On September 25, a new edition of the Assembly of Hospitaller Lay Associates was held in Lisbon, promoted by the Sisters Hospitallers. More than 80 participants from 13 groups across the country, from north to south, gathered for a day marked by welcome, prayer, reflection, and fraternal communion.
Under the theme “Identity of the Hospitaller Layperson,” the Assembly became a space of encounter for men and women who, together with the Sisters and Collaborators, share the mission of living and spreading hospitality, especially among those who suffer most. Throughout the day, moments of reflection, formation, and dialogue strengthened the shared identity and co-responsibility in the hospitaller service.
Con más de 20 años de presencia en Portugal, los Laicos Hospitalarios son hoy un rostro vivo e indispensable de esta misión, aportando su fe, experiencia y dedicación a las comunidades y enriqueciendo la familia hospitaleira. Como destaca Cláudia Antunes, Coordinadora de Identidad y Pastoral de la Salud de las Hermanas Hospitalarias Portugal:
“Esta Asamblea es más que un encuentro: es un marco de identidad, compromiso y corresponsabilidad. Todos estamos llamados a testimoniar misericordia y esperanza junto a quienes más lo necesitan.”
This event also marks an important step on the journey toward the 25th anniversary of the Hospitaller Lay Associates in Portugal, to be celebrated in 2027. The Assembly not only celebrates the present but also looks to the future with hope, renewing the call to be a leaven of hospitality and a light in the world.
We deeply thank all those who, through their dedication and commitment, make this mission of love and service possible.
