Talk given by Dr João Sales at the Thanksgiving Mass and Meeting of Foundation Collaborators and Friends
(FOSRDI), July 11, 2024

Good afternoon, and I hope that everyone is well. In this very pleasant and joyful atmosphere, also with the help of the NOS alive animation and remembering that the Foundation is celebrating its 31st anniversary, I would like to begin with a special word for our Sisters present here, Sister Bridget, our administrator, and Sister Veronica, who is part of the Congregation’s Council. Of course, we never forget our founders: Sister Inês, who we know is accompanying us in Heaven, and Sisters Aileen, Alicia and Teresa, who are fortunately well. I would also like to thank all the other members of the Board of Directors for their dedication and collaboration: William Cunnigham, Vice President, Kikita, Maria José Melo Antunes, Luis Alvito and Lourenço da Cunha. On behalf of this Board, I would like to thank you for your presence, for the good work carried out in general by all the teams, and for your commitment to the Foundation’s mission during this last academic year with many challenges. Our prayers are also very present for all the collaborators, friends and families who are sick or fragile, and we wish them a speedy recovery. Once again we had a very beautiful thanksgiving ceremony. I thank Dominican Friar José Nunes, excellent choir, and to all those who were involved in the preparation of this event.

Do you still remember last year’s book? The Pope challenged us with 10 requests in the Name of God. This year the book I’m giving you to read and reflect on is called: “WYD Lisbon 2023” Speeches and Homilies of Pope Francis. It’s all interconnected. I would especially like to share and associate very challenging messages from the Pope and my participation in WYD.

Welcoming ceremony at Eduardo VII Park, on August 3.I left my car at Campo Pequeno Park several hours before the event and headed through a large crowd to Eduardo VII Park, starting with difficulty up the lawn that starts at Marquês de Pombal. I managed to climb maybe 100 meters and joined a group of young Italians, next to a giant screen sitting on a chair that I was carrying over my shoulder, a birthday present from my daughters. During the waiting time, I observed the group and I was honestly worried when I smelled some special cigarettes. But what I wanted to share is that when the Pope began his intervention, everything changed and when the Lord’s Prayer was recited, everyone stood up and prayed out loud, holding hands.

That day, the Pope said, “You are not here by chance. The Lord has called you by name, not only in these days, but from the beginning of your life.” How wonderful!

Vigil on August 5th at Parque Tejo

With a special backpack and sleeping bag also given to me by my daughters, I left home at around 5 pm. It was an adventure to get to the Park and I can testify that the number of people exceeded the capacity, despite the space being very large. My place was in sector B, after the bridge. The police wouldn’t let me in and I had to tell a little lie, counting on God’s mercy – Mr. Guard, look at my age, I just want to sit for a while and listen to the Pope and then I’ll leave. After getting permission, I went looking for a place to put the chair. And it turned out to be easy because I met a Spanish couple who squeezed in a little and very kindly told me that they would be leaving around midnight, allowing me to lay out my sleeping bag. I will never forget that night. When the Blessed Sacrament was exposed, there was total silence and the vast majority watched standing or kneeling, as was the case with the Spanish couple. The presence of God was felt very clearly. The Pope spoke about Joy and insisted: Joy is missionary. All of us, if we look back, recognize people who were a ray of Light of our joy – parents, grandparents, friends, priests, teachers and educators. This joy with roots becomes stronger when we recognize that it results from a journey made in community and with the only thing that is completely free to us: the love of Jesus. This is also the mission of the Foundation – To be a ray of joy for the entire community that attends it.

Mass on Sunday, August 6th

I had managed to get a VIP seat to attend the Mass that started at 9 am.

I got out of my sleeping bag around 4 am and was one of the first lay people to enter the appropriate place. No one stopped me from sitting in the second row next to the stage, in an excellent place. There were 15 minutes left before the Mass started when I got a little scared – After all, it was a space reserved for priests and I only recognized this fact then because everyone had put on the appropriate vestments. I mentioned to a priest that I was in a wheelchair and he was very supportive and told me not to worry.

I had already managed to be face to face with the Pope three times during his travels, but this was the first time I had attended such a significant ceremony with a great prophet of Peace and Mercy.

He reflected on what we take home from these fantastic WYDs, summarizing it in three points.

Be Luminous, doing works of love,

Listen to Jesus. He is the one who shows us the path of love,

Don’t be afraid to dream, to fight for truth, justice and peace.

I leave you with some questions for our joint reflection in community and with a missionary spirit:

1) In September 2024, we will once again have a house full of children and young people, with a total of almost 1000 students – How great. We are currently doing many good things. But could our ray of light not be stronger within our school community?

2) Can I be more luminous in our Social Project Families with Soul? How can I help more and make others aware?

3) Can I listen to Jesus better by taking advantage of the 4 Conferences given by Friar José Nunes that we will have next year, continuing the theme “A Desirable God”?

4) Will I commit to being present more frequently in the monthly visits to the Blessed Sacrament led by Ana Gaivão, to speak with Jesus in community?

5) Have I ever tried or challenged friends to attend the weekly spiritual reflections led by Carla Correia, for believers and non-believers?

6) Am I aware of the mission of the Foundation, a Dominican work, and am I interested in the most relevant information, namely the quarterly Newsletters?

The Pope is always talking about Hope, and recently wrote a text entitled “Hope does not deceive.” He mentions a phrase that I think we should keep in mind often:

Hope, much greater than daily satisfactions and improvements in living conditions, transporting us beyond trials, exhorts us to walk without losing sight of the greatness of the goal to which we are called: Heaven.

I will end with the message I left you in the book: In his last speech at the WYD, Pope Francis appealed, associating it with the waves of Nazaré: Continue to ride the waves of love, the waves of charity, be surfers of love. Following the Pope’s challenge and asking for help from Our Lady of Good Success, here is a small reminder of our meeting of collaborators and friends.

Thank you for your attention and I also wish you a happy holiday.

And now we will deliver the award to the Foundation’s employees with over 25 years of experience:

Regina Cardoso; Carla Garcia; Célia Pedro; Ana Marin; Cármen Martins.