A Youth Congress on Evangelization in the Amazon Region

The Diocese of Juína lies in the heart of the Amazon region and covers a vast territory of nearly 48,000 square miles. Yet it has just 14 parishes, which include a total of 380 local communities.

Sadly, experience has shown that many young people have drifted away from the Church. This fact has prompted Bishop Neri José Tondello to sit down together with the youth leaders in the diocese and consider how best to rekindle the enthusiasm of as many young people as possible for their Catholic faith. This gave rise to the idea of organizing a congress for the young people in the diocese, at which young people could rediscover a sense of joy in their faith and be encouraged to feel part of a larger community.

The bishop writes, “The 2026 diocesan youth congress will mark a milestone in the evangelization of the young people in the Diocese of Juína. Its aim is to strengthen young people and win them over to the faith, and at the same time encourage them to become involved in the communities. If we are to implement this project successfully, we need the support of all the communities, including the priests, families, and movements; this is crucially important. We are all called to work together so that young people can gain a profound experience of faith. We are conscious of the importance of this event, which nevertheless represents a challenge for us. It is obvious that the diocese must gather all its resources in order to help our young people, who are wandering through our towns and parishes, waiting to find something that will awaken them to life. Our sheep need a shepherd, and so we are counting on your prayers, your support, and your commitment so that we can together fulfill this mission of saving and strengthening our young people.”

The congress will be called “Pilgrims of Hope,” to reflect the fact that this was then the Holy Year of Hope. The aim is to encourage the young to see that they are precious to the Church and need to be given the chance to deepen their faith. It could also possibly be a way of awakening spiritual vocations, which the Church in the Amazon region so urgently needs.

The congress is planned for August 2026, and over 1,500 young people are expected to attend. The diocese is doing all it can to raise the necessary funds, but they will still need help. We are offering to support this important event with a contribution of $10,147. Will you join us in helping them?

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