World Youth Day 2019:
Panamá
Our Capuchin brothers Raf Anguiano (Vocation Director), Juan Antonio Ortiz and Tage Danielson traveled to Panamá City for the celebration of World Youth Day 2019. They were there from January 21-29 and with them were 7 candidates from different parts of the USA. They got a chance to meet up with our brother Cardinal Sean O'Malley, OFM Cap., for breakfast on one of those days.
During each day of the event, the friars had a period of catechesis with the English speakers, followed by Mass. They also had the opportunity to visit some "beautiful places from Panamá." The evening showcased concerts until midnight. Finally, on Saturday evening, the group kept vigil in a Eucaristic Adoration with Pope Francis. At that vigil, they "met and danced with people from France, Mexico and Germany." Raf wrote that "it was truly an amazing experience."
The theme for this WYD was “I am the servant of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Lk 1:38). The original statue of Our Lady of Fatima made the trip from Portugal for the event: the Holy Father announced at the closing Mass that the next WYD (in 2022) will be hosted there.
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World Youth Day 2019:
Panamá in the Capital
Alex Hostoffer reported on the parallel celebration of WYD2019 in Washington, DC on Saturday, January 26. "The event was a success by many measures. 1,400 young adults were registered and perhaps a few beyond that attended the event. People as far away as St. Bonaventure University in New York, West Virginia and Ohio, as well as local 
people from Virginia, Maryland and DC, came to celebrate. All day long it was clear to see that the young adults were excited to hear from the panels on any number of topics (around 14 different panels covered a variety of topics) and musicians opened each panel with a variety of musical stylings. Los Capuchinos [our music group from Cap College] had a total of three half-hour sets. During one of those sets, music was played while people came forward for healing prayer from two of the priest panelists at the end of the talk on healing prayer and healing in general. Not only did everyone have fun throughout the day, they were spiritually nourished 
through prayer, music and the Mass at the Basilica. It was inspiring to see young adults so very in love with Christ and his Church.
"Many of the brothers in the house participated not only by attending but also as confessors, volunteers, MC's, musicians and vocation hunters. It was great to see our Province so invested in a local ministry. Confrere Tom Betz, OFM Cap., our Provincial Minister, happened to be on visitation with the friars in DC during the event and was present for much of the evening . . . Thanks to God for the reminder that the Church is still very much alive even amongst our young adults!"
Here's a video of our Capuchin confreres on Saturday afternoon.
You can see the entire Los Capuchinos playlist here.
Check out, too, all the videos of the Panamá in the Capital. Enjoy . . .
Our Australian brothers, by the way, also celebrated in their home and native land.
Unite with us in prayer for our youth:
O Lord, may they know your goodness,
and find their happiness in your gracious and loving good will.
as a Capuchin Franciscan friar?