Portugal & Brazil Catholic youth events 2026

From 24 to 26 July 2026 Lamego hosted the second edition of the national Catholic youth pilgrimage REJOICE, drawing more than 1,200 participants. The opening featured the inauguration of the Parque Urbano D. António Francisco dos Santos, a homily by Cardinal Américo Aguiar urging trust in God, a catechesis session by Archbishop José Cordeiro, and a closing video message from Pope Leo XIV. A “Parque do Perdão” confessional space welcomed hundreds for reconciliation, while a live link with Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa highlighted solidarity in conflict. The programme included a “Cidade da Alegria” vocational fair with 14 stands and interactive games run by Fundação Fé e Cooperação, underscoring the theme from Romans – “We are many and form one body”. At the closing Mass, Cardinal Aguiar announced the next REJOICE will be held in the Diocese of Aveiro.

On 31 July 2026 the Diocese of Setúbal marked the third anniversary of the 2023 World Youth Day, recalling the involvement of thousands of volunteers. In the Algarve, 17‑year‑old volunteer Dinis Espírito Santo described how the “Vem Para o Meio” project at the Sanctuary of Fátima helped him assist a wheelchair‑bound person with severe atopic dermatitis, fostering empathy.

In Brazil, the Verbo da Vida church in Caxias do Sul baptized 16 people, including Venezuelan wheelchair user Jhonnailyn del Valle Zerpa Rojas, highlighting inclusive facilities. The annual Círio pilgrimage of Our Lady of Nazaré visited communities in Viseu and the island of Cotijuba in Pará, continuing a tradition that recorded 294 visits across the country in 2026. A missionary integration course in Fátima gathered 37 participants from 11 nationalities, with Angolan priest Evaristo Kanyungu stressing cultural understanding for effective evangelisation.