“Mary arose and set out in haste” is the motto of this year’s 37th World Youth Day, which will take place from August 1 to 6. From Austria, 44 people from the military diocese are traveling to Lisbon.
The group consists of civilian staff, soldiers under the age of 30 and a cadet from the Federal Commercial Academy for Leadership and Security. Led by military dean Stefan Gugerel, the delegation will visit the Hieronymite Monastery, the Belém Tower, the Naval Museum and the Lisbon Ethnological Museum, among other places. The spiritual activities of the trip include participation in church services, several cultural highlights and a meeting with other soldiers at the invitation of the Portuguese military chaplaincy.
“World Youth Day in Lisbon is a significant religious event. Young people from many different nations come together here and have the opportunity to strengthen their faith together. World Youth Day offers a unique platform to exchange ideas with young people and I am delighted that the Austrian military diocese is taking part again this year. I hope that World Youth Day 2023 will remain a special experience for all participants,” said Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner: Military Bishop Werner Freistetter: “I am delighted that a delegation from the Austrian military diocese is also taking part in this World Youth Day. I myself took part in World Youth Day in Krakow in 2016. It was a great experience that opened up new perspectives and created an international community experience. For the soldiers in particular, World Youth Day creates the opportunity to deepen their faith and exchange ideas with other young adults across borders. I wish everyone a wonderful and eventful World Youth Day 2023.” https://militaeraktuell.at/bundeswehr-rosenbauer-liefert-erstes-waldbrand-tlf/ World Youth Day is an event organized by the Roman Catholic Church and is a gathering for all teenagers and young adults between the ages of 14 and 30. This event goes back to an initiative of Pope John Paul II, who invited people to Rome in 1984 for the “International Jubilee of Youth”. Since 1985, World Youth Day has been held every two to three years.
