April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
PERSPECTIVE
Summing up WYD 2016 experiences
Summing up WYD 2016 experiences
I think I can speak for the whole group of pilgrims from St. Pius X parish in Loudonville when I say that most of us had no idea of what to truly expect from World Youth Day 2016 in Krakow, Poland.
"Attending World Youth Day for the first time, I could only hold certain expectations of what we would experience, but I was unprepared for the events that would unfold over the next 10 days that we spent in Poland," explained Sara Allocco, 18.
Alayna Colbert, 16, added: "I wasn't expecting to have my life and faith completely changed."
As a youth minister, I could explain to the teens and families what to pack, the schedule of events, and other logistics, but, being a first-time World Youth Day pilgrim, there was only so much I could explain about how this experience would shape both the youth and the adult leaders in ways for which no one could prepare them.
What a blessing it was to watch our group -- or "family," as we now call ourselves -- be beautifully shaped by the people, the places and the faith so loudly proclaimed over our 10 days overseas.
Many events stuck out from our memories, especially a most unexpected part of our pilgrimage: When our St. Pius X group visited one of the oldest churches in Poland, we were greeted by a group of pilgrims from various regions in the Middle East. A priest from their group explained to us that they were planning on celebrating Mass in Arabic, and that we were welcome to celebrate with them.
"Of all the people in the world facing real persecution for their faith, the group represented one of them," said Matt Flanagan, confirmation coordinator for St. Pius and adult leader on the WYD trip. "To be able to celebrate with them in their native language was something really special, and it truly spoke to the universality of the Church."
Experiencing that universality was another highlight for our group.
"Participating in eucharistic adoration with thousands of other Catholics inside a packed arena in Krakow was emotional. I realized that we are never truly alone, even during times of fear and uncertainty," said Sara.
Her twin sister, Anna, was also inspired by the "night of mercy" in Tauron Arena and the unforgettable events of World Youth Day. "Everywhere we went, there was joy, whether it was among the 15,000 people at the Night of Mercy or at the candlelight vigil at Campus Misericordiae, surrounded by more than a million other young Catholics," she said.
Matt reflected on the joy he experienced: "Dancing in a field of 600,000 in Blonia Park, chanting and clapping in unison, 'Papa Francesco!' was an awesome sight not only to behold, but participate in."
Toward the end of our pilgrimage, the group from the Albany Diocese was given the incredible opportunity to visit the site of the concentration camps of Auschwitz and Birkenau. They describe the experience as a reminder of the need for mercy in our world.
Alayna summed up the pilgrimage: "I feel honored and privileged to have experienced World Youth Day with such a wonderful group of amazing people." [[In-content Ad]]
250 X 250 AD
250 X 250 AD
Events
250 X 250 AD
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