Interview: Rafael José Almeida Neves – Department of University and Vocational Youth Ministry of the Diocese of Guarda

“We began preparing our participation in the Youth Jubilee practically at the beginning of the current pastoral year”

Father Rafael Almeida Neves is a native of Vale de Estrela, in the municipality of Guarda . He attended primary school in Vale de Estrela, the Sé Secondary School in the city of Guarda, the Major Seminary in the same city, the Institute of Theology of Beiras and Douro in Viseu, the Faculty of Theology of the Catholic University of Portugal in the Regional Center of Braga and the Pontifical University of Salamanca. He was ordained a priest on July 3, 2011. He is the parish priest of Aldeias, Mangualde da Serra, Moimenta da Serra, Santa Comba, S. Martinho, Santa Marinha, Paços da Serra, Pinhanços and Vinhó. He is the Coordinator of the Diocesan Department of Youth, University and Vocational Ministry.

GUARDA: What is the group of participants from the Diocese of Guarda in the Youth Jubilee, which will take place in Rome from July 28 to August 3, made up of?

Rafael Neves: The group from the Diocese of Guarda that will participate in the Youth Jubilee through the Department of University and Vocational Youth Ministry is made up of 32 people. This group includes young people aged between 17 and 34, two priests, and the diocesan bishop, D. José Pereira, who will accompany the group permanently.

A GUARDA: In addition to the official group, are there other young people from the Diocese who are registered?

Rafael Neves: In addition to this group, we have learned through the National Department of Youth Ministry that another 38 young people from the Diocese of Guarda will participate, some with links to the National Scout Corps and others who registered individually with the Dicastery for the New Evangelization.

THE GUARD: How long has this Jubilee been in preparation?

Rafael Neves: We began preparing for the Jubilee practically at the beginning of the current pastoral year, conducting extensive research into the various aspects of the trip. Organizing the trip was quite complex because, from the outset, we realized that the Youth Jubilee would attract a large number of young people from around the world. Subsequently, in all the activities of the current pastoral year, we have always sought, more or less explicitly, to keep in mind the theme of this Jubilee Year: "Pilgrims of Hope."

THE GUARD: Was there any specific preparation for this Jubilee?

Rafael Neves: As specific preparation for participating in this Jubilee, the young people of the Diocese of Guarda enjoyed a day of fellowship and mission on July 5th at the parish of Rapoula do Côa. This day, which was also attended by the diocesan bishop, served as an opportunity for participants to get to know each other and socialize, learn about the dynamics of Jubilees in the history of the Church , and also to carry out, at the Rapoula do Côa Social Center, the "Missionary Gesture," which consisted of a visit to the elderly and staff of the institution, with the mission of bringing God's joy to them. As a materialization of this missionary gesture, during the visit, each young person gave a bracelet to each elderly person, asking them to pray for the young people attending the Youth Jubilee and assuring them that they would carry it with them in prayer to Rome, until their meeting with the Pope.

THE GUARD: In Rome, where will the group be based?

Rafael Neves: The group from the Diocese of Guarda that will participate in the Youth Jubilee through the Department of University and Vocational Youth Ministry, will be, together with other Portuguese groups, at Fiera di Roma, in Pavilion 1.

A GUARDA: When is the departure for Rome and when is the return to Portugal?

Rafael Neves: We will depart from Guarda for Lisbon this Saturday, July 26th, at 9:30 p.m. The Lisbon-Rome flight will then depart on July 27th at 8:55 a.m., arriving in Rome at 12:50 p.m. The return flight from Rome will be on August 3rd, arriving in Lisbon at 7:45 p.m.

THE GUARD: Expectations for this Jubilee?

Rafael Neves: We hope these will be very happy days and that it will be an enriching and spiritually renewing experience for the young people. We hope they feel the joy of being with other young Christians and that they return home with 'burning hearts,' that is, with enthusiasm and a desire to commit themselves to the Church of the Diocese of Guarda.