April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
TRIP TO MADRID
Rensselaer youth report on World Youth Day 2011
It was an excursion that introduced the teens to Europe, the universal Church, other young Catholics, the Spanish culture and their pontiff - all in the span of just 12 days.
"I expected it would just be us standing there and listening to the pope give a speech," said John Kenna, a 16-year-old entering his junior year at Rennselaer High School. "But it was very fun; we went to Lourdes, did a lot of sightseeing and met people from all over the world."
The group - the only one to travel to WYD from the Albany Diocese - had done fundraising to make the trip, from a barbeque to candy bar sales, a bus trip to a Yankee game, can and bottle collections and pleading letters to friends and family for support.
"I jumped at the opportunity to see the world and the pope and to expand my religious beliefs," said Casey Frankoski, 16, from Columbia High School, "but I had no idea what to expect or how many people were going to be there."
The group first traveled to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, France, for two days, and to Barcelona and Zaragoza in Spain before heading to Madrid.
"Lourdes was probably the most powerful spiritual experience for me," said John.
Casey agreed that "standing in a place where Mary appeared to St. Bernadette was such a huge moment for me" - but for her, the most surreal moment came when she stood in a square in Madrid, watching Pope Benedict XVI ride by in his popemobile.
"It just hit me that it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and most people don't get to see the pope," Casey told The Evangelist. "It was [at] the opening ceremonies and there were people cheering; we were surrounded by these beautiful buildings and it was unforgettable."
Although the group stayed in hostels or hotels for most of the trip, all 12 were also invited into the home of a family from Madrid where they were fed local cuisine, put their Spanish speaking skills to the test and learned about Spanish culture.
"I didn't know that [in Spain] they don't eat until very late at night," John told The Evangelist, "but the bullfights were pretty cool to watch."
Casey preferred to learn flamenco dancing. "I kept a journal while I was there and wrote down everything so I wouldn't forget," she said. "I put all of my pictures up on Facebook so my friends could see them and they've been asking me questions about it. I really cannot wait to go back. The next World Youth Day is in Rio de Janeiro and I'm begging my parents to go - but I think after everything I told them, they want to go, too."
Despite seven-hour-long bus rides, homesickness and a night spent on anthills in an open-air field during a storm, both teens told The Evangelist that World Youth Day 2011 was the best trip of their lives.
Said Casey: "It taught me that it's great to be Catholic and how many people are proud and not ashamed of their faith."[[In-content Ad]]
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