Portugal: Diocese of Porto listening to young people. “Finding new languages and new paths”

The long process of the Diocese of Porto listening to young people begins on Saturday 13 April. “Porto, what are you looking for? Come and see” is the title given to this journey launched by Bishop Manuel Linda in a letter addressed to young people: “The Diocese of Porto would be very happy if, in freedom and truth, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit who works in your heart and conscience, you were willing to say what you seek and what arouses in you the response of the One who invites you: Come and see”. The journey will take place through different moments of meeting, work and reflection that will take place in different places: high schools, universities, scout groups, vicariates, parish youth groups or movements, church associations. Young people who “do not identify with our faith” have also been invited to the meetings. The goal of the listening process is “to find new dynamics, new languages and new paths for the present and future of the Church in Porto”. The Bishop pointed out that the focus of the discussion will be on pastoral and organisational issues since faith contents or doctrinal issues can only be addressed by “walking within the universal Church”. The youth process should produce a document that is to be approved in assembly, which will be handed over to the Bishop so he can “follow up on the indications contained in it”. Actually, as Mgr Linda pointed out, the ultimate goal of the path lies not so much in discovering new “pastoral formulas” but in “awakening the encounter with Jesus Christ and facilitating unity among Christians in our diocese”.Valentina Bombelli