On Saturday, October 24, 2026, Tau Day 2026—a day of fraternity, creativity, and rediscovery of the Franciscan charism—took place in Santarém, Portugal, under the theme “To the Very End.”
The event was part of the celebrations marking the 800th anniversary of the transitus of St. Francis. It brought together about eighty young people associated with the Friars Minor Conventual, who came from Viseu, Santarém, Lisbon, Azambuja, Coimbra, and other locations across Portugal.
The morning featured a spiritual outing in small groups to several significant sites throughout the city: Santarém Cathedral, Santa Clara Church, São Francisco Friary, Capela Dourada (Golden Chapel of the Franciscan Third Order), and Nossa Senhora de Marvila Church.
One of the highlights of the itinerary was a visit to the Shrine of the Most Holy Eucharistic Miracle, a place of deep Eucharistic devotion that St. Charles ACUTIS once visited. While there, the young people had an opportunity to reflect on the mystery of the Eucharist and the central place of Christ in Christian life.
After sharing lunch, the participants gathered at Portas do Sol, a scenic park offering stunning views of the Tagus River and the surrounding landscape. Against this backdrop, the groups staged several scenes from the life of St. Francis, combining creativity, humor, and spiritual depth. The performances successfully connected the saint’s story with the questions and experiences of today’s youth and even drew the attention of some passersby.
Pedro MUTEKA, one of the participants, shared his reflections and summed up one of the day’s messages: “The most important thing is to be united with God.” He also explained that the performances helped him gain a deeper understanding of episodes from St. Francis’ life and reflect on his own spiritual journey.
The value of this experience was also evident in the words of Friar Emmanuel SOR, originally from Ghana, who recently arrived in Portugal and is still learning Portuguese. Having participated in such an event in the country for the first time, he particularly appreciated the method used to introduce young people to St. Francis: “The practical way they taught us about St. Francis will remain forever in the memory of all of us who participated.”
Other young participants shared how welcome they felt and how much they had learned about St. Francis. Their testimonies highlighted the value of the gathering as an opportunity to strengthen fraternal bonds, grow in faith, and renew their personal spiritual journeys.
The day concluded with Mass at São Nicolau Church, where the participants gathered in prayer and thanksgiving before returning home.
Each young person received a small pot containing an iris plant. The gift reflected the central theme of the gathering: just as a plant needs daily care to flourish, so too must faith, fraternity, and the bonds formed through shared experiences be nurtured each day.
Although Tau Day has ended, the journey continues. This is precisely what the theme “To the Very End” means: choosing each day to follow Christ in the footsteps of St. Francis, with faithfulness, simplicity, and care for others.
Friar José Carlos CERDEIRA MATIAS
