fellowship and deepening faith.

In the Algarve, 17‑year‑old volunteer Dinis Espírito Santo described how the “Vem Para o Meio” project, organized by the Sanctuary of Fátima, helped him develop empathy while assisting a wheelchair‑bound person with severe atopic dermatitis.

In Brazil, the Verbo da Vida church in Caxias do Sul baptized 16 people, including Venezuelan wheelchair user Jhonnailyn del Valle Zerpa Rojas, whose ceremony highlighted the church’s inclusive facilities. Meanwhile, the annual Círio pilgrimage of Our Lady of Nazaré visited communities in Viseu and the island of Cotijuba in Pará, continuing a tradition that has recorded 294 visits across the country in 2026.

Additionally, a missionary integration course in Fátima gathered 37 participants from 11 nationalities, with Angolan priest Evaristo Kanyungu emphasizing the need to understand local culture for effective evangelisation.