Our small group of Salesian World Youth Day pilgrims from Britain were delighted to present when Mother Yvonne Reungoat FMA, Superior General of the Salesian Sisters, officially opened the new relic shrine and pilgrim centre in honour of Blessed Mary Romero Meneses in Panama City this week.

The new centre, housed in the Church of Mary Help of Christians at the city's Don Bosco Institute, will serve the faithful of Panama and the surrounding countries.

Blessed Maria, who, along with Don Bosco, is one of the patrons of this year's World Youth Day, was a Salesian Sister born in Nicaragua, who served the poor in Costa Rica for many years, building homes for the homeless, setting up a clinic and pharmacy, and recruiting teams of volunteers to help those in need. She also built the church of Mary Help of Christians in San Jose. In recognition of her work for the nation, the government of Costa Rica made her an honorary citizen. She was beatified in 2002 by St John Paul II.

During the ceremony, Mother Yvonne was joyfully welcomed to Panama City, before cutting the ribbon to open the shrine, and presenting the relic for veneration. She gave the Good Night for the gathered congregation, speaking about the importance of young people in the church, and the need for their holiness in the Salesian Family.

Read more about the pilgrim centre

Find out more about Blessed Maria Romero Meneses