Successful Conclusion of National Youth Renewal Encounter in Panama

The National Youth Renewal Encounter (ENRJ) in Panama was deemed a resounding success, with organizers already working towards its 50th anniversary. Considered the great party of Panama's Catholic Christian youth, the event brings together thousands of young people annually, aiming to bring them closer to God through spaces of praise, reflections, formative topics, concerts, and various youth activities in an atmosphere of faith, fellowship, and enthusiasm. The National Youth Renewal Encounter concluded on Sunday with a march in which thousands of young people participated, followed by the closing mass held at the gymnasium of José Daniel Crespó College in Chitré, a facility inaugurated for this activity. Father Raúl de León, the event's coordinator, explained that the encounter not only represents a profound spiritual experience but also a major logistical undertaking. De León highlighted that many young people shared testimonies about the impact that participating in the ENRJ had on them, especially amid the country's current economic situation. He noted that hundreds of volunteers worked daily to ensure the participants' food, security, lodging, and transportation. Additionally, the Saturday night featured a grand youth party with concerts and animations, marking one of the event's most anticipated moments. 'For many, having three secure meals a day during the encounter was very significant,' the priest indicated, emphasizing that this reflects a real concern for the economic situation of much of the youth who attend such events. In terms of security and medical care, the event had surveillance stations and a mobile clinic to handle any contingencies. For three days, thousands of young people from different provinces of the country, as well as an international delegation from Ecuador, gathered in Chitré, Herrera province, to participate in the 47th National Youth Renewal Encounter (ENRJ). With a laugh, Father De León commented that 'at the encounter, the only thing missing is a barber,' implying that all necessary services were covered.