TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY –26^TH /27^TH AUGUST 2023

Dear Parishioners,

We would like to share some experiences of WORLD YOUTH DAY in Lisbon. We went with a group of 60 young people from different Universities and Parishes. it has been a great experience for all of US. Thank you for your support and prayers.

Have a blessed week.

Anabel Gonzalez, FMVD

The theme for the World Youth Day 2023 was ‘Mary arose and went with haste’. When I look back, I realised that I certainly did not go with haste! In fact, I was concerned about sleeping on a school floor and sharing toilets with hundreds of other people and my pre-trip planning wasn’t exactly a model of swift decision-making – right down to the toilet roll calculations. However, at the very first welcome ceremony, I remember seeing all the flags of the world and hearing everyone chanting ‘esta es la juventud del papa’ and it was that moment I truly grasped the significance of this event. Seeing Pope Francis from three feet away was the highlight! Strangers greeted each other as friends and we signed each other’s flags and took photos with anyone and everyone.

The main event was the Vigil on the Saturday night. On our final stretch of the 19km walk to the field – we were walking along the motorway which they had closed for this event – I glanced behind me and saw a parade of people which is a sight I will never forget. At the Adoration, the silence was remarkable, 1.5 million people and you could hear a pin drop. Oh, and did I mention sleeping on the rocks in the field that night? Suddenly, the school floor felt like a five-star suite.

So, in a nutshell, World Youth Day 2023 was a concoction of delayed haste, flag graffiti, Pope stalking, toilet queuing and an incredible display of faith and unity. And that’s precisely what made it unforgettable! Dinithi

WYD was amazing, one of the best things I’ve done in my life. I wasn’t too sure of what to expect, apart from sleeping on the floor and queuing for showers (things I had considered negative)! But of course, it was so much more than that. Being with so many people sharing the same faith, and just being able to see the Pope and be in his presence (a personal highlight for me), the feeling of togetherness and belonging, it was just so amazing to experience. The things I had considered negative, looking back, I didn’t actually end up feeling that way about them at all whilst there. I learnt a lot and I would definitely do it all again, every single minute of it! Alisha

I believe that everything happens for a reason. When I was invited to WYD I’d say that I was at my lowest point in regards to my belief in the Church and my faith. When I accepted the invitation, I didn’t know what to expect. I had never heard of WYD, I had never been to Portugal and I hadn’t left the UK in years. When I went, the first thing that struck me was the large number of young people from all over the world that believed in God and in the Catholic Church. There were people like me who were questioning and they were all welcomed and embraced. A few days into WYD, I went to the Vocational Fair at the City of Joy and my friend and I saw a nun at one of the stalls. We ended up having a very meaningful conversation with her. It amazed me to see the pure joy she had in her faith, to see her content with her life and the path she chose. Another moment that struck me was at the Stations of the Cross when I saw Pope Francis.  For me, that moment really made me aware of where I was and it made me believe that coming to WYD was the right thing to do. I believe that this is just the beginning of my faith journey. I don’t know where my path will lead me but being surrounded by a supportive group made me believe that it is the right thing to do and I hope that by God’s grace and guidance I’ll be able to continue that and not feel alone anymore. Cheriese