The long-awaited MAGIS 2023 officially opened on 22 July with an enthusiastic welcome for the nearly 2,000 young pilgrims from more than 80 countries, including 225 pilgrims from Asia Pacific.
During the welcome ceremony held at the Colégio de São João de Brito in Lisbon, Portugal, the main activity square called the Magis arena was adorned with the flags of many countries and different designs of MAGIS t-shirts. Fr Miguel Almeida SJ, Provincial of the Portuguese Province, exclaimed: “It’s unbelievable that after two years of preparation, you, we are really here! It’s a miracle!”
Fr Almeida, who presided at the opening Mass, invited the young people present to be witnesses of the Risen Jesus and to “build a future full of hope”. Drawing inspiration from the celebration of the feast of St Mary Magdalene, he stressed how she was the first to discover that the body of Jesus was not in the tomb, and the first to see the Risen Jesus and to report this to the disciples.
He urged the youth, as witnesses of the Risen Jesus, to have the courage to proclaim to everyone, “I have seen the Lord.” Just like the theme of this year’s MAGIS, “Creating a Hope-filled Future”, Fr Almeida emphasised that the youth are collaborators in the creation of the Kingdom of Heaven, full of energy and ideas, embodying the spirit of “magis” both in the sense of having more and being more.
Pope Francis also sent his greetings to the pilgrims, imploring them to “truly believe and become what they are: ‘A future full of hope’”.
MAGIS is the Jesuit-initiated gathering of young people that precedes the celebration of World Youth Day. During MAGIS, the participants, referred to as pilgrims, engage in daily morning prayer, examen, group sharing in MAGIS circles, Thanksgiving Mass, and the highlight of the 10 days, the life experience. Starting on the evening of 23 July, the pilgrims in small groups embarked on a journey in various locations in Spain and Portugal to undertake their chosen experiences based on five major themes: pilgrimage, environment and ecology, art and culture, faith and spirituality, and social service. These experiences are meant to help them meet others and God in different ways and prepare them for the celebration of World Youth Day, which starts on 1 August.
At the end of their experience, the pilgrims will gather again with the entire Ignatian family on 31 July, the Feast of St Ignatius. One day prior to this, the Asia Pacific delegates will have their special gathering.
Many young people who are attending World Youth Day for the first time shared their excitement at seeing many young people from different countries and speaking different languages come together to participate in Mass, pray, talk and share their faith, and to truly realise the universality of the Church.
This is an edited version of an article written by Magis Taiwan. Read the original article in Chinese here. Visit our Facebook and Instagram pages for more Magis photos. Follow the events of Magis 2023 through livestream here.