After WYD Reflections
Please take a moment to read through our thoughts as we reflected back on what we learned, experienced, and took away from World Youth Day 2016.
WYD Reflections ~ Zach Ahaus
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? My most powerful experience was praying at St. Peter’s Basilica. I just couldn't get over how the first pope ever was buried there.
What did you learn? I learned a lot about St. John Paul II. I liked learning about some of the miracles he performed.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? The funniest thing that happened was when we all met our tour guide, Irene, in Rome.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned that I like to learn about the history of our religion and how it all happened.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes, I have deepened my understanding of the church. While we were there we got to learn all about the history of our religion and I feel like understanding it all has made me grow closer to God.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? I would definitely recommend that people would go to WYD. I would recommend it because it was a moving experience and has made me become closer to God. It is a very physically exhausting trip but it is worth it all in the end.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God when we were at St. Peter’s Basilica and when we had our own Mass with Archbishop Tobin.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? I experienced the Universal Church just by seeing all of the countries come together. It was very moving seeing all of the Catholics from around the world come into one place and pray.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I was surprised about the way some of the people over there live. I was not expecting the lack of A/C and just how differently they live their lives from us.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? I would tell them thank you for giving me this amazing opportunity to grow in my faith and have this once in a life time experience.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? This pilgrimage will change me because now I have a lot more knowledge and faith and it will bring me even closer to God.
WYD Reflections ~ Abbie Alig
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? The most powerful was the steps that Jesus walked on Good Friday.
What did you learn? I learned to be more appreciative of the things that God has given me and to make sacrifices in everyday life.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? The most fun experience was the Stations of the Cross with the pope.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I discovered the power of prayer and how important it is.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes, I have deepened my understanding by seeing how many people are passionate about their faith.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God whenever the pope was present.
What surprised you the most, what did you not expect to happen? What surprised me was how many people attended WYD. I didn’t expect to see so many people and to see how strong their faith was.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? The speaker that touched me the most was the girl from Iraq, who has dealt first hand with family members being killed based on their religion.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? I would tell them thank you for the opportunity they gave my family and I, and what a wonderful experience we had! This pilgrimage has made me appreciate the little things in life, like ice and air conditioning. It also has made me be more passionate about my faith and to spread the passion amongst my peers.
WYD Reflections ~ Andrew Alig
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? Being able to serve at St. Peters with Archbishop Tobin
What did you learn? More about the saints and the history of the Vatican.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? Getting food poisoning while in the airport.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? That I am lucky to live in America.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD, if yes, why? Yes, I would encourage people to go because it gives people the experience of seeing the Universal Church.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God when I was going up the stairs Jesus went up on Good Friday.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? Seeing the flags from all the different countries around the world and realizing they believed the same things as you.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I didn’t expect that many young people to go.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend, if you were looking at someone in the eye, who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? Thank you for allowing me to go on this amazing life changing experience.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you, how will you be different? It will show me how lucky we are to be Americans, and I won’t take as much things for granted.
WYD Reflections ~ Anita Alig
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? Having adoration with the pope was the most powerful experience that I had on the pilgrimage.
What did you learn? I learned that people from all over the world share the same faith as we do. Also, a lot of different countries loved seeing people from the United States.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? Walking around at night in Rome was the most fun because it was beautiful to see the city at night and Rome’s culture.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned how deep my faith is and how much I believe in God.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes, I understand more about the history of the Church since we saw items from the time Jesus Christ was alive.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? Yes, WYD was a great experience! It’s amazing seeing all the different people from around the world, and seeing their cultures. Seeing the pope is also a wonderful experience!
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God when I kneeled and prayed up the Holy Steps.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? Having Mass said in a different language was a neat experience because I could still follow along even though I couldn’t speak the language.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I was surprised seeing Jesus’ crib and other items from his life and crucifixion. I didn’t expect that those items would still be here today.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? The couple who spoke at the arena touched me the most. They spoke about how they met each other and how God always has a plan for you.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? I would thank them and tell them how I much I appreciated their help on funding this pilgrimage. This pilgrimage would not be possible without them. This pilgrimage was a great experience that I will never forget.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you, how will you be different? This pilgrimage showed me to be more grateful for what I have.
WYD Reflections ~ Mike Alig
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? Seeing the Pope and gathering with 3 million of his closest friends. Walking thru St. Peter’s Basilica Holy Door, I actually had goosebumps.
What did you learn? That there are still many Catholics that cherish their faith.
What was the funniest experience? Any time Father Meyer dances, it is funny.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? That I have a stronger faith than I realized.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? Yes, it will strengthen your faith and bring you closer to God than you have ever been.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? The Saturday night vigil adoration.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? Found myself in deeper prayer than I have ever been.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? The organization and coordination of WYD. With that many people coming to one city, we never felt unsafe and things ran so smoothly.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage what would you say? The only thing would be “Thank You, you changed my life and my connection with my faith for the better.”
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? Have a deeper appreciation for my faith and taught me what is really important in my life.
WYD Reflections ~ Sara Alig
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? Going up the Holy Stairs on our knees, also seeing Andrew serve for the Archbishop in St. Peter’s was a highlight. I loved having the Masses at the chapels. They were so meaningful.
What did you learn? I learned a great deal about my faith, also that there are truly good people everywhere
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? Singing on the tram and meeting the locals on the tram
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned that I am very out of shape! And, that as Americans, we are so fortunate and take so many things for granted.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes, but I have a long way to go to fully understand.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? Yes.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? Going up the Holy Stairs and being in the presence of the Pope
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? By meeting so many kind and gracious people that shared the same faith.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I did not expect to get as close to the Pope as we did. Many things surprised me.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? I really enjoyed the Catechesis. The testimonials were incredible!
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? Thank you, thank you, thank you! This trip meant the world to me and my family.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? It has left me with many different things to ponder. Hopefully, it will make me appreciate all that we have in this country and not waste as much.
WYD Reflections ~ Rachel Badinghaus
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? Climbing the Scala Sancta on our knees.
What did you learn? I learned about some of my weaknesses on the trip and how I need to work on those.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? I really enjoyed singing with the group as we were walking the streets and in the trams.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned I need to work on my weaknesses, and when I’m in a bad mood, it really affects other people.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? I’ve deepened my understanding of the universal part of the Church. I never knew how “one” we really are until adoration and Mass with the pope. Even though everyone spoke different languages, when it came time for Mass everyone spoke one language, and that was Jesus.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? YES!! It is a wonderful experience. You get to experience the one, holy, apostolic, and universal Church in a foreign land. How cool is that?!
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? When I sat in adoration with Him during Catechesis.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? Having a sleepover and Mass with 3 million people all the same faith as you is pretty awesome!!
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I never put into play what millions of people gathered together would be like. So seeing all those people in one place and trying to travel past them was, at times, trying. I did not expect the language barriers to be as much of a problem as they were.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? Pope Francis talked about how our generation retires too early and we are couch potatoes. I only thought that this was an American thing. I didn’t expect it to be happening all around the world. It struck me that the faith that I have really can make a difference and I should use it to show others the love that Jesus has for us.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye, who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to live out my faith! I cannot express my gratitude in words, can I give you a hug?
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? I will be different in knowing that I am young so I have a lot to give to others with my faith. I can teach younger and older generations what I know and hopefully with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit set the world on fire!
WYD Reflections ~ Derrick Batta
What was your most powerful experience? It would be hard to pin down one experience as the one with which I had the most powerful experience. This distinction would have to go to the morning Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. Being first in St. Peter’s Basilica and being the only major group in the church, along with taking part in the Mass at the altar which contains the bones of the apostles Simon and Jude is beyond anything I’ve ever taken part in as a Catholic. To also have the bones of the apostle Peter behind us during the Mass was also awe inspiring. It felt as if it was an exclusive experience, just me and these early followers of Jesus. A close second was our visit to the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, to see the actual pieces of the crown of thorns that pierced the head of Christ was overwhelming. To see these pieces of history and not just read about them in church was inspiring.
What did you learn? The biggest thing I learned was to visually see the Universal Church. Nothing spoke of this more than experiencing the Saturday evening candle vigil and Eucharistic Adoration with Pope Francis. You couldn’t have guessed it as we all kneeled in silence together with our candles held high in quiet and reflective prayer, but we were not alone as 3 million of our fellow Catholics from all corners of the earth kneeled and prayed with us. It was hard not to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit as we were all united as one in prayer.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? The most fun experience was traveling with Irene in Rome. She was like a grenade about to go off, with all her hilarious and unpredictable sayings.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I didn’t realize the power of suffering and physically working in developing one’s faith until this trip, and I am forever grateful for enduring all that we did. Whether it was enduring the walk to the main field, waiting in line for food, helping to get food for everyone else later and fast walking two miles with bags of food on my back, I believe these things helped me better develop my faith and use it in all areas of my life, including the easy and tough times.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? I have developed a much deeper appreciation for Christ and His church. It was great to take on this pilgrimage with three exciting priests who were not only good group leaders, but great teachers of the faith as well. I started to understand and appreciate the purposes of why the church does what it does and why some things are the way they are.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? I would definitely encourage any youth to attend World Youth Day! Traveling on a pilgrimage to World Youth Day combines the excitement of traveling to new places and the comfort of home, as the church is our universal home, and taking part in the Mass, which is something familiar to all who attend.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? The closest I felt to God was during the Saturday evening Eucharistic Adoration with Pope Francis in the field in Krakow. You could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit among everyone in silent prayer. I started out just standing with my candle lit; however, I was pulled into kneeling on the ground and continuing my adoration and prayer.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? To stand as one with almost three million of my fellow Catholics, still knowing there are millions more Catholics around the world who weren’t at World Youth Day, made me realize that no matter where I travel, I can feel at home with the church. I can also take comfort in the fact that all these people share the same beliefs as I do about the church, and that I am not alone.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I did not expect to get within 25 yards from Pope Francis. I will never forget running toward the fence, along which he was taking the tram to the field. He then got out and got onto the Pope mobile, which I was able to get pictures of. It felt as if the Pope was somewhat accessible, and I admire that from the leader of the Catholic Church.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? My favorite speaker was Pope Francis during the welcoming ceremony and the closing Mass. He challenged the youth to not be boring and retire young. We should always challenge and push ourselves to serve others. The world does not need any more couch potatoes. I will remember these words and use them as extra motivation when I am in need of that extra push.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? To these people, I would say “Thank you for giving me a great sense of direction in my spiritual journey and giving me the chance to grow deeper in my faith.”
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? I most definitely will not be afraid to share and witness my Catholic faith to others who have inquire about it and stand up for it more openly if it is being put down. Because of all of my growth in the love of Christ and His church, I will look at all human beings with much more love and concern than I used to look at them.
WYD Reflections ~ Seth Bittner
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? Seeing the Pope.
What did you learn? There are millions of young Catholics.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? The singing and dancing in Rome and Poland.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? That I am God’s child.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes- by feeling the presence of Jesus.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD, if yes, why? Yes- it is fun!
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? In the many Church buildings, especially the Holy Stairs.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? How large it is and made up of people from all over.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? Thank you!
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? I’ll try to live a better life and pray more.
WYD Reflections ~ Abby Chipps
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? The most powerful experience I recall was in Rome when we saw the relics of the cross, crown of thorns, nail, and (a replica of) the cloth Jesus was wrapped in. In that moment my faith became undeniably real. I looked around me and saw all of these other teenagers, adults, and priests and knew that we were living for something real.
What did you learn? I learned so much. Specifically, I learned what it looks like when you truly say ‘yes’ to God’s plan and give him your whole life. You can change the world if you give him the chance to change you.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? The experience to me that was most fun would definitely have to be dancing and singing with Father and our All Saints group at the papal welcoming after we had been blessed by the Holy Father. I had never before felt so much joy or peace in the same moment. I can only imagine that must be what heaven feels like.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I discovered God’s voice in my heart. I realized that God had been asking me to give him my entire life and surrender completely to him but I had been holding back. He was patiently waiting for me to say yes. Now that I’m working on my daily ‘yes’, Gods going to use me to light up the world.
Have you deepened your understanding of the church? If yes, in what way? I have definitely deepened my understanding of the church. There’s a new understanding of Christ’s life and his True Presence in the Eucharist. Every Mass he truly is present and dies for each person individually. I can’t really explain it, but I know he’s real and he’s there.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? I would encourage every Catholic in the world to attend WYD because there is nothing else that affirms your faith to the extent of WYD. You experience a true outpouring of the Holy Spirit in such an immense way and really become a disciple of God’s true plan for you.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God at WYD when we had Mass at morning catechesis. There were hundreds of us in the arena. I looked around while we were saying the Our Father, and I felt so consoled in that moment, like God really was Our Father. It was so clear that he had a specific plan for each of us.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? I experienced the Universal Church in a new way during the papal opening Mass; it was being said in so many different languages and translated all around me, but the understanding that we were all there listening to the Holy Father and praying the same prayers because we believed in the same thing, despite the language barrier, was incredible.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I was surprised by how much of an impact WYD as a whole had on me. I didn’t expect God to work so much in my life during this pilgrimage. I felt a call in my heart toward a vocation I had considered before but in a new and beautiful way. God truly spoke to my heart and I wouldn’t have been able to listen in the way I did if it wasn’t for the suffering we encountered during this pilgrimage.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? The speaker that touched me the most was the Holy Father; he challenged us and invited us into the adventure of mercy with Jesus. I had never heard it put in such a beautiful way. It really touched my heart and I felt as if God himself had asked me personally to join him in this adventure to change the hard hearts of the world back to him.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? Thank you for helping light a spark that will change the world. My life will never be the same after this experience, and I am forever grateful to you for answering God’s call to give.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? I now have an undeniable indelible mark in my life and on my soul from this experience. I cannot deny the existence of Jesus even if I choose not to follow him; I know he’s real. There’s a new passion and desire in my heart to join the Holy Father on this adventure of mercy and to change the world- I choose Jesus and I give him my life to use in order to bring the culture back to God.
WYD Reflections ~ Casey Cleary
What was the most powerful experience you recall? For me, praying on the Holy Stairs was the most powerful. To know that you are kneeling on the very stairs that Jesus ascended and descended on his day of judgement is mind blowing. It's been a while since I had actually sat down and thought about all the people and things I should pray and thank God for, so it was nice to stop and do that.
What did you learn? I learned a lot about Pope John Paul II. I knew a little bit about him prior to the trip, but I can say now that I know a lot more. He was truly and incredible man who worked many miracles.
What experience would you describe as the most fun? The most fun I had was singing through the streets as we would walk back to our hotel at night. We would do everything from USA chants, to church hymns, to Journey songs. It was really fun to see people's reactions when we would go by.
What did you discover about yourself? I learned to love myself the way the God loves me. I've struggled a lot in my life to do that, and Pope Francis in one of his speeches said "If you don't love yourself the way that God loves you, then you are turning your face away from him." I've ever really thought about it that way, and I don't want to be that way anymore. During WYD, I learned to be comfortable and happy with myself because God loves me more than I could ever imagine.
Have you deepened your understanding of the church? Yes, seeing all of the different relics from the Passion, like the thorns from Jesus's crown and the wood from the actual cross, was really powerful. It reiterates what I believe our faith is all about.
Would you encourage others to attend WYD? Absolutely!! Whether you are a hardcore Catholic or not, it's a great opportunity to go and learn even more about your faith that you didn't know before. It's also an amazing way to meet new people from all around the world.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God during the vigil. There was a moment where Pope Francis just finished talking and 2.5 million people were down on their knees in prayer. I had my candle lit and was deep in prayer when I felt someone touch my shoulder. I thought it was someone behind me and I turned around and no one was there. I believe that it was God comforting me and letting me know he was there. It was very surreal.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? When you are in school, it's really easy to take a look around and feel like you are the only person who celebrates your faith. Going to WYD you look around and see that you are not alone. The Catholic Church extends all throughout the world. 2.5 million people gather and we all speak different languages, yet we are celebrating the same thing.
What surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I was really surprised by how many people loved America. In the world we live in today, I feel like all everyone does is say that every country out there hates us, but it's actually the opposite. We would go down streets and people would sing our national anthem to us and cheer us on. It was something I really didn't expect to see.
Which speaker touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? I would say that Pope Francis was my favorite speaker. I just really loved his message on how we shouldn't retire early in our lives. He said that too many young people become boring and dull too early and you can see it in their eyes. I know what he's talking about, and it's something that I really don't want to happen to me, but I think that it's an easy thing that you can succumb to. It's easy to live your life on a "comfort couch" as the Holy Father would say, but the message that I took home is that you need to come out of you comfort zone in order to really live life to the fullest.
If you were looking someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? I would say thank you for letting me experience something that I can't even begin to put into words! I saw and experienced things that I've never seen or witnessed before. I owe you a lot for helping me go on this pilgrimage. I thank you and God thanks you!
How will this pilgrimage change you? How will you be different? I think this pilgrimage has made me realize that we as young people can change the world. We are all full of life and if we let God work through us, we can work miracles. I will be different by being more open not just to God, but to other people. I will work on coming out of my comfort zone more and spreading God's love to others.
WYD Reflections ~ Lauren Deddens
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? Two things come to mind right away. When we were in Rome, we had the chance to pray on the steps, the Scala Sancta, which Jesus Christ walked on (the day he was judged and crucified). Kneeling on all 28 steps and praying, it was easy to get caught up in the pain I was feeling, but I remembered the sacrifice that Jesus made for each of us and I felt his immense love for all. The second experience I found to be extremely powerful was adoration at the World Youth Day vigil with Pope Francis. To look around and see 3 million young Catholic adults kneeling, holding candles, and adoring our Lord is something words truly cannot describe.
What did you learn? I think that it easy to feel alone in your faith in this day and age. Being away at college, I met for the first time people who do not have any faith. It saddened me, but to be at World Youth Day and to see the Universal Church, I know that I am not alone in my beliefs. This experience has strengthened me to go out and evangelize my faith.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? Does watching Father Meyer dancing count? His enthusiasm for World Youth Day is contagious. He drew many pilgrims from around the world to our group and I really enjoyed meeting them all.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? Even though we were told to prepare physically, mentally, and spiritually, I did not fully understand the intensity of this pilgrimage. I learned that coming with a joyful spirit and prayer you can overcome any hardship you are faced with.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Seeing the relics from the beginning of our faith, walking on the same ground as saints and popes, and being in the presence of Pope Francis only deepened my love for my faith. Learning about our history makes me appreciate where we are today and where we are going in the future.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? Absolutely! To experience and witness our faith in this setting is something you will never experience elsewhere. Seeing our faith on a universal level is humbling. We are not alone; God is everywhere. Young adults are not the future Church; we are the living Church now.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt the closest to God during our pilgrim walk to the vigil. The weather was not ideal; I was hot, tired, and thirsty, but I kept thinking of Jesus’ walk carrying his cross to his crucifixion. Knowing that our goal was to be with the Pope, three million young adults, and our Lord in adoration made the walk so worth it. I knew God was with us and put us each in that moment for a reason.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? We are very fortunate in America to have religious freedom. I have never experienced or known someone who has been persecuted for their Catholic faith. Hearing the young woman talk about having to flee her country to escape persecution shined a new light on our faith for me.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? Having Mass in Zurich was something I never expected to happen. When Fr. Meyer told us we would be leaving the airport to find a church to have Mass in, I wasn’t really sure to expect. Arriving at the church and the hospitality we were shown was something I know none of us will ever forget.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? Hearing Pope Francis speak and calling the youth to make something of ourselves is something I will always remember and use. He made the comment, “He calls you to leave a mark on history”. I think this is not only motivating but also reassuring knowing that God has plans for us to do great things with our lives.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend, if you were looking at someone in the eye, who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? Thank you, thank you, thank you! This experience will forever have an impact on my faith and it has changed me a young Catholic.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? This pilgrimage has ignited a fire within me to live out my faith, to not be ashamed of it, and to evangelize to bring others to the love of our Lord. I have always felt a need to help others; this is why I chose to be a nurse and go to Xavier. At college we are called to be “men and women for others,” and this experience only deepens my hope to make a difference to those around me. With this being the Year of Mercy, walking through the Holy Doors of Mercy, and being at WYD with its theme “Blessed are the Merciful” makes me realize that we need mercy in our world. Our world, country, town, and homes would be so different if we applied this to our everyday lives. We are called to be like our Lord and live a life of love and mercy.
WYD Reflections ~ Brie Fox
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? My most powerful experience was praying on my knees on the same 28 stairs Jesus walked on before he was crucified.
What did you learn? I learned that our faith is universal, and we are not in this alone.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? Just enjoying the company of my friends while singing and dancing.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I discovered that kindness can be found everywhere; even in the smallest of actions.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes, I have learned more about the importance of relics. They make our faith more tangible.
Would you encourage others to attend a WY; if yes, why? Yes, It is a once in a lifetime opportunity that will give you a whole new perspective.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? Adoration.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? I experienced it with millions of people from all around the world, which was a new experience for me.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I was surprised by how welcoming and friendly the native Polish people were. I also did not expect the other countries to know so much about the United States of America. They seemed so intrigued by us and asked us questions like “who are you voting for?”, and/or “which state are you from?”
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? My favorite speakers were the married couple that said with God’s help they were lead to a beautiful marriage and had the family of their dreams even though they could not have kids of her own.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? Thank you I appreciate your support, what you contributed allowed us to have a wonderful experience!
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? I will show mercy to those around me, even if it is hard.
WYD Reflections ~ Glen Geraci
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? When we went to the stairs that we had to kneel all the way up.
What did you learn? To always be open to your religion.
What was the funniest experience? The dance off on the bus featuring snoop double G, aka Glenn Geraci.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? That prayer can be very powerful.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? Yes, because it is definitely a once in a lifetime chance. It's very powerful and it's great to see over 2 million people gathered in one country.
When did you feel closes to God at WYD? At the place where you had to kneel up the stairs, and also when we were in the arena and everyone was singing loud. It was very beautiful.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? No matter where you are at in the world, the church will always be the same.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I was surprised by how dirty Italy was and all of the smart cars that were driven.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say? I would thank them for donating to the trip and helping us to go on the trip of a lifetime.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? It’s going to show me that no matter what is going on in the world, there is at least one good person in every country and to not take that for granted.
WYD Reflections ~ Olivia Geraci
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? The most powerful experience that I had at World Youth Day was when I, my two cousins, and my brother were walking to our place at the overnight site. The day was hot: we were tired, hungry, and very dehydrated, so we decided to say a few prayers as we weaved through the group. About five minutes after our prayers, a man with a few kids came up to me and asked if I had an empty water bottle, I nodded, and he poured his water into my cup so that myself and three others could keep going. It was a very vivid and real experience of how God answers our prayers.
What did you learn? I learned my true strength. Even though it was hard at most time and walking far distances wasn’t always easy, I kept going, and when it did get hard I knew I could look up and ask God for help. It never failed.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? The most fun experience was walking through the streets of Poland with thousands of people from around the world and hearing everyone’s chants.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? Personally, I learned that I am a lot stronger than I thought I was. I never looked to God for strength; I always thought it was just something I had to gain by myself. When I did look to God for strength, I felt better than I ever had.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Most definitely. While in Rome, we had the opportunity to see some very real church relics. I think seeing and not just believing really helped me believe in my faith more.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? YES! Even if you are so in touch with your faith it is such a good way to get away and experience with other people all around the world it really renews the importance of the faith.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt the closest with God during the last night in the field. In my head I was thinking of all the horrible things that could happen, especially with everything going on in the world, but God kept every single person safe, and it was incredible.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? While most of the Masses at WYD were in different languages I could still understand what was going on, so it just goes to show that we are one church.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I definitely was not expecting people from every corner of the world to know everything about America -- it was so amazing! When we would sing, people from Italy, Germany, Australia, Poland - everywhere - would sing too. It just goes to show how blessed I am to be able to live here.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? During one of the speeches, the Pope urged young people to not retire early in life. I think that’s something that I will remember when I get a little older: to never lose my spark and to keep believing in a really energetic way.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend, if you were looking at someone in the eye, who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? I don’t think the phrase “thank you” is nearly enough. I would explain how incredible it was and how it really impacted my life. It is a journey that I will relive the rest of my life; it is something that will never be erased from my memory.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? Prior to this pilgrimage, prayer was not something that I did very often and most of the time I didn’t think it worked. Now that I have experienced it in such a true way, I pray multiple times a day just for clarity. It really shapes my day and ultimately helps me make decisions and deal with things. Also, another thing that really changed me was not being too ignorant of the rest of the world, I am so interested now in learning and keeping up with other countries, just as they do with us.
WYD Reflections ~ Megan Hay
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? The most powerful experience for me personally was going to adoration at St. Peter’s Basilica. There were hundreds of people in the Basilica itself but only a few worshipers in the adoration chapel. I finally found the quiet I was looking for. While praying, an overwhelming sense of peace overcame me. I have never felt closer to Christ as I did in that moment.
What did you learn? I learned a lot about our faith and Divine Mercy on this trip. I learned that we are all called to confess our sins and accept His great mercy and about how we should show mercy to those around us as well. I also learned that attitude really is everything and staying positive can affect how enjoyable your trip is!
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? The most fun for me was all the singing and dancing that happened! I loved walking down the street or on the tram singing out loud. People from other countries would join us or we would join them in song. The unity and positivity that came from it was beautiful. I also really love dancing so randomly…breaking it down was loads of fun!
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned that I really appreciate kindness and being nice to people. I also discovered that I really dislike confrontation of any form even if I’m not directly involved. Along with this, I learned something really important about my future. On the vigil night in the field, my sleeping bag was positioned right next to the medic tents. Right before closing mass on Sunday, I watched as one medic struggled helping a girl walk to the tents. Before they could make it, she passed out and the medic had to catch her and carry her inside. For some reason, a very strong gut feeling came over me as I was watching this. The feeling told me to help people like this. Now, I know I want to help people in the future.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? I don’t think I’ll ever fully understand the Church but I think the Church is supposed to be shrouded in mystery in some ways. Did I open myself up to the power of the Holy Spirit during this trip? Yes. I’m sure through the power of the Holy Spirit that my understanding of the Church did deepen a little but it happened in ways that I do not understand.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? Yes! WYD was an experience like no other. I had so much fun and I got a lot closer to God in just a week’s time! It allowed me to experience another culture and changed me in ways that I never thought was possible.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? During WYD, I probably felt closest to God during adoration in the field. I say probably because I felt God nearby during everything we did at WYD! Adoration with Pope Francis definitely brought me closer to God though.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? Before this adventure, I don’t think I have ever properly experienced the Universal Church. Seeing people from all over the world and not even knowing their name yet realizing that you already have something in common, your faith, is amazing. Looking around and seeing that all these youths love God as much as you do is something that everyone needs to experience. It’s breathtaking.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I’m surprised by how nice all the natives to the area were. I did not expect to be greeted with such open arms. The man at the Catholic Church in Zurich, Switzerland bought us water, set up the chapel, set out flowers just for us, and paid for a bus to take some of us back to the airport. He went over and beyond for people he had never met! Then in Poland, a lot of the houses had signs that said “welcome” in all different languages. I have never felt so welcomed in my entire life and I wasn’t even in my home country!
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? I think the speaker that touched me the most was the girl who talked to us at the catechesis site. I think she was from Iraq (or Iran). She talked about the hardships she had to go through. She said one thing that really stuck out at me. She was talking about how she prays for the terror groups that caused the hardships in her home country. It seemed like such an odd thing to do at first but after thinking about it, I realized it makes perfect sense! They definitely need some prayers in their life.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? I would say thank you for changing my life because ultimately, that’s what they did. They provided me with an experience that I will never forget and for that I am deeply indebted to them. Other than that, words can’t describe how thankful I am to them.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? This experience has changed me in a very positive way! I’m stronger in my faith and more willing to spread the Good News! It has encouraged me to pray more often, too. Along with this, I am more outgoing and positive in general. It has changed my outlook on life!
WYD Reflections ~ Samantha Hensley
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? The most powerful experience I can recall would be climbing the Holy Stairs or Scala Sancta in Rome where Jesus once walked. Each moment and prayer of every step was humbling and surreal. It was amazing to climb the stairs with so many in silence and reverence that I wish I could have experienced in some of the basilicas.
What did you learn? I learned how truly universal the Eucharist is. To watch a field of millions transfer from chaos, craziness, and rowdiness to calming, awestruck, and hopeful all because of the unity of faith that our Lord is fully present with us, taught me that no matter what language we speak or what our culture is we understand the universal truth that Jesus died for the salvation of every single one of us.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? I would definitely describe our bus rides as some of the most whole group fun. Whether it be due to our amazing tour guides, dancing, singing and chanting our patriotism and faith, playing card games, or having great conversation these were the times when the whole group was filled with laughter even if we were delirious and sleep deprived at times.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned that I have the ability to find patience deep within when I am exhausted and burned out on being around massive amounts of people in unknown places. This was something I was concerned about going on this pilgrimage, because I often prefer to do things on my own or by myself. I wasn’t as overwhelmed as I expected myself to be.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? I think I developed a deeper understanding of why tradition is so important in the Catholic faith. While traveling to many places with deep roots in the beginnings and history of our faith, especially in Rome, I have a better understanding of why we continue to do things today as we have since our faith began. When you see St. Peter’s Basilica you understand we are meant to have a strong leader for our faith just as He trusted Peter to lead the church as our first pope. I continued to develop this understanding and why it is worth fighting for when we celebrated Mass at The Ark church in Krakow. Knowing that we were celebrating our faith in the place where Catholics defeated communism to do just the same thing years and years earlier allows me a greater appreciation of my freedom to practice my own faith.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? I would definitely encourage others to attend WYD, because everyone and anyone can get something out of it. It is a great challenge and experience for anyone to have.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God in our smaller Mass celebrations at St. Peter’s Basilica in the morning with Archbishop Tobin, at St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, and the ones in The Ark Church. It was nice to remove ourselves from the large groups and take time to refocus why we were truly on this pilgrimage in a more intimate setting.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? I was able to experience the Universal Church in a new way by witnessing and observing Catholics from every country tune into different radio stations to understand and celebrate the same Mass that we do at home. It was a completely new experience to be surrounded by millions of people all plugged into earbuds, full of eagerness to hear and understand the words of Pope Francis in the hopes to hear them and then live out these words in their respective countries.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I was surprised by the positivity and flexibility of our pilgrimage group. As a coach and a teacher I am put in a position to lead and work in many group settings. I often times hear much negativity either about individual members or roles of authority, so it was very surprising and refreshing to travel with such a large group and to have the level of positivity that we did. It was greatly appreciated and very helpful while traveling.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? It is hard to top Papa Francesco and the grace of his words and wisdom. One thing that particularly stuck with me was a time when he was talking about youth responding to all of the violence, crime, and hate in the world. From what I remember he was discussing a war on brotherhood and that our response as youth should be to live selfless lives and go out and serve and love those that need it the most. It is easy to stay self-focused and become a “couch potato,” but it is necessary to get out and actively live our faith. I hope to use and carry this message with our Youth Ministry to help them understand it is not enough just to say you are Catholic and show up at a few events, it is how we should choose to live our faith every day.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? My first words would be words of thanks, appreciation, and gratitude which would be followed by an invitation to their questions and what parts of the trip they want to know about. When people take the time to invest in your life experiences it is important to want to return the interest and share how their investment has impacted you.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? This pilgrimage has changed me by reaffirming Catholicism for me as a whole. There are often times when I question how much I support some components of our faith that I may not think are ‘with them times’ or fit into my current life. This pilgrimage has shown me how deeply rooted our faith is and that there is no reason to change many of the aspects of what we believe because they still hold true for today’s Catholics.
WYD Reflections ~ Lucy Herth
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? This pilgrimage was filled with powerful experiences. These experiences taught me how loving, merciful, all knowing, and how present God is in my life. But the number one powerful experience at World Youth Day was at the vigil while doing adoration. All the youth from every nation at World Youth Day spoke different languages, but during adoration I knew I had something in common with every one of them, the love for our Lord. All youth from every nation were kneeling with candles for the love of Jesus. It was silent, the sky was beautiful, and the view of 2 million people kneeling left me speechless.
What did you learn? I learned so much every single day. There was not a day that went by that I didn't learn something. While in Rome, I learned so much about saints when I went to all the different churches. In most churches there were relics of Jesus, martyrs, and saints. My favorite church, and the most informative to me, was Saint Paul Outside the Walls. I learned that St. Paul’s tomb, where he was buried, is right inside the church. Bordering all the walls of this church were the past and present popes. There were a few blank spots left for the future popes. There is a legend, I learned, that once all of the spots are filled that is when Jesus will come again. (Don’t worry…there were like 10 spots left.)
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? This entire trip was fun!! I had so many great experiences starting off in Roma: we had a very strange but funny tour guide, and she definitely set the tone for our trip. “Guyza” she would say; she said the strangest things, but they are stuck with me forever. I would say the most fun I had on the trip is when we were singing. We passed the American embassy and sang all of the American songs we knew; when we ran out, we broke out YouTube and looked up songs to sing (the other bus was jealous). While in Poland we even sang on the tram all the way to the hotel, and one day some French people were requesting songs and singing along with us (we even sang a few Christmas songs). Going with the All Saints group of people definitely made my trip because we were such a fun, outgoing, funny group to be around.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned that I have such a blessed life. Listening to all of the speakers at World Youth Day about their life, where they came from, and how they got there made me so thankful. I was so thankful because I was born into a Catholic family and I never had to suffer like these other countries and test my faith, or be afraid to practice my faith.
Have you deepened your understanding of the church? If yes, in what way? Yes, how the Catholic faith came to be.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? Yes, definitely!! WYD is something I will always remember. It helped me understand and appreciate the Catholic Church and its teachings so much more. You attend Mass with the Pope and 2 million youth of all walks of life. Walking around, seeing everyone singing, dancing, and laughing makes you so happy and you want to join in. Having people just come up to you to talk is so amazing. It is amazing because we do come from different worlds, but know you both have one thing in common: the love of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is an experience that will change your life for the best.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God at World Youth Day when I went to all the beautiful churches and was praying.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? I experienced the Universal Church in a new way when we went to the opening Mass and it was in a different language, but you still know what was going on and being said.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? What surprised me the most is how loving everyone was. I always felt safe everywhere I went even with everything going on in on world.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? My favorite speaker who touched me the most was Pope Francis. The message when he talked about young people retiring to early really spoke to me, because I do see it in today’s society and I will remember that speech so I will not retire too early and stay young.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? I would say thank you so much for financially helping me go on the WYD pilgrimage. It was a trip I will remember forever. You allowed me to live out my faith and experience it with the entire world. I cannot thank you enough, and I am truly blessed to have you as a part of my life.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you, how will you be different? This pilgrimage has changed me for the better, as I am so much more appreciative for everything I have and so thankful for where I grew up. Listening to all the speakers showed me how truly blessed I am. After going to Rome and Poland there is no way I could ever doubt my religion. I saw things first hand, right in front of me, it was just so real and I knew there could be no other way.
WYD Reflections ~ Jessica Hoffman
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? The most powerful experience that I had was praying the Scala Sancta or the Holy Stairs. Being in an area where Jesus had walked and being able to pray to him in such a manner was very profound.
What did you learn? I learned a lot about the history of Jesus and the Catholic Church on this pilgrimage. To be able to see Jesus Christ as a historical figure was a big eye-opener to my faith.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? One of the experiences that was the most fun was getting to know others, whether they were from our groups or from people around the world. It was awesome being able to connect with others. Another experience that was enjoyable was singing as a group in the streets. It was such a joy to listen to others join in and really getting excited about a group from the USA. We hear so many negative comments about the USA that it was great to see others get enjoyment from our presence there.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned that I have a large capacity to let Jesus into my life. For many years, I feel as though he was missing and I experienced that he can do great things with my life if I just let him. I feel very fortunate for the blessings that I have already received and I know that if I let Him into my heart more, that even greater things can happen.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? I feel that I have just a small glimpse of what it is like to be a part of the Universal Catholic Church. With more than 2.5 million individuals gathered to celebrate our faith, I learned that the Catholic faith is truly worldwide and even more importantly, alive!
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD, if yes, why? I would encourage other to attend WYD if they are interested in deepening their faith and celebrating their faith with others. While it does come with its own set of unique challenges, it was worth the sacrifice.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God during our trip to Rome. To actually see and experience the churches that were built in his honor and to learn the history behind the time of Jesus was extraordinary. Standing in places where individuals from the Bible were laid to rest was astounding.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? Our pilgrimage allowed me to see the Universal Church as just that, a universal church. A church in which no matter where you go in the world, Mass is celebrated generally the same and we can connect, even though the languages may be different.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I am surprised by how much my faith has deepened. While I was open to it and even expecting it, I did not expect a revelation such that I had on this journey.
During WYD, we heard many speakers, which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use?
During WYD we listened to many speakers about their own journey to their faith. One of the speakers that reached me the most was a girl from Iraq. She spoke of how dangerous it was to celebrate the Catholic faith and the many dangerous experiences her family and friends had had. We often hear about the war taking place in the Middle East, and it was truly touching to hear a personal testimony of what it is like. Also, Pope Francis had a message that reached me personally. He stated that many young people retire before their time and become boring. Having fallen into a certain routine the last few years, it really opened my eyes and made me realize that I need to be more active and more adventurous in my life, both spirituality and physically.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend, if you were looking at someone in the eye, who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? First and foremost, thank you for helping me change into a person I hoped to be. Please know that your sacrifices were not in vain. I truly had a once in a lifetime experience and will be forever better because of this opportunity.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? This pilgrimage has helped me have more faith in the questions that I do not have an answer to and to be patient and wait for an answer. It has also taught me to be more proactive in my faith. I hope to be more patient and understanding and celebrate my faith with others.
WYD Reflections ~ Stephanie Hoffman
The most powerful experience that occurred during the pilgrimage was actually a string of connections that really spoke to me. It first started with praying on the steps that Jesus climbed, but this was just the beginning. At Mass that same day at St. Mary Major, I realized that this is how it should be... all about Him. The design of the side chapel in the larger church made it all about him with the way we were all surrounding him. With this distinct memory continually reoccurring during the duration of the trip, one particular catechesis speech hit me the most. The topic was about the crosses that we wear and how it was all "for me!" I knew this before the trip, but I really didn't KNOW this. But now I have seen, looked at, studied, observed and questioned, the connection is more real to me now than it has ever been. The final profound connection that really solidified this awakening was at the Stations of the Cross. The images and art presented are burned into my memory. It made it all the more real to me.
I had no clue that a church could have more than one Mass going on at a time. Many of the beautiful churches that we visited, prayed in, and had Mass had multiple altars in one area; side chapels and adoration chapels all in one place of worship. This worship continued outside of the wall of the churches because we were surrounded by so many that were there also with youthful joy and love for Christ. On the tram, I met a Frenchman that also had a priest that took care of four churches. Those churches were 900 years old though. This was just one experience that show me that we do belong to a "Universal Church".
Anyone that has a desire to deepen their faith and devotion really should consider attending a World Youth Day experience. I have never witnessed so much love and devotion in one place; of course, I don't think that I have ever been surrounded by 2.5 million+ people before either. I know that each person is on their own path, but WYD will have something for everyone which will help them come closer to the Lord.
The experience showed me the importance of stepping back for reflection and prayer time. I loved having the time for Mass scheduled in daily. It was disappointing not to have that devotional time set aside when I arrived home, and I miss it already. So, as I move forward I plan on changing the amount of time I spend in prayer, reflection, and listening to him. It may not result in daily Mass, but those stops at stop lights or the time while folding socks has really come in handy as times to pray and reflect in the everyday busy life.
Thank you, Father, for all your time to make this trip happen! I wish I would have taken a trip like this earlier. I know that it will have immeasurable positive outcomes in the future for all involved, giving those that invested in us their money's worth plus some.
WYD Reflections ~ Maria Keck
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? There were so many powerful experiences for me... I was particularly moved by the climbing of the Sancta Scala, or "Holy Stairs" in Rome. These were the stairs that Jesus walked up when he received His sentence to death from Pilot. The stairs were transferred to Rome in the fourth century by St. Helena and now lead up to the Sancta Sanctorum, or the Holy of Holies, in the old personal chapel of the popes, the Chapel of St. Lawrence. It is tradition to reverence these steps by climbing them on your knees and offering a different prayer intention with each step. This experience was mind-blowingly intense because it brought us close to Christ in his suffering in a whole new way. We physically felt the stairs that He climbed, and could imagine the emotions He felt as He began the journey of offering His life for us. Our offering of prayer as we climbed these stairs was a beautiful way to unite us with Christ and His passion.
What did you learn? I learned that the Catholic Church is alive, vibrant, and well-equipped to change the world. I learned that with enough prayer and grace, anyone can be changed in order to live for Christ. I learned that we have a duty as Catholics to put forth the effort and to work together for a Christ-centered world. I learned that we are stronger than we could ever imagine.
What was the funniest experience? The fact that some random pilgrim from All Saints has model photos of Fr. Meyer, Fr. Dustin, and Fr. Hollowell that Irene took on his/her iPhone 6.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I discovered that I am truly capable of turning suffering into a joyful prayer. Though what we "suffered" was nothing in comparison to the suffering of Jesus or the martyrs, we were still able to share in an experience of exhaustion, hunger, and extreme frustration. And because of this, we were given the opportunity to offer this up to our Lord and to turn it into a prayer. I think I realized this big time during our hike to Blonia field and during the time we spent waiting for our food. Many people were being rude and angry, and it took a lot for the Arch Indy group to joyfully push onward as Christians. This experience taught me that God's grace is always enough, and that all I need to do is trust in Him through any difficult times, to focus on Him and only him. If I do this, I know that He will lead me out of the fire; maybe not unscathed, but certainly stronger than when I started.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes! This is an awesome question because I think my understanding of the Church deepened in two ways: first, in a historical sense, vertically, across time, if you will. Having the opportunity to pray in places like St. Peter's Basilica, and to visit the tombs of St. John Paul the Second, and St. Paul, to see relics of the true cross and the wood of Jesus' manger, to walk in the catacombs where Christians of the past buried their dead... all of this gave me an idea of just how deeply rooted our faith is, and also how well-preserved it is.
The second way my faith deepened was across the expanse of our modern Church-- horizontally, I'll say. Being united with faithful, excited, young Catholics from across the globe and seeing the joy that each and every one of them found in their faith brought me so much hope. It showed me that we are not alone in our faith, and that there must be a reason for all of this crazy World Youth Day stuff. I mean, let's be honest: what other religion can boast a tri-yearly gathering of two million of their most vulnerable, moldable minds? And from countries across the entire world. It's incredible to be a part of something universal and so cohesive.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? YES YES YES. Although we all have similar outward experiences while attending WYD, each one of us has a different internal experience... a different spiritual revelation or encounter. All I can say is WYD will change you in a way that you need to be changed. All you have to do is hand yourself over to Christ and beg Him for the grace to be changed. He will change you.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? My closest encounters with God were all very internal. I would say the most intense was during and right after I went to confession. I believe this was on Wednesday or Thursday in Kraków at the Mercy Centre. I cried profusely during confession and confessed my most ugly sins, also admitting that I was afraid of myself and the near and present danger of committing them again. The priest comforted me and spoke to me as Christ, telling me that Jesus is always waiting to forgive me, no matter how many times I fail. After I left confession, I fell to my knees in front of the Blessed Sacrament in adoration. In that moment I felt so loved, so completely at home in God's embrace. It was beautiful.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? It was incredible in every gathering how we could all be listening to the Pope, or singing the WYD theme song in 50 different languages, and still be listening or singing the same things. The same beliefs. The same faith. It was beautiful.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? Having traveled to Rio de Janeiro for WYD in 2013, I had a lot of preconceived ideas of what WYD Kraków would be like. Fortunately, God always has lovely little surprises for us. Things in Kraków didn't quite go as smoothly when it came to logistics and planning, and although they were small issues, like waiting in line with rude people and running out of food, they still caught me off guard. But I'm grateful for these struggles because they taught me to pray in ways I haven't quite learned. #blessed
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say? You have no idea what your support has done for all of us. Your donation was worth every penny because you helped to change the lives and hearts of many young people. We will never be able to thank you enough.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you, how will you be different? While I was in Kraków, I made a promise to change my life for the better. I did this a lot as a teenager, but being in my fourth year of college and really having made some bad decisions thus far in my life, I am now yearning for truth and peace. I discovered this in a profound way when I opened myself up to God's love in Kraków. Every time I prayed in Kraków, I begged for the courage to bring back the faith I had found there to my home and school, and for the grace to be able to share that faith, and to truly live it. I have been changed because I have found that God doesn't just want us to believe in Him, He wants us to LIVE for Him. This goal will not be easy, but I am determined, and I continue to beg for God's grace. Even though Kraków was inspirational and empowering, I know now that I MUST find that inspiration and empowerment here, in Ohio, because He is here, too, even if we don't see Him. He is everywhere, because we cannot live without Him.
WYD Reflections ~ Dalton Kuebel
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? The most impactful moment during our pilgrimage for me was the first step I took inside St. Peter’s Basilica. The sheer size of the church is like nothing I’ve experienced before. At every step you take is a masterfully made fresco, mosaic, sculpture, altar or column. The first morning in Rome we had the pleasure to have Mass with Archbishop Tobin at an altar dedicated to St. Jude and St. Simon, which also housed a tremendous mosaic behind the tabernacle. The altar was only steps from the main altar of the basilica, which made for a tremendously powerful Mass. Between the unbelievable architecture and pondering how man could handle such a tremendous undertaking without the use of modern equipment, I could barely believe what I was seeing. We prayed in a chapel with the Blessed Sacrament exposed and then moved to pray in front of the tomb of St. John Paul II. This really helped me see the history and power of the Catholic Church. The symbolism and meaning behind every single art piece and design of the basilica is also what made it so impactful for me. Nothing was in there by accident. If you ever make it to Italy, St. Peter’s in Vatican City should be very near the top of your list to go and see.
What did you learn? Throughout this pilgrimage, I learned that there is a lot more of the Catholic Church than what we can see in Southeastern Indiana. Although I love going to Mass at a parish where I know and recognize most of the population, it was eye-opening to see the Church on such a vast level like we did at WYD. When you put 3 million Catholics in 1 city for a week, tremendous things are bound to happen. Seeing WYD and the living church was extremely impactful for me, especially having seen the church and its history in Rome. Connecting the old, traditional ways of the Catholic Church into a massive, modern event full of the vibrant church was extremely insightful for me. I will never see the church only as some small parishes, but as small parishes as part of a worldwide tradition extending throughout the world and into lots of languages.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? The most fun I had while on pilgrimage was walking. We walked everywhere. You might think this is an odd answer, but walking was our way of touring Rome and encountering the people and relics of our Church. Walking in Krakow however, was one of the most unique and awe-inspiring things I’ve experienced. We would walk around the city hearing groups singing in other languages, waving at anyone and everyone, shouting out to countries when we knew where they were from because of the flag they were flying, and even starting and joining chants and cheers. No one was judgmental or too nervous or scared to just start singing or having a conversation with someone from a different nation. It was as if we all just came together like we had been around each other our whole lives and were comfortable around each other.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? After studying the saints and seeing how they’ve built up the church and even sacrificed their lives for its continuation, I understand the phrase “We’re all called to be saints.” I think this is something that didn’t mean a whole lot to me prior to this trip. Now seeing the caskets and tombs and relics of the saints and seeing where they walked and preached, I’ve seen a devotion in me open up to become more like them; to follow by example and help spread the Word via their help and guidance. If you’re lost or stuck in a rut, just pick up a book about a saint. It doesn’t really matter which one (St. John Paul II is a good start). Read and you’ll be inspired to rediscover who God made you to be. For me, learning about the 2 patron saints of WYD 2016, St. Faustina and St. John Paul II, has made the word “mercy” a tangible concept and something I can implement in my life and improve upon as I continue to study and pray for these saints’ intercessions.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? My understanding of the Church has furthered to see the Church as “catholic”, which literally means “universal.” We always hear about how there are millions of Catholics and how universal the church is, and we hear the pope talk in a different language; but when I heard songs of praise and worship sung in multiple languages and by people of different races and from different walks of life, it really hit me. The Church has accomplished something that I believe we have all taken advantage of and not really fully appreciated. One Lord and one church has brought together millions, no, billions of people throughout history and has brought them to believe in the same thing. This is an incredible feat and isn’t something to take lightly.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? I would encourage every person in every stage of their faith to go to a WYD. It is something that is unlike anything and everything you’ve ever imagined. Think about going to an NFL football game and the crowds that are there with you. Think about everyone in that stadium all cheering for 1 team. Now multiply that crowd by 100 and that team is our Lord. WYD is a gathering of faithful people that is unprecedented by any other event in the history of mankind. On top of having that large of a crowd, everyone can find a way to be friendly and joyous with one another and feel embraced by the church in a way that you’ve never experienced before. Panama 2019, I’ll see you there!
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God in our catechesis sessions in the mornings during WYD. Seeing celebrities of our faith up on stage talking about their experiences and showing us how to better our lives really impacted me. It also helped that they were speaking English. But the speakers really spoke to your inner necessity and desire to further your faith. To share Mass with so many people in an intimate setting, lead by cardinals of our Church, really struck me and helped motivate me to become the best version of myself. You could really feel and see God working in the speaker’s lives, showing us what they’ve learned and how they’ve managed even through very difficult times.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I didn’t expect to be so welcomed by the locals of Poland. I had this feeling that WYD was going to encroach on their lives and that they wouldn’t be open to having so many people flood their city and back up everything. But I experienced the opposite. Every Polish person I encountered seemed happy to have us and was participating in the event itself. We met a nice family on the tram one evening. The two boys were around 9 and 5 years old. Their parents wanted to show them WYD and how this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for their home town to hold such an event. They loved the people and the kids had so many wristbands and knick knacks that pilgrims had given to them, they were loving every second. We started to sing some songs that the kids knew and they joined in with us. One of the songs I remember singing was “Yellow Submarine.” They knew the words better than I! This was an experience I will not forget and hope to cherish for many years to come.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? I would say thank you. Thank you for helping us get to the Eternal City and Krakow. Thank you for helping me to experience the Church on a worldwide level and thank you for helping us meet the future of our Church. But most of all, thank you for allowing me and the rest of the pilgrims to experience God in a way none of us will ever forget. I think every person that went on the trip will come back with a plethora of stories and knowledge that will fuel them spiritually for many years to come. It would not have been possible without the help of our community, and for that I am forever grateful.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? This pilgrimage really showed me the power of prayer. Prayer means a lot of different things to different people. There are many types of prayer and many different ways to pray. This is something I struggled with seeing. Praying takes practice and maybe a little kick start is what I needed. But this pilgrimage really showed me that even though there are many different ways to pray, the important thing is to just pray. It may seem overwhelming to pray a certain amount of time on certain days of the week, but seeing the power prayer brings into our lives…you can’t afford not to pray! This is something that will be forever instilled upon me after this pilgrimage.
WYD Reflections ~ Ian May
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? Praying the Holy Stairs.
What experience was the most fun? Meeting all the different people.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? How much more time I need to give to the Lord.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes, I could see the history of the church in a real and actual way.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? Yes, because you see the church alive.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? During the closing Mass with the Pope.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? I saw how the church was united by people from all over the world.
Looking back, what surprised you, what experience did you not expect to happen? Getting so close to the Pope.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say? Thank you – this pilgrimage changed my life for the better. I am a better man due to this experience.
WYD Reflections ~ Amanda McCann
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? For me, personally, it was the Mass we had at St. Paul's Basilica. I don't know why, but that Mass was by far the best I have ever been to in my entire life. I don't know what made it so inspiring…maybe it was because St. Paul had a connection to my confirmation saint (Saint Phoebe) who I have been praying to, or the homily Fr. Hollowell gave about vocations, but I walked out of that Mass with an entirely different view on my faith.
What did you learn? I didn't realize before how much art is involved with the church, which I saw in the Vatican museum and the basilicas. I also learned more about the history of the church as we toured around Rome.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? One of the days we were in Krakow, we all split up into our groups after catechesis. After my group ate, we made our way to the field for Stations of the Cross but we stopped at this square where all these people were gathered. There was a fountain in the middle that a lot of people had climbed on and were waving their flags and singing so loud they were screaming. I would have joined them but I had no idea what they were saying. Anyway, my group just went around trading items and giving people free hugs. Just seeing so many happy people brought together like that I thought was so much fun and left me with the biggest smile on my face.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned to appreciate a lot of things that I would normally have taken for granted. Like bottled water. Or being too picky about whatever food was placed in front of me.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes. When we saw the relics of our Lord's Passion and went up the Scala Sancta and saw the Last Supper table and manger, all of those just helped me to understand and realize exactly what our faith is about.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? YES! It is a great way to embrace your faith, meet other Catholics from around the world, see the Pope in person, and overall have the most life-changing experience you will ever have, hopefully growing closer to our Lord along the way.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? When we did adoration with Pope Francis at the Saturday night vigil. I love beautiful sunsets, and the timing could not have been better for one to happen during the benediction that evening. On the screen I was watching from, the camera was placed so that it showed the monstrance with the beautiful sunset behind it. It was beautiful.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? By meeting all those other Catholics from around the world. It didn't matter that we didn't speak the same language. Everyone was smiling, hugging, and trading things and we were all so happy!
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I was not expecting to receive that touching experience during the Mass at St. Paul's Basilica. It's funny because that basilica wasn't even the biggest or most beautiful one we visited! In fact, at first it seemed a little plain compared to the other ones, until I saw the back half of it. Then everything just fell into place.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? The speaker that touched me the most was the nun from Saint Faustina's order. Before she started her talk, she had everyone in the arena take a crucifix and hold it in their hands. When she ended her talk, she asked us to turn the cross around and look at the empty side of it and she said something along the lines of "That empty spot is for you" and that we are called each day to take up our cross and follow Jesus.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? I can't thank you enough for giving me this opportunity of a lifetime. Without your generosity and support I would have never been able to experience the best time of my life I have had on this pilgrimage.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different?
Every Mass I celebrate now reminds me of the opening Mass we had with the Pope. I'm half expecting to turn around in church and see people waving flags and speaking in different languages. Also, ever since that inspiration I received during the Mass at St. Paul's Basilica, I've felt the need to start looking up retreats and praying more about what God wants to do with my life instead of what I want.
WYD Reflections ~ Renee McCann
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? The most powerful experience that I had was on the Holy Stairs. To actually step foot where Jesus himself walked on Good Friday, and pray on each step, was incredible. Words cannot fully describe the feeling I got when I walked through the doors and saw the stairs. (I had to pinch myself several times to make sure I wasn't actually dreaming.)
What did you learn? I learned so much about my faith and about myself, in who I am and my purpose on this earth. I learned history and culture about the Church, my faith, and just each country's way of life itself.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? For me, what I would describe as the "most fun" was bonding with the group, from singing and chanting through the streets to the sleepless nights in airports and buses and making new friends. The entirety of the pilgrimage in itself has been one of the most fun, inspiring, educational, and profound experiences I have ever had.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned that I was a lot stronger than I had previously thought, in mind, body, and spirit. I came to a deeper understanding with my faith, and because of that I feel like I have come to a better understanding of myself. This pilgrimage also helped me take a leap of faith and finally make a decision that has been weighing on my mind for close to two years now: what I am going to do with my life. I feel like I have taken a giant leap forward in getting to where God wants me to be.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Absolutely. I feel renewed in my faith in every way possible. I have never been so immersed in my faith like I was on this pilgrimage, and I feel so much more connected to God.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD? If yes, why? Again, absolutely. I have already talked to a couple of my friends about attending WYD in 2019, encouraging them to go. It will change your way of life, your views on life, and enhance your faith. You will feel so much more connected to God and the Church.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? At the Holy Stairs and on the walk to the vigil. As we walked to the field where the vigil was going to be and got stuck behind the masses of people waiting in line, dehydrated and feeling sick from the heat, all I could think about was what it was like for Jesus when he carried his cross. Though there is no comparison, I felt closer to him, like I was suffering a bit. The suffering was worth it once we reached the field and the vigil began; sleeping out under the stars also made me feel a bit closer to God.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? Before this pilgrimage, I never really understood how universal our faith was. To go to any church, and attend the Masses during WYD itself, and find that they were almost completely the same as back home, was a bit of an eye-opener to me. To realize that every Catholic around the world shares the same faith and celebrates Mass in almost the same way we do really made me feel connected to everybody. To me, it was an absolutely amazing experience.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? As I mentioned before, the Universal Church surprised me. I don't know why, but I never expected it to be so similar. What I did not expect to happen was getting stuck behind the masses of people on our walk to the vigil site. I tried to prepare myself for any kind of situation, and I left for this pilgrimage with an open heart so I wasn't really surprised per say at much else, but I never expected how crazy it would be with everybody like it was. No amount of preparation could have prepared me for that.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? Pope Francis, particularly during his speech when he said that we "didn't come into this world to vegetate, to make our lives a comfortable sofa to fall asleep on. No, we came for another reason: to leave a mark." In today's world, the majority of people are addicted to the internet and all its different forms of social media. People do a whole lot of talking, and not enough acting. If each person goes out into the world and even makes the smallest difference, the tiniest change, and touches at least one person, imagine the difference it would make. All of Pope Francis' talks spoke to me, but this part in particular did. I have my own personal issues dealing with standing up for myself or speaking out and spreading my faith the way I should, so this really cut close to home. I realize the importance of standing up for what I believe in, and this has renewed in me the desire to spread my faith across all ends of the world, even if it means beginning with one small person.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? "Thank you for giving me the opportunity to live what God desires from me.”
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? I have answered a bit of this throughout all my responses, but this pilgrimage has opened my eyes to many things. It has changed me in the fact that I feel renewed in my faith, and that I need to get up and spread my faith throughout the world just by starting with one person. This pilgrimage also gave me the push I needed to decide what I am going to do with my life, as I was terrified of making the decision and commitment before. I was afraid of cost and devoting my time to something that I'm not guaranteed a job in, and in just studying something so intense in general. I was too worried about all the worldly aspects that I never stopped to truly pray to God about what I should do. After coming home, I know exactly what I am to do. Because I feel renewed in my faith, I hope to be different by strengthening my prayer life the way I need to and delving back into learning and participating more. This pilgrimage has changed me in a way that words cannot describe. I feel renewed in faith, and healed from past mistakes. God is good.
WYD Reflections ~ Darlene Murray
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? Seeing the artifacts that came from Jesus' Crucifixion and being able to witness people praying the steps that he too walked.
What did you learn? No matter how messed up this world seems at times people all over the world still have their faith in God. We were witness to this as we all gathered together in the field and prayed.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? Our tour guide Irene. She made everything fun but also educational.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? How the people in other countries love the USA but especially in Poland. They were so receptive of us. Their waving out of their windows and on the sidelines as we passed.
During WYD, we heard many speaker. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use?
The Sister of Mercy. She said when we pray we must first thank God for loving us then proceed with our blessings and request.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? It was the most moving religious experience of my life. I hope others have the opportunity to have the same experience.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you, how will you be different? I know my faith is deeper than before. I will try to share not only the experience but the love of Jesus with all I meet.
WYD Reflections ~ Patsy Oehlman
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? We entered St. Peter’s Basilica very early in the morning, before 7:00 a.m. The Basilica is not open to the general public until 9:00. I had no idea there were so many altars in the Basilica, and as we passed each one, there was a priest saying the Mass, most of the time alone, a few had a small group of maybe 5-6 people. It just touched my heart to think that all these Masses were celebrated each and every day in honor of our Lord and Savior. The significance of the altar really stuck out in my mind.
Our group of 104 was heading to the St. Joseph Altar to hear the Mass celebrated by our very own Archbishop Joseph Tobin of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
What did you learn? I learned more detailed information about our faith and church: Vatican City, the Basilica, the Vatican Museum, Rome, the Sistine Chapel, the many churches and basilicas of Rome, the Catacombs, St. John Paul the II, St. Faustina, andthe history of Krakow, Poland. It was a wonderful experience/trip.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? I really enjoyed the group trips into Rome in the evening, singing, touring the city as a group. It was a lot of fun!
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I struggle day in and day out to be in the moment. As Father Meyer put it to the group on our trip “Participate don’t anticipate”. Throughout the trip, minute by minute, I had to say this to myself. As I mentioned I struggle to just be and let be. I want to plan, know my every move and so, I tried to let go and let God.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? I suppose deep inside of me there is a tiny bit of Thomas in me; seeing is truly helpful in a stronger belief/faith. Actually getting to experience and see the grave of our first pope, Peter, to see the steps that Jesus walked on, to see the ruins of the Romans, and the wood from the manger and cross made our faith become so much more real and maybe deeper for me.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? Yes, to have the chance to attend a Mass celebrated by the Pope. To see so many other young people with such a strong faith in God from so many parts of the world is awesome. To experience and see all the nationalities as ONE BODY IN CHRIST, was phenomenal! So cool!! The struggles you go through to get to that point helps you to appreciate even more what Jesus Christ went through for us.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? When the Pope blessed us with the Holy Eucharist (in the Monstrance) during the Benediction.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? The days leading up to the closing Mass, I felt such solidarity as we were in catechesis, traveling around the city, and moving towards the culmination of the pilgrimage. We were all there for one thing and that was God as our savior, our merciful God.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? This is kind of a funny thing to mention, but I was very anxious about the night of the vigil, even months before the trip, I was not excited about this part of the trip what so ever. For many reasons, one being, I thought I would not sleep a wink and that I would end up sick. I actually came down with an upper respiratory virus early on in the trip and really did not get much sleep leading up to the vigil. I still was very nervous about the whole day and night, to the extent that I planned to leave and go back to my room before night fall. I prayed many times for God to get me through this night. Well, surprisingly enough, I crawled into my sleeping bag around 10:00 and woke up only once, and did not get up again until around 7 a.m. on Sunday morning. It is silly, but I also hated the thought of using port-a-let, but actually my experience with that was not bad at all. In saying all this, I believe I was at peace in the Lord and just let go, and it was good. J
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? I believe it was Cardinal Timothy Dolan; he spoke about how much God loves us, and stressed that God loves us first!
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye, who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? It was an unbelievable experience with so many emotions. As an older adult attending the celebration, it was so real, and witnessing the faith of so many young adults whose faith was so strong and alive amd seeing the church in a very different light was amazing.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? I think my faith is stronger, seeing the old history of the church in Rome, and then witnessing the young church in Krakow, as I saw so many nationalities coming together for one True God!
WYD Reflections ~ Sarah Oehlman
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? An experience that really touched me and stands out was our time praying on the Holy Steps, the Scala Sancta. These steps were the steps Jesus ascended and descended to meet with Pontius Pilot before he was crucified. St. Helen had them brought to Rome. We ascended the steps on our knees, spending time on each step praying. It was very powerful to me to spend time in prayer on these steps and time in meditation on the fact that Jesus Christ had walked on those steps.
What did you learn? I learned a lot on this Pilgrimage about the church, history, Pope John Paul II, our world and myself. To pick out one thing, I learned a lot about the life of Pope John Paul II. I learned the hardships he had to go through in his early life and the amazing ways that he touched people as a pope. Being in Krakow, where he grew up, and visiting Auschwitz, the concentration camp that was active during his young adulthood, really allowed me to know Pope John Paul II more.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? It’s hard to pick one experience as being the most fun. I really enjoyed the community of our group and how I felt like family to fellow parishioners that I didn’t really know before the trip. The gelato was very tasty in Rome and our tour guide Irene was very fun! On our first day in Krakow, I was in awe of all the positive energy and excitement from all the people coming together for World Youth Day; everyone taking pride in their country and excited to meet other people.
A unique experience that stands out was a run I went on in Rome. Some of us that were willing to wake up early one day on our only day to sleep in went on a “running tour” led by a highly recommended running tour guide, Father Jonathon Meyer. It was very cool to see the city that way. It was a quiet Sunday Morning and not many people were out. We were able to see views that we would not be able to see as easily on our charter bus.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned that I often live a life where I am looking to serve myself and make myself more comfortable. While it is important to take care of myself, I also learned that a little suffering is okay. During one of the times Pope Francis addressed us, he spoke of getting off of our couch and doing something, acting and serving. This is something I want to live in my life.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? Absolutely, it’s definitely a life changing experience that I am struggling to put into words.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I only had surprises because I tried to have to expectations going into the trip. We were told that there would be “suffering” on this trip because it wasn’t a vacation. I was very surprised at the perspective I took on the times of suffering or discomfort. I actually really appreciated that it was part of the experience. Being in a place feeling so close to God, it was very easy to let go of those sufferings and understand that it was an experience I was meant to go through and learn from. This is true at all times in our lives, but it was easier for me to accept on this trip so focused on God.
WYD Reflections ~ Darren Weber
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? The most powerful experience that I had was praying up the Sancta Sanctorum, the steps Jesus climbed and descended when he was condemned. I was in awe that they actually transported the actual steps from Jerusalem to Rome. Then to have the ability to pray up them was awesome. Praying up the steps was not easy – the steps were painful for my knees and legs; it was crowded, and it was so hot that I had sweat dripping off of me. However, the suffering contributed to the deepness of the prayer. On each step I offered up the suffering and my prayers for a member of my family – my grandparents (deceased), my parents (mom deceased), my sibling’s families, my wife, each of our children, her parents, her sibling’s families, and my godchildren.
What did you learn? Growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, I always loved and admired the pope at that time, Pope John Paul II. However, there was so much about this holy man that I didn’t know about. During this trip I learned so much more about St. John Paul II and am inspired to learn more. I learned how much he suffered in his life and how in all of that suffering he turned to God and God used him to change the world. He did so much as a priest, archbishop, and then pope to help his homeland, Poland, escape from the oppression of Nazism and Communism. Plus, I didn’t realize how instrumental he was in bringing the message of Divine Mercy to the world.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? The experience that I found to be the most fun was the singing and chanting we did while traveling to and from events in Poland. I enjoyed the comradery it brought our group and the smiles it created in those around us. It was especially noticed on the tram rides where other riders would join us, sing their own songs, applaud, and sometimes even make requests.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? The biggest thing I learned is that I am not defined by my sins. No matter what I have done, God is waiting with open arms to accept me back and forgive me. This shouldn’t have been something new, but I have lived with the guilt and shame of my sins for a very long time. However, God in his infinite love and Divine Mercy takes away that guilt and shame. I don’t need to hold on to it. I need to let go and let God.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes, WYD has greatly deepened my faith in the Church and how it is the connected, living Body of Christ. For me this is exemplified by the providence of God that revealed His Divine Mercy to St. Faustina, how it came about that St. John Paul II gave it to the Church, and then how the message was so woven into the themes of WYD 2016 to be shared with the whole Church. It was just so clear how the Spirit is still working in the Church. Also, the talks from Pope Francis were so current and applicable to the times today. The stereotype from our culture is that the Church is stagnant and behind the times. That stereotype is so wrong. The Church has, is, and will continue to provide the world what we need to get closer to God and find happiness in this life and the next.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD? If yes, why? Yes, I definitely would encourage everyone to attend one. To see that many Catholics together at one place, celebrating the same Mass, being lead and taught by the Pope is so awesome and humbling. It is so amazing that the faith I was taught here in Dearborn County is the same as that in Rome, in Poland, and everywhere around the world. And I think it takes actually being there to truly grasp that.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt close to God a lot during the pilgrimage. One of the times I really felt close was being able to go to adoration in a side chapel of St. Peter’s Basilica. The chapel (as well as the rest of the basilica) was beautiful and gave great honor to our Lord. It also struck me that I was not far from the remains of St. John Paul II, St. Peter and several other of the Popes. And that many of them had also adored the Lord at this same location. It was during this time of adoration that I felt the warmth of God calling me to have a closer relationship with him.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? A new way that I experienced the Universal Church was meeting people from all over the world and seeing that we did share the same faith. The languages were different, but the meaning is the same. Even hearing the mass in different languages, you still know what is happening. And to see 3 million people from all over the world celebrating one Mass together – if that is not universal, I don’t know what is.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? Looking back, what surprised me the most was the amount of people. I have never witnessed so many people at one place at the same time before. And then for the organizers to have managed it so well was amazing. The one thing that I didn’t expect was the issue we had getting food prior to the vigil. But I think what amazed me the most was that I was not upset about it. I trusted that God would provide for us and ultimately He did. In fact, we ended up with more food than we could really eat.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? We heard so many great speakers during WYD. The speaker that touched me the most was Pope Francis though. He had such great messages for the young people and even for us older people. I really enjoyed his comments about us ‘getting off the couch’ and being a force to change the world. He encouraged us to ‘make our mark’ on the world. I also enjoyed the talk by Cardinal Dolan on mercy. He gave some very clear examples of how we can be ’instruments of mercy’.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? I would tell them that I am so honored that through their support we were able to take this pilgrimage. It is really eye opening to see how connected we are with the rest of the world through our faith and how faithful that the young people are. To see 3 million plus young people gathered in a field is one thing, but then to see all of them go silent, on their knees, adoring our Lord is so much richer. It was great for me to see. However, I think it is awesome that the young people from our small rural community had the chance to see it. The chance to see that they are a part of a much bigger thing and that no matter where they end up in life they have a church and that the church needs them to be a part of it.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? The trip was so amazing. I am still trying to remind myself that it wasn’t just a dream. I am in awe of what man can create, but yet it pales in comparison to what God can do. The message of Divine Mercy really hit me on this trip and I plan to continue learning and reflecting on it. When my mom was dying from brain cancer, I was fortunate enough to lead my family in a Divine Mercy chaplet as she was joining Our Lord. From then on it has been hard for me to say a chaplet without getting very emotional. However, with WYD’s focus on Divine Mercy I was able to learn more about this powerful devotion and God’s infinite mercy - and was able to say many chaplets. I really wish I could have come home and told mom all about this trip. Instead, I think she was there with me. My plan now is to continue to offer chaplets for my loved ones, have a deeper relationship with God, and do my best to get my family to heaven with mom.
WYD Reflections ~ Lydia Weber
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? Going to the steps Christ walked up, and visiting the catacombs.
What did you learn? That there are so many people that share the same love for our Catholic faith.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? I loved walking down the street or riding a tram and either singing or hearing people sing.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned that I really need to open up and ask God what he wants with my life. I also should not be so afraid of the answer.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes, I really understood how singing in Mass is one of the greatest ways to pray.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? Yes. WYD is an amazing experience! To be in the presence of the Holy Father. Also just to learn and be with a bunch of people your own age is so great!
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God when we were in Auschwitz. It was crazy how you could just feel how something really holy had happened there.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? I experienced the Universal Church by seeing so many people engaged and excited about their faith, even if they couldn't understand the languages being spoken.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I didn't expect so many of the locals to be so happy to see all these people in their back yards.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? I really liked the cardinal from the Philippines (Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle). He talked so much about how your achievements don't define you.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? I would thank them so much for letting me have this opportunity to experience the church in a new way.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? I plan to attend daily Mass at least once a week. I also really want to find places in our community that need my help.
WYD Reflections ~ Mary Weckenbrock
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? It is hard to choose just one moment that was more powerful than the others. The whole trip was incredible, but I have to say that climbing the Holy Stairs was surreal. It was hard to even fathom the fact that I was touching the same steps that Jesus, my Savior, walked on the day he redeemed the world.
What did you learn? I learned that my faith is much bigger than I ever imagined. That there really is no “time” because we are all connected to each other around the world but also to those who came before us: the saints, apostles, any follower of Jesus, and Jesus Himself. Seeing all the relics showed me that everything that I learned growing up is real and parts of our faith are tangible.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? The most fun part was meeting different people from around the world! Taking pictures, exchanging things, singing together and everything else that connected us during those days even if we couldn’t fully understand each other. I also really enjoyed the times we spent just in our group, singing on the tram or bus or laughing about the experiences we had that day.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned a lot about myself surprisingly. First of all, I can go without sleep longer than I thought (ha ha). But really, I learned how much I was struggling with things in my life, but that struggle is a part of growth. I think God was really trying to teach me to lean on Him in times of struggle or suffering. Everyone goes through suffering, but it is necessary in order to become the person we are meant to be.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? I don’t know if I can say that I completely deepened my understanding, but this trip really made me realize that I know very little about the church that I have been a part of my whole life. It deepened my desire to learn more and study my faith.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? Definitely YES! WYD is an experience like none other. It will test you in every way possible. It will get you excited, it will make you question things, and it will make you want to do more in your life. I don’t think there are any other experiences that can teach you the same things.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I think the point that I felt closest to God was on the first day of Catechesis, when I went to confession. The priest helped me see my faith from a different perspective. After that, my experience and prayer changed completely for the rest of the trip.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? Sitting in a field with millions of other people who share my faith is something that cannot be described with words. Hearing the Pope speak in Italian and then listening to it translated to English, but also hearing someone else having it translated to their own language is incredible. But the real experience was hearing the Mass in different languages; this is when it all connected for me. This showed me how universal our faith really was because I didn’t need someone to translate for me in order to understand the Mass.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I was really surprised by how excited people got when they realized we were from the US. Everyone immediately started chanting U-S-A! It was so cool! Generally, I have felt like people don’t like the U.S. Obviously, I was wrong!
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? Although all the speakers were amazing, nobody beats the Pope! Every time he spoke, he had a strong message for all of us. I will always remember his words of inspiration, to go out and live our faith! "Do NOT retire at a young age!" Keep life, and teach people about our faith. It is time for all of us to stand up and be the change in the world; that is what I took away from one of his many messages to us.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? THANK YOU!!!! I can’t say it enough! This experience changed my whole perspective on life and faith and I can’t imagine where I would be going if God hadn’t stopped me with this trip.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you, how will you be different? The whole trip was a bit overwhelming and hard to take in, but as we were traveling home we had a lot of time to think. The whole time I was thinking about everything that happened. We had group discussions but I also had personal reflections and I felt so peaceful and joyful and realized that I had to bring that home with me and share it with others. I felt inspired to do something to help others experience Christ and His love and mercy the same way I had. I’m still praying about what it is that I am supposed to do but I know there is something. I want to continue to grow in my faith and to never let go again because I have never felt peace and joy like this before!
WYD Reflection Answers ~ Abby White
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? The most powerful experience for me was simply listening to Pope Francis speak to us young adults and how he thinks highly of all of us as individuals.
What did you learn? I learned to definitely not take life for granted and to stay positive
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? I think WYD was fun all around. Being able to meet new people from all over the world and to become closer to GOD was amazing.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned to not be so hard on myself, to not stress, and to trust in Jesus.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes, by better understanding different Saints.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? I would definitely encourage others to attend WYD because it is so awesome to see how universal the Catholic Church is and to experience it with so many individuals.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I think I felt closest to God Saturday night at the candlelight vigil.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? I experienced it in a new way by gathering with 2 million individuals in a huge field.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I think I was prepared for anything to happen. Father Meyer explained WYD pretty in depth to us and what all to expect. I didn’t expect them to run out of food or to get stuck shoulder to shoulder with tons of people unable to move though.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? Pope Francis and his homily at the opening Mass is the one I will remember forever.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? Thank you so much for giving me this unforgettable experience and allowing me to be able to experience this opportunity. It will definitely be one to remember for the rest of my life.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you, how will you be different? I will not stress as much, I will pray more often than usual, and I will not take things for granted.
WYD Reflections ~ Charlotte White
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? I had several powerful experiences but I think the most powerful one was getting the opportunity to pray on the Holy Stairs.
What did you learn? I learned that prayer is powerful. You can literally pray about anything and everything. There were several times where we needed a restroom but none were in sight so we would start praying. When in doubt, pray it out.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? Everything about the trip was fun, but I think the most fun experience was getting to yell chants through the streets of Krakow and also getting to dance in the field. We can't forget about the fun that Irene (our tour guide in Rome) brought!
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned that I am not a big fan of huge crowds and being pushed everywhere instead of walking was not ideal.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes, I learned more about why we do some of the things we do and why certain things are in the church.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? Yes, because everything about it is awesome, even the walk to the vigil! You get to see the pope, you get to share your faith with millions of other people, and you are reassured that there are still good people in this world!
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God when we were walking to the Vigil and everybody was so miserable and we were all ready to turn around and go back home. However, eight hours later we were all OK and still had food, water, and a spot to sleep, and we had a blast even after an exhausting day.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? Going to daily Mass in a different location each day.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? Getting to celebrate Mass at St. Peter’s with Archbishop Tobin.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? The sister that thought she had her life planned out touched me the most. She finally let God take over and he had a different plan for her. I will now take time to stop and ask God if my plan is the right plan for me.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? Thank you for everything you did to help get us to WYD. We are blessed to have been able to experience it all and to be able to send 40 of us from one parish was even more awesome! I prayed for all of those who helped financially and will continue to pray for them. Blessings!
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? This experience allowed me to come out of my shell and not be scared to express my faith. I will no longer be scared of what others think about me and my faith and I will let people know that I am proud to be Catholic! God is awesome!
WYD Reflection ~ Courtney White
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? The most powerful experience that I recall was after the opening Mass. I just remember looking around and seeing everybody that was there and everybody was happy and singing the theme song and just being awed. I was in awe because I don’t think I really realized how big the Catholic faith is and I just loved that everybody there believed in the same thing. We were all there for the same reason, which was to praise our Lord.
What did you learn? I learned so much about St. John Paul II. I thought I knew about his life but going on this trip I learned so much more. He led an amazing life and I really enjoyed getting to learn so much about him and what he did.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? The most fun I had was when we were in Rome with Irene. She made the trip in Rome very interesting and she kept things fun. I loved getting to know a real Italian person and getting to see her personality and what she was like. It was really funny to see Father Meyer squirm around her, too.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I discovered that I am not as close to God as I thought or would like to be. I have a lot of praying and learning and loving to do so I can continue to deepen my faith and understanding of God. I really look forward to getting to do just that.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way?
I have deepened my understanding of the Church because when most people think of the pope they think of this old guy who doesn’t understand what is going on in the world today, but that’s not the case at all. After listening to Pope Francis speak on multiple occasions I realized he knows and understands everything that is going on in a young persons life in today’s world and he knows how to relate to it and speak to us about it. He knows our strengths and weaknesses and how we can improve on those weaknesses.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? I would definitely encourage others to attend WYD because it’s an experience unlike any other. It really gives you a chance to either renew or deepen your faith with God and what better way than with millions of others who are believe and are doing the same thing.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God when we were singing at the masses. I just felt how much everybody was praising him when they were happy and singing and having a good time. I also felt closest to God in one of the church’s, I don’t remember which, but I remember sitting there praying and I could really feel him all around me.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? Getting to know people from all different countries was how I experienced the Universal Church in a new way. It’s just amazing sharing the same faith as somebody from Spain and being able to talk to him or her about it. I also really liked hearing the mass done in different languages because you may not have been able to understand the language but you knew what was going on and being said because it is all the same.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? What surprised me the most was the amount of people and how open and friendly all of these people were. There is no other religion that does something like this and it’s just amazing to see in person how well organized everything is and how many people travel from all over the world to come to it. I didn’t expect the issue with only have sparkling water to drink but we made do and were just happy to have some kind of water to drink after the 8-mile trek.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? The speaker that touched me the most was actually the emcee. There was one time in between speakers when he was talking about how he didn’t like or was embarrassed to talk about his faith with other people who didn’t share the same beliefs. That really resonated with me because I find it hard to talk about my faith to others. He really taught me that you shouldn’t be scared or embarrassed to talk about your faith with others, and that is something I’m really working on.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? I would thank them profusely for helping me have the chance to experience the Universal Church in such an amazing way. My faith is changed forever and they didn’t even realize how big of a part they played in that because without them it couldn’t have happened.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? It changed me because I’m not so scared to talk about my faith to others and it also just gave me such a deeper meaning and connection with God. God was always present in my everyday life but after experiencing this I’m realizing even more how present he is in everything. I also realized how sometimes I need to just sit and be quiet and listen for God when I have questions instead of worrying and stressing about different things. My trust in God is stronger than it ever was thanks to this experience.
WYD Reflections ~ Emily Whitehead
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? The most powerful experience I can recall is sitting in a field with thousands of Catholics with not only candles on fire, but souls on fire for Jesus. It was such a beautiful sight to look up and see Jesus Christ on the altar, and to look around and see Jesus Christ within each and every person.
What did you learn? I learned that there are many levels to our faith. By that I mean we can praise God through reading scripture, studying the history of our faith, praying, singing, talking about God with a friend, and many more ways of being able to learn about and praise our Savior.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? I had the most fun singing and dancing with people from all over the world. Whenever we would ride on a tram we would sing traditional Catholic songs, and people from France would join in (in English) with us. It was neat that they'd know the songs in two different languages.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned that I have absolutely no patience in crowds. I also learned that sometimes I need to take a break from the fast paced life I live. You don't always have to be running…take time to sit down and talk to Jesus.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes, I now know more about scripture, saints, the history of the church, and important stories of the church than I've ever known before.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? YES. It's such a powerful experience for youth and it allows you to grow deeper in your faith. It makes you realize how small you are in this big world God has created.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God through other people's words and actions during WYD. Others would come up to me and say "God bless" and "you are loved". It was as if God himself was talking to me, because he knew I needed a compliment to uplift my spirits.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? I experienced the Universal Church in a new way whenever we had Mass in a local church. Locals allowed us to use their facilities, and provided us with bread and wine so that we were able to praise God.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? What surprised me the most is that nothing too terrible happened. Yes, we were dehydrated because we didn't want to drink the sparkling water; yes, we were overheated, and yes, we were tired. But there were no shootings, no bombings, and no killings. And looking back, God was truly with us. God is good, all the time.
During WYD, we heard many speakers, which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use?-Even though I can hear Father Meyer speak every Sunday, he touched my heart when we were at Auschwitz. He spoke about Maximilian Kolbe and how he died for his faith. He said "these camps saw the worst of humanity, but they also saw the best of humanity". This comment really touched my heart and opened my eyes to the raging world around me. God brings light into this world of darkness.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? THANK YOU. Thank you for investing time in prayer, and thank you for investing in us to travel on this pilgrimage. It was worthwhile for every person that went, and it truly changed the hearts of many. Thank you.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you, how will you be different? This pilgrimage has taught me to always look on the bright side. Even when you think things may be going wrong, it is actually falling into place. God has a plan for me and everybody else. I will continue to go to church every Sunday, but I will get more involved in the community. My prayer life has sky rocketed, and it will continue to do so. I now have a better understanding of my faith, and I will put it to good use. Evangelization will be a big part of my future.
WYD Reflections ~ Margo Whitehead
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? As we were kneeling and praying up the Santa Scala, there was a step where I saw an image of Jesus on the cross with Mary standing in front of Him, looking up at her son. I began to cry, because I felt such a great sense of sadness, but at the same time there was a powerful feeling of love and mercy. I'll never forget that.
What did you learn? I learned that our faith is vibrant and young. I also learned that even though people may not speak the same languages or may not come from similar backgrounds, our faith unites us in Christ.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? I would have to say that meeting people from around the world and talking to them about their lives and faith was the most fun.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I discovered that I can walk 6-9 miles every day and still be joyful. : )
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? My understanding of the Church has deepened in that I know for a fact that our God is full of mercy that He longs for us to have. I know that God is someone that I can turn to at all times.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? I would definitely encourage others to attend WYD, because it's an amazing place to meet with people that share the same love of Christ and you get to celebrate mass with St. Peter's successor.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God during the Stations of the Cross.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? It was awesome to be with the youth of the Church at Mass and other celebrations.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? To be honest, there wasn't anything that surprised me because I went into WYD with an open mind and an open heart. I was prepared to go with the flow, and accept anything that God was ready to bless us with.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? There were many awesome speakers at WYD, but I'll have to say that the message that stuck with me the most was from Chris Stefanick when he said, "One out of 7 people are Catholic. Think about it, if each of us taught our faith to 7 people, we have the whole world covered!"
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? I would say, "Thank you so very much for giving us the opportunity to go to WYD. This pilgrimage has opened our eyes and ears to the message of Divine Mercy which Jesus so desperately wants the world to hear. We learned so much while on that journey, and now we are blessed with a mission; a mission to bring the message of God's love to the world.”
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? I will not be afraid to share my faith, even though many may say that I believe in a myth or a concept. I will always remember the experiences that I had on this pilgrimage, and I will not hesitate to share the good news.
WYD Reflections ~ Sandy Whitehead
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? The most powerful experience that I recall was the first time we gathered with other WYD attendees at Blonia Field...it filled my heart to see so many people in one place to praise God and share in the Catholic faith. The only feeling I can liken it to would be the mixture of happiness and how proud I feel when I watch one of my children accomplish something.
What did you learn? Rome is so aptly nicknamed the “Eternal City”, because its culture, architecture, historical and religious sites seem to go on endlessly. Personally seeing relics associated with Jesus’ life and visiting the tombs of apostles and popes was surreal, but certainly provided reason and concrete evidence for our faith. As far as World Youth Day, the theme of mercy was so well planned: how could there be a setting better than Krakow, the home of St. Faustina’s Shrine of Divine Mercy, and the home of St. John Paul II, the founder of WYD?
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? I had the most fun spending time with other people from our parish and getting to know them better, as well as meeting new friends from the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. All this while visiting historic sites of worship. I was not ready for that to end! And singing everywhere! In the streets, in the field, and on the tram!
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned that it is possible to turn off the noise of this life and hear God. All we have to do is take the time to be quiet and listen, even for a moment.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? As far as deepening my understanding of the Church, this trip allowed me to personally experience the rich history of the church, and made me realize that my understanding only scratches the surface. This trip created a personal urge to learn more.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? I would encourage others to attend WYD because it is a week of being surrounded by positive energy; WYD is a chance to experience cohesiveness in a world rife with division.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God at WYD when we celebrated Mass and participated in Eucharistic adoration with Pope Francis. Even though you are one person among hundreds of thousands of people, it felt very special to be celebrating with the leader of our church; a true disciple of Christ.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? Attending an early morning Mass at the local parish church in Rome near our hotel, I experienced firsthand the Universal Church. Although in Italian, the readings for Mass on that Sunday were exactly the same as those in the English version we had brought on our pilgrimage. It was the same as our Mass structure in the USA, so it was easy to follow along. Experiencing that connection makes one feel like we are all speaking the same language.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I knew that we were going to celebrate Mass with Archbishop Tobin at St. Peter’s Basilica, but there was no way of knowing how awesome that would be. Let me just say that again: we celebrated Mass with our archbishop on a side altar of St. Peter’s Basilica, just a stone’s throw away from the main altar of the church, under which the body of St. Peter the Apostle’s body lies in repose, the “rock” on which our church was built. Phenomenal.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? Pope Francis delivered the best messages from my perspective. I usually have a hard time carrying messages with me, but his words resonate in my head. From his message, I will remind young people not to "retire before their time" and to put effort into their lives. For myself, I will do my best to "use the Gospel as a GPS for my life."
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? Although this pilgrimage came with a price tag, the experience was priceless, and we are forever in debt to those who supported us financially. I feel very fortunate to have been able to experience this pilgrimage with my two oldest daughters. I look forward to discussing this adventure with them in years to come and hearing their observations as the realization sinks in as to what they observed with their own eyes.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? Father Meyer urged us in his homily at the Mass celebrated at Saint Mary Major to continue to look for change and growth in our spiritual lives even if nothing dramatically occurred to us while on the pilgrimage. He armed us with the words, "Lord, teach me how to pray," which I intend to use to deepen and improve my conversations with the Lord.
WYD Reflections ~ Jacob Wilgenbush
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? The most powerful experience for me was praying on the Scala Sancta and being able to understand a little of what Jesus went through before he died for our sins.
What did you learn? I learned a lot on the trip. One thing that comes to mind is that it wasn’t just the Jewish people who had died at Auschwitz but that there were a lot of Polish priests who had died there as well.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? It was a lot of fun when we would walk to the outside gatherings and sing songs and listening to people from other countries sing as well.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned more about the true amount of love that Jesus has for me and for every other human being.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes WYD has shown me that Church is large and touches people from all over the world.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? Yes, I would encourage others to attend a WYD in order for them to see just how large the Catholic Church is.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? During WYD, I felt closest to God when the pope was turning the bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus during Mass. That was a powerful experience.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? Being able to experience a Mass with millions of people at the same time, with everyone knowing and understanding the importance of celebrating the Eucharist was an awe inspiring experience.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? The local people of Krakow were extremely nice and pleasant. Instead of being resentful of the large amount of people being in their city they were very welcoming and seemed excited for us to be there.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? Cardinal Dolan’s speech about Marge had a message that I will remember. That message is that little acts of mercy can do a lot to makes someone else’s life a lot better.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? Thank you for this once in a lifetime opportunity. This trip has been an experience that I will always remember and think back on for the rest of my life.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? This experience has given me a much deeper appreciation of the Church and I intend to show my love for God to others so that they too may appreciate God’s love for them.
WYD Reflections ~ Zach Wilgenbush
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? Seeing thousands upon thousands of candles radiating at the Saturday night Vigil.
What did you learn? I learned how diverse of a world there truly is and yet we can all come together and understand one another enough to celebrate Mass.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? Walking the streets of Rome in the evening, listening to the outdoor concert, and enjoying gelato. It was a simple happiness that is truly hard to describe as anything but enjoyable. The only other moments that matched it in fun were the small frequent moments of trading or giving gifts to those from other countries.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? That I have the ability to find deeper patience and more appreciation of everything around me if I just put my mind to it. If I truly want to help the world as a leader I will need to push past my struggles and reach new depths of inner strength to help the world as it needs during these troubled times.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes, I feel like I have seen a side of the church that is really hard to comprehend in the U.S., and that is I didn't realize how closely everyone follows the same format all around the world of readings, responses, gospels and homilies. Our church is truly universal and it took this trip for me to realize it.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? Absolutely yes, if not for the amount of amazing sights and sounds, if not for the internal spiritual revelations, then simply for the eye-opening experience that there is indeed a larger world out there than just our small corner of Indiana.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God through some suffering experienced in some extremely stressful situations such as attempting to get food in a crowd when there was not enough to go around and trying to get to Mass when the roads were closed off. I feel God gave me strength and patience in these situations to overcome these stressful moments when we were the most lost.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? Through the sheer multitude of different people speaking various languages. I was attempting to learn a new language every day just to try and understand our brothers and sisters in the Church around the world.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? It surprised me that though we live in the U.S.A., for whatever reason other countries enjoyed chanting our name. And in a similar sense, we enjoyed chanting their name. It was a weird sense of community that transcended the divisions of nationality.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle was the speaker that moved me the most. He discussed why God goes out of his way to look for the lost sheep, such as myself, when we have lost our way. The reason God does this is because we are HIS children and not someone else's.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? Thank you and what can I do for you? This was an experience that I could never pay back with enough money, but maybe I could with deeds. Please let me help you!
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? I will consider how people are tied to each other across the world through religion and how communication can occur without knowing the right language. I will also remember how poor communication can upset people in some cases. It just gives me a different sense of understanding on how we can all work together and the struggles we will have to overcome to work together.
WYD Reflections ~ Erin Wilhelm
The thought of attending World Youth Day with members of All Saints Parish was very exciting. The preparation and fundraising helped prepare me both mentally and spirituality. The idea that our small group of 42 would be among millions was a great way to focus and obtain what some thought may not be realistic. I had to step out of my comfort zone and travel without my parents or family for the first time. I was comforted in knowing that I was surrounded by parish family and that we would look out for each other. I enjoyed getting to know my fellow parishioners and others from our Archdiocese and spending time laughing and feeling adventurous. We have developed a connection that will go on forever.
Our time in Rome was nothing less than breathtaking! Yes, the sights were amazing but the thought I was walking through the very history of our faith was at times overwhelming. I learned about the Vatican and the Pope in classes, but thoroughly appreciated learning and seeing it through my own eyes. Krakow was awesome and I enjoyed the history and learning more about it. Seeing where Pope John Paul II was from was awesome and being there was an honor especially now that he is a Saint. I enjoyed every single thing about this experience. If I had to choose one thing that meant the most to me, it would have to be praying on my knees up the Steps. Words will never be able to tell the love and sense of awe I felt. I do feel very blessed and honored too that I was able to hear Pope Francis speak.
Growing up hearing we are one holy, Universal Church was finally experienced and realized. Celebrating Mass and the Holy Eucharist in another country/language validated it! I know we believe without seeing, but I feel blessed to have witnessed it. People from all over the world gathered to celebrate our God and our one Universal Church and faith. It didn’t matter what your skin color, language, rich or poor – we are all members of God’s great family.
I will never forget or really be able to put into words how it felt to attend such a life changing event. I believe without the commitment, prayers and support of my family, Parish, friends and community, this experience would have never happened. I felt I represented everyone, the young and the old, that traveled with me in spirit on this pilgrimage. I would like to attend WYD again, and will do my best to help others have the chance to experience too. I will make every effort to take this experience and use it every day with my words and my actions. I am very proud to be a member of All Saints’ Parish!
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? My most powerful experience was praying at St. Peter’s Basilica. I just couldn't get over how the first pope ever was buried there.
What did you learn? I learned a lot about St. John Paul II. I liked learning about some of the miracles he performed.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? The funniest thing that happened was when we all met our tour guide, Irene, in Rome.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned that I like to learn about the history of our religion and how it all happened.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes, I have deepened my understanding of the church. While we were there we got to learn all about the history of our religion and I feel like understanding it all has made me grow closer to God.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? I would definitely recommend that people would go to WYD. I would recommend it because it was a moving experience and has made me become closer to God. It is a very physically exhausting trip but it is worth it all in the end.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God when we were at St. Peter’s Basilica and when we had our own Mass with Archbishop Tobin.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? I experienced the Universal Church just by seeing all of the countries come together. It was very moving seeing all of the Catholics from around the world come into one place and pray.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I was surprised about the way some of the people over there live. I was not expecting the lack of A/C and just how differently they live their lives from us.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? I would tell them thank you for giving me this amazing opportunity to grow in my faith and have this once in a life time experience.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? This pilgrimage will change me because now I have a lot more knowledge and faith and it will bring me even closer to God.
WYD Reflections ~ Abbie Alig
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? The most powerful was the steps that Jesus walked on Good Friday.
What did you learn? I learned to be more appreciative of the things that God has given me and to make sacrifices in everyday life.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? The most fun experience was the Stations of the Cross with the pope.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I discovered the power of prayer and how important it is.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes, I have deepened my understanding by seeing how many people are passionate about their faith.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God whenever the pope was present.
What surprised you the most, what did you not expect to happen? What surprised me was how many people attended WYD. I didn’t expect to see so many people and to see how strong their faith was.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? The speaker that touched me the most was the girl from Iraq, who has dealt first hand with family members being killed based on their religion.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? I would tell them thank you for the opportunity they gave my family and I, and what a wonderful experience we had! This pilgrimage has made me appreciate the little things in life, like ice and air conditioning. It also has made me be more passionate about my faith and to spread the passion amongst my peers.
WYD Reflections ~ Andrew Alig
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? Being able to serve at St. Peters with Archbishop Tobin
What did you learn? More about the saints and the history of the Vatican.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? Getting food poisoning while in the airport.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? That I am lucky to live in America.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD, if yes, why? Yes, I would encourage people to go because it gives people the experience of seeing the Universal Church.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God when I was going up the stairs Jesus went up on Good Friday.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? Seeing the flags from all the different countries around the world and realizing they believed the same things as you.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I didn’t expect that many young people to go.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend, if you were looking at someone in the eye, who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? Thank you for allowing me to go on this amazing life changing experience.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you, how will you be different? It will show me how lucky we are to be Americans, and I won’t take as much things for granted.
WYD Reflections ~ Anita Alig
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? Having adoration with the pope was the most powerful experience that I had on the pilgrimage.
What did you learn? I learned that people from all over the world share the same faith as we do. Also, a lot of different countries loved seeing people from the United States.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? Walking around at night in Rome was the most fun because it was beautiful to see the city at night and Rome’s culture.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned how deep my faith is and how much I believe in God.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes, I understand more about the history of the Church since we saw items from the time Jesus Christ was alive.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? Yes, WYD was a great experience! It’s amazing seeing all the different people from around the world, and seeing their cultures. Seeing the pope is also a wonderful experience!
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God when I kneeled and prayed up the Holy Steps.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? Having Mass said in a different language was a neat experience because I could still follow along even though I couldn’t speak the language.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I was surprised seeing Jesus’ crib and other items from his life and crucifixion. I didn’t expect that those items would still be here today.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? The couple who spoke at the arena touched me the most. They spoke about how they met each other and how God always has a plan for you.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? I would thank them and tell them how I much I appreciated their help on funding this pilgrimage. This pilgrimage would not be possible without them. This pilgrimage was a great experience that I will never forget.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you, how will you be different? This pilgrimage showed me to be more grateful for what I have.
WYD Reflections ~ Mike Alig
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? Seeing the Pope and gathering with 3 million of his closest friends. Walking thru St. Peter’s Basilica Holy Door, I actually had goosebumps.
What did you learn? That there are still many Catholics that cherish their faith.
What was the funniest experience? Any time Father Meyer dances, it is funny.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? That I have a stronger faith than I realized.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? Yes, it will strengthen your faith and bring you closer to God than you have ever been.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? The Saturday night vigil adoration.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? Found myself in deeper prayer than I have ever been.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? The organization and coordination of WYD. With that many people coming to one city, we never felt unsafe and things ran so smoothly.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage what would you say? The only thing would be “Thank You, you changed my life and my connection with my faith for the better.”
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? Have a deeper appreciation for my faith and taught me what is really important in my life.
WYD Reflections ~ Sara Alig
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? Going up the Holy Stairs on our knees, also seeing Andrew serve for the Archbishop in St. Peter’s was a highlight. I loved having the Masses at the chapels. They were so meaningful.
What did you learn? I learned a great deal about my faith, also that there are truly good people everywhere
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? Singing on the tram and meeting the locals on the tram
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned that I am very out of shape! And, that as Americans, we are so fortunate and take so many things for granted.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes, but I have a long way to go to fully understand.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? Yes.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? Going up the Holy Stairs and being in the presence of the Pope
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? By meeting so many kind and gracious people that shared the same faith.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I did not expect to get as close to the Pope as we did. Many things surprised me.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? I really enjoyed the Catechesis. The testimonials were incredible!
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? Thank you, thank you, thank you! This trip meant the world to me and my family.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? It has left me with many different things to ponder. Hopefully, it will make me appreciate all that we have in this country and not waste as much.
WYD Reflections ~ Rachel Badinghaus
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? Climbing the Scala Sancta on our knees.
What did you learn? I learned about some of my weaknesses on the trip and how I need to work on those.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? I really enjoyed singing with the group as we were walking the streets and in the trams.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned I need to work on my weaknesses, and when I’m in a bad mood, it really affects other people.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? I’ve deepened my understanding of the universal part of the Church. I never knew how “one” we really are until adoration and Mass with the pope. Even though everyone spoke different languages, when it came time for Mass everyone spoke one language, and that was Jesus.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? YES!! It is a wonderful experience. You get to experience the one, holy, apostolic, and universal Church in a foreign land. How cool is that?!
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? When I sat in adoration with Him during Catechesis.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? Having a sleepover and Mass with 3 million people all the same faith as you is pretty awesome!!
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I never put into play what millions of people gathered together would be like. So seeing all those people in one place and trying to travel past them was, at times, trying. I did not expect the language barriers to be as much of a problem as they were.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? Pope Francis talked about how our generation retires too early and we are couch potatoes. I only thought that this was an American thing. I didn’t expect it to be happening all around the world. It struck me that the faith that I have really can make a difference and I should use it to show others the love that Jesus has for us.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye, who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to live out my faith! I cannot express my gratitude in words, can I give you a hug?
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? I will be different in knowing that I am young so I have a lot to give to others with my faith. I can teach younger and older generations what I know and hopefully with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit set the world on fire!
WYD Reflections ~ Derrick Batta
What was your most powerful experience? It would be hard to pin down one experience as the one with which I had the most powerful experience. This distinction would have to go to the morning Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. Being first in St. Peter’s Basilica and being the only major group in the church, along with taking part in the Mass at the altar which contains the bones of the apostles Simon and Jude is beyond anything I’ve ever taken part in as a Catholic. To also have the bones of the apostle Peter behind us during the Mass was also awe inspiring. It felt as if it was an exclusive experience, just me and these early followers of Jesus. A close second was our visit to the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, to see the actual pieces of the crown of thorns that pierced the head of Christ was overwhelming. To see these pieces of history and not just read about them in church was inspiring.
What did you learn? The biggest thing I learned was to visually see the Universal Church. Nothing spoke of this more than experiencing the Saturday evening candle vigil and Eucharistic Adoration with Pope Francis. You couldn’t have guessed it as we all kneeled in silence together with our candles held high in quiet and reflective prayer, but we were not alone as 3 million of our fellow Catholics from all corners of the earth kneeled and prayed with us. It was hard not to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit as we were all united as one in prayer.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? The most fun experience was traveling with Irene in Rome. She was like a grenade about to go off, with all her hilarious and unpredictable sayings.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I didn’t realize the power of suffering and physically working in developing one’s faith until this trip, and I am forever grateful for enduring all that we did. Whether it was enduring the walk to the main field, waiting in line for food, helping to get food for everyone else later and fast walking two miles with bags of food on my back, I believe these things helped me better develop my faith and use it in all areas of my life, including the easy and tough times.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? I have developed a much deeper appreciation for Christ and His church. It was great to take on this pilgrimage with three exciting priests who were not only good group leaders, but great teachers of the faith as well. I started to understand and appreciate the purposes of why the church does what it does and why some things are the way they are.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? I would definitely encourage any youth to attend World Youth Day! Traveling on a pilgrimage to World Youth Day combines the excitement of traveling to new places and the comfort of home, as the church is our universal home, and taking part in the Mass, which is something familiar to all who attend.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? The closest I felt to God was during the Saturday evening Eucharistic Adoration with Pope Francis in the field in Krakow. You could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit among everyone in silent prayer. I started out just standing with my candle lit; however, I was pulled into kneeling on the ground and continuing my adoration and prayer.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? To stand as one with almost three million of my fellow Catholics, still knowing there are millions more Catholics around the world who weren’t at World Youth Day, made me realize that no matter where I travel, I can feel at home with the church. I can also take comfort in the fact that all these people share the same beliefs as I do about the church, and that I am not alone.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I did not expect to get within 25 yards from Pope Francis. I will never forget running toward the fence, along which he was taking the tram to the field. He then got out and got onto the Pope mobile, which I was able to get pictures of. It felt as if the Pope was somewhat accessible, and I admire that from the leader of the Catholic Church.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? My favorite speaker was Pope Francis during the welcoming ceremony and the closing Mass. He challenged the youth to not be boring and retire young. We should always challenge and push ourselves to serve others. The world does not need any more couch potatoes. I will remember these words and use them as extra motivation when I am in need of that extra push.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? To these people, I would say “Thank you for giving me a great sense of direction in my spiritual journey and giving me the chance to grow deeper in my faith.”
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? I most definitely will not be afraid to share and witness my Catholic faith to others who have inquire about it and stand up for it more openly if it is being put down. Because of all of my growth in the love of Christ and His church, I will look at all human beings with much more love and concern than I used to look at them.
WYD Reflections ~ Seth Bittner
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? Seeing the Pope.
What did you learn? There are millions of young Catholics.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? The singing and dancing in Rome and Poland.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? That I am God’s child.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes- by feeling the presence of Jesus.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD, if yes, why? Yes- it is fun!
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? In the many Church buildings, especially the Holy Stairs.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? How large it is and made up of people from all over.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? Thank you!
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? I’ll try to live a better life and pray more.
WYD Reflections ~ Abby Chipps
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? The most powerful experience I recall was in Rome when we saw the relics of the cross, crown of thorns, nail, and (a replica of) the cloth Jesus was wrapped in. In that moment my faith became undeniably real. I looked around me and saw all of these other teenagers, adults, and priests and knew that we were living for something real.
What did you learn? I learned so much. Specifically, I learned what it looks like when you truly say ‘yes’ to God’s plan and give him your whole life. You can change the world if you give him the chance to change you.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? The experience to me that was most fun would definitely have to be dancing and singing with Father and our All Saints group at the papal welcoming after we had been blessed by the Holy Father. I had never before felt so much joy or peace in the same moment. I can only imagine that must be what heaven feels like.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I discovered God’s voice in my heart. I realized that God had been asking me to give him my entire life and surrender completely to him but I had been holding back. He was patiently waiting for me to say yes. Now that I’m working on my daily ‘yes’, Gods going to use me to light up the world.
Have you deepened your understanding of the church? If yes, in what way? I have definitely deepened my understanding of the church. There’s a new understanding of Christ’s life and his True Presence in the Eucharist. Every Mass he truly is present and dies for each person individually. I can’t really explain it, but I know he’s real and he’s there.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? I would encourage every Catholic in the world to attend WYD because there is nothing else that affirms your faith to the extent of WYD. You experience a true outpouring of the Holy Spirit in such an immense way and really become a disciple of God’s true plan for you.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God at WYD when we had Mass at morning catechesis. There were hundreds of us in the arena. I looked around while we were saying the Our Father, and I felt so consoled in that moment, like God really was Our Father. It was so clear that he had a specific plan for each of us.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? I experienced the Universal Church in a new way during the papal opening Mass; it was being said in so many different languages and translated all around me, but the understanding that we were all there listening to the Holy Father and praying the same prayers because we believed in the same thing, despite the language barrier, was incredible.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I was surprised by how much of an impact WYD as a whole had on me. I didn’t expect God to work so much in my life during this pilgrimage. I felt a call in my heart toward a vocation I had considered before but in a new and beautiful way. God truly spoke to my heart and I wouldn’t have been able to listen in the way I did if it wasn’t for the suffering we encountered during this pilgrimage.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? The speaker that touched me the most was the Holy Father; he challenged us and invited us into the adventure of mercy with Jesus. I had never heard it put in such a beautiful way. It really touched my heart and I felt as if God himself had asked me personally to join him in this adventure to change the hard hearts of the world back to him.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? Thank you for helping light a spark that will change the world. My life will never be the same after this experience, and I am forever grateful to you for answering God’s call to give.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? I now have an undeniable indelible mark in my life and on my soul from this experience. I cannot deny the existence of Jesus even if I choose not to follow him; I know he’s real. There’s a new passion and desire in my heart to join the Holy Father on this adventure of mercy and to change the world- I choose Jesus and I give him my life to use in order to bring the culture back to God.
WYD Reflections ~ Casey Cleary
What was the most powerful experience you recall? For me, praying on the Holy Stairs was the most powerful. To know that you are kneeling on the very stairs that Jesus ascended and descended on his day of judgement is mind blowing. It's been a while since I had actually sat down and thought about all the people and things I should pray and thank God for, so it was nice to stop and do that.
What did you learn? I learned a lot about Pope John Paul II. I knew a little bit about him prior to the trip, but I can say now that I know a lot more. He was truly and incredible man who worked many miracles.
What experience would you describe as the most fun? The most fun I had was singing through the streets as we would walk back to our hotel at night. We would do everything from USA chants, to church hymns, to Journey songs. It was really fun to see people's reactions when we would go by.
What did you discover about yourself? I learned to love myself the way the God loves me. I've struggled a lot in my life to do that, and Pope Francis in one of his speeches said "If you don't love yourself the way that God loves you, then you are turning your face away from him." I've ever really thought about it that way, and I don't want to be that way anymore. During WYD, I learned to be comfortable and happy with myself because God loves me more than I could ever imagine.
Have you deepened your understanding of the church? Yes, seeing all of the different relics from the Passion, like the thorns from Jesus's crown and the wood from the actual cross, was really powerful. It reiterates what I believe our faith is all about.
Would you encourage others to attend WYD? Absolutely!! Whether you are a hardcore Catholic or not, it's a great opportunity to go and learn even more about your faith that you didn't know before. It's also an amazing way to meet new people from all around the world.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God during the vigil. There was a moment where Pope Francis just finished talking and 2.5 million people were down on their knees in prayer. I had my candle lit and was deep in prayer when I felt someone touch my shoulder. I thought it was someone behind me and I turned around and no one was there. I believe that it was God comforting me and letting me know he was there. It was very surreal.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? When you are in school, it's really easy to take a look around and feel like you are the only person who celebrates your faith. Going to WYD you look around and see that you are not alone. The Catholic Church extends all throughout the world. 2.5 million people gather and we all speak different languages, yet we are celebrating the same thing.
What surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I was really surprised by how many people loved America. In the world we live in today, I feel like all everyone does is say that every country out there hates us, but it's actually the opposite. We would go down streets and people would sing our national anthem to us and cheer us on. It was something I really didn't expect to see.
Which speaker touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? I would say that Pope Francis was my favorite speaker. I just really loved his message on how we shouldn't retire early in our lives. He said that too many young people become boring and dull too early and you can see it in their eyes. I know what he's talking about, and it's something that I really don't want to happen to me, but I think that it's an easy thing that you can succumb to. It's easy to live your life on a "comfort couch" as the Holy Father would say, but the message that I took home is that you need to come out of you comfort zone in order to really live life to the fullest.
If you were looking someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? I would say thank you for letting me experience something that I can't even begin to put into words! I saw and experienced things that I've never seen or witnessed before. I owe you a lot for helping me go on this pilgrimage. I thank you and God thanks you!
How will this pilgrimage change you? How will you be different? I think this pilgrimage has made me realize that we as young people can change the world. We are all full of life and if we let God work through us, we can work miracles. I will be different by being more open not just to God, but to other people. I will work on coming out of my comfort zone more and spreading God's love to others.
WYD Reflections ~ Lauren Deddens
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? Two things come to mind right away. When we were in Rome, we had the chance to pray on the steps, the Scala Sancta, which Jesus Christ walked on (the day he was judged and crucified). Kneeling on all 28 steps and praying, it was easy to get caught up in the pain I was feeling, but I remembered the sacrifice that Jesus made for each of us and I felt his immense love for all. The second experience I found to be extremely powerful was adoration at the World Youth Day vigil with Pope Francis. To look around and see 3 million young Catholic adults kneeling, holding candles, and adoring our Lord is something words truly cannot describe.
What did you learn? I think that it easy to feel alone in your faith in this day and age. Being away at college, I met for the first time people who do not have any faith. It saddened me, but to be at World Youth Day and to see the Universal Church, I know that I am not alone in my beliefs. This experience has strengthened me to go out and evangelize my faith.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? Does watching Father Meyer dancing count? His enthusiasm for World Youth Day is contagious. He drew many pilgrims from around the world to our group and I really enjoyed meeting them all.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? Even though we were told to prepare physically, mentally, and spiritually, I did not fully understand the intensity of this pilgrimage. I learned that coming with a joyful spirit and prayer you can overcome any hardship you are faced with.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Seeing the relics from the beginning of our faith, walking on the same ground as saints and popes, and being in the presence of Pope Francis only deepened my love for my faith. Learning about our history makes me appreciate where we are today and where we are going in the future.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? Absolutely! To experience and witness our faith in this setting is something you will never experience elsewhere. Seeing our faith on a universal level is humbling. We are not alone; God is everywhere. Young adults are not the future Church; we are the living Church now.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt the closest to God during our pilgrim walk to the vigil. The weather was not ideal; I was hot, tired, and thirsty, but I kept thinking of Jesus’ walk carrying his cross to his crucifixion. Knowing that our goal was to be with the Pope, three million young adults, and our Lord in adoration made the walk so worth it. I knew God was with us and put us each in that moment for a reason.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? We are very fortunate in America to have religious freedom. I have never experienced or known someone who has been persecuted for their Catholic faith. Hearing the young woman talk about having to flee her country to escape persecution shined a new light on our faith for me.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? Having Mass in Zurich was something I never expected to happen. When Fr. Meyer told us we would be leaving the airport to find a church to have Mass in, I wasn’t really sure to expect. Arriving at the church and the hospitality we were shown was something I know none of us will ever forget.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? Hearing Pope Francis speak and calling the youth to make something of ourselves is something I will always remember and use. He made the comment, “He calls you to leave a mark on history”. I think this is not only motivating but also reassuring knowing that God has plans for us to do great things with our lives.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend, if you were looking at someone in the eye, who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? Thank you, thank you, thank you! This experience will forever have an impact on my faith and it has changed me a young Catholic.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? This pilgrimage has ignited a fire within me to live out my faith, to not be ashamed of it, and to evangelize to bring others to the love of our Lord. I have always felt a need to help others; this is why I chose to be a nurse and go to Xavier. At college we are called to be “men and women for others,” and this experience only deepens my hope to make a difference to those around me. With this being the Year of Mercy, walking through the Holy Doors of Mercy, and being at WYD with its theme “Blessed are the Merciful” makes me realize that we need mercy in our world. Our world, country, town, and homes would be so different if we applied this to our everyday lives. We are called to be like our Lord and live a life of love and mercy.
WYD Reflections ~ Brie Fox
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? My most powerful experience was praying on my knees on the same 28 stairs Jesus walked on before he was crucified.
What did you learn? I learned that our faith is universal, and we are not in this alone.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? Just enjoying the company of my friends while singing and dancing.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I discovered that kindness can be found everywhere; even in the smallest of actions.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes, I have learned more about the importance of relics. They make our faith more tangible.
Would you encourage others to attend a WY; if yes, why? Yes, It is a once in a lifetime opportunity that will give you a whole new perspective.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? Adoration.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? I experienced it with millions of people from all around the world, which was a new experience for me.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I was surprised by how welcoming and friendly the native Polish people were. I also did not expect the other countries to know so much about the United States of America. They seemed so intrigued by us and asked us questions like “who are you voting for?”, and/or “which state are you from?”
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? My favorite speakers were the married couple that said with God’s help they were lead to a beautiful marriage and had the family of their dreams even though they could not have kids of her own.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? Thank you I appreciate your support, what you contributed allowed us to have a wonderful experience!
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? I will show mercy to those around me, even if it is hard.
WYD Reflections ~ Glen Geraci
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? When we went to the stairs that we had to kneel all the way up.
What did you learn? To always be open to your religion.
What was the funniest experience? The dance off on the bus featuring snoop double G, aka Glenn Geraci.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? That prayer can be very powerful.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? Yes, because it is definitely a once in a lifetime chance. It's very powerful and it's great to see over 2 million people gathered in one country.
When did you feel closes to God at WYD? At the place where you had to kneel up the stairs, and also when we were in the arena and everyone was singing loud. It was very beautiful.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? No matter where you are at in the world, the church will always be the same.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I was surprised by how dirty Italy was and all of the smart cars that were driven.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say? I would thank them for donating to the trip and helping us to go on the trip of a lifetime.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? It’s going to show me that no matter what is going on in the world, there is at least one good person in every country and to not take that for granted.
WYD Reflections ~ Olivia Geraci
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? The most powerful experience that I had at World Youth Day was when I, my two cousins, and my brother were walking to our place at the overnight site. The day was hot: we were tired, hungry, and very dehydrated, so we decided to say a few prayers as we weaved through the group. About five minutes after our prayers, a man with a few kids came up to me and asked if I had an empty water bottle, I nodded, and he poured his water into my cup so that myself and three others could keep going. It was a very vivid and real experience of how God answers our prayers.
What did you learn? I learned my true strength. Even though it was hard at most time and walking far distances wasn’t always easy, I kept going, and when it did get hard I knew I could look up and ask God for help. It never failed.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? The most fun experience was walking through the streets of Poland with thousands of people from around the world and hearing everyone’s chants.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? Personally, I learned that I am a lot stronger than I thought I was. I never looked to God for strength; I always thought it was just something I had to gain by myself. When I did look to God for strength, I felt better than I ever had.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Most definitely. While in Rome, we had the opportunity to see some very real church relics. I think seeing and not just believing really helped me believe in my faith more.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? YES! Even if you are so in touch with your faith it is such a good way to get away and experience with other people all around the world it really renews the importance of the faith.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt the closest with God during the last night in the field. In my head I was thinking of all the horrible things that could happen, especially with everything going on in the world, but God kept every single person safe, and it was incredible.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? While most of the Masses at WYD were in different languages I could still understand what was going on, so it just goes to show that we are one church.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I definitely was not expecting people from every corner of the world to know everything about America -- it was so amazing! When we would sing, people from Italy, Germany, Australia, Poland - everywhere - would sing too. It just goes to show how blessed I am to be able to live here.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? During one of the speeches, the Pope urged young people to not retire early in life. I think that’s something that I will remember when I get a little older: to never lose my spark and to keep believing in a really energetic way.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend, if you were looking at someone in the eye, who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? I don’t think the phrase “thank you” is nearly enough. I would explain how incredible it was and how it really impacted my life. It is a journey that I will relive the rest of my life; it is something that will never be erased from my memory.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? Prior to this pilgrimage, prayer was not something that I did very often and most of the time I didn’t think it worked. Now that I have experienced it in such a true way, I pray multiple times a day just for clarity. It really shapes my day and ultimately helps me make decisions and deal with things. Also, another thing that really changed me was not being too ignorant of the rest of the world, I am so interested now in learning and keeping up with other countries, just as they do with us.
WYD Reflections ~ Megan Hay
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? The most powerful experience for me personally was going to adoration at St. Peter’s Basilica. There were hundreds of people in the Basilica itself but only a few worshipers in the adoration chapel. I finally found the quiet I was looking for. While praying, an overwhelming sense of peace overcame me. I have never felt closer to Christ as I did in that moment.
What did you learn? I learned a lot about our faith and Divine Mercy on this trip. I learned that we are all called to confess our sins and accept His great mercy and about how we should show mercy to those around us as well. I also learned that attitude really is everything and staying positive can affect how enjoyable your trip is!
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? The most fun for me was all the singing and dancing that happened! I loved walking down the street or on the tram singing out loud. People from other countries would join us or we would join them in song. The unity and positivity that came from it was beautiful. I also really love dancing so randomly…breaking it down was loads of fun!
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned that I really appreciate kindness and being nice to people. I also discovered that I really dislike confrontation of any form even if I’m not directly involved. Along with this, I learned something really important about my future. On the vigil night in the field, my sleeping bag was positioned right next to the medic tents. Right before closing mass on Sunday, I watched as one medic struggled helping a girl walk to the tents. Before they could make it, she passed out and the medic had to catch her and carry her inside. For some reason, a very strong gut feeling came over me as I was watching this. The feeling told me to help people like this. Now, I know I want to help people in the future.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? I don’t think I’ll ever fully understand the Church but I think the Church is supposed to be shrouded in mystery in some ways. Did I open myself up to the power of the Holy Spirit during this trip? Yes. I’m sure through the power of the Holy Spirit that my understanding of the Church did deepen a little but it happened in ways that I do not understand.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? Yes! WYD was an experience like no other. I had so much fun and I got a lot closer to God in just a week’s time! It allowed me to experience another culture and changed me in ways that I never thought was possible.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? During WYD, I probably felt closest to God during adoration in the field. I say probably because I felt God nearby during everything we did at WYD! Adoration with Pope Francis definitely brought me closer to God though.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? Before this adventure, I don’t think I have ever properly experienced the Universal Church. Seeing people from all over the world and not even knowing their name yet realizing that you already have something in common, your faith, is amazing. Looking around and seeing that all these youths love God as much as you do is something that everyone needs to experience. It’s breathtaking.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I’m surprised by how nice all the natives to the area were. I did not expect to be greeted with such open arms. The man at the Catholic Church in Zurich, Switzerland bought us water, set up the chapel, set out flowers just for us, and paid for a bus to take some of us back to the airport. He went over and beyond for people he had never met! Then in Poland, a lot of the houses had signs that said “welcome” in all different languages. I have never felt so welcomed in my entire life and I wasn’t even in my home country!
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? I think the speaker that touched me the most was the girl who talked to us at the catechesis site. I think she was from Iraq (or Iran). She talked about the hardships she had to go through. She said one thing that really stuck out at me. She was talking about how she prays for the terror groups that caused the hardships in her home country. It seemed like such an odd thing to do at first but after thinking about it, I realized it makes perfect sense! They definitely need some prayers in their life.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? I would say thank you for changing my life because ultimately, that’s what they did. They provided me with an experience that I will never forget and for that I am deeply indebted to them. Other than that, words can’t describe how thankful I am to them.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? This experience has changed me in a very positive way! I’m stronger in my faith and more willing to spread the Good News! It has encouraged me to pray more often, too. Along with this, I am more outgoing and positive in general. It has changed my outlook on life!
WYD Reflections ~ Samantha Hensley
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? The most powerful experience I can recall would be climbing the Holy Stairs or Scala Sancta in Rome where Jesus once walked. Each moment and prayer of every step was humbling and surreal. It was amazing to climb the stairs with so many in silence and reverence that I wish I could have experienced in some of the basilicas.
What did you learn? I learned how truly universal the Eucharist is. To watch a field of millions transfer from chaos, craziness, and rowdiness to calming, awestruck, and hopeful all because of the unity of faith that our Lord is fully present with us, taught me that no matter what language we speak or what our culture is we understand the universal truth that Jesus died for the salvation of every single one of us.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? I would definitely describe our bus rides as some of the most whole group fun. Whether it be due to our amazing tour guides, dancing, singing and chanting our patriotism and faith, playing card games, or having great conversation these were the times when the whole group was filled with laughter even if we were delirious and sleep deprived at times.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned that I have the ability to find patience deep within when I am exhausted and burned out on being around massive amounts of people in unknown places. This was something I was concerned about going on this pilgrimage, because I often prefer to do things on my own or by myself. I wasn’t as overwhelmed as I expected myself to be.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? I think I developed a deeper understanding of why tradition is so important in the Catholic faith. While traveling to many places with deep roots in the beginnings and history of our faith, especially in Rome, I have a better understanding of why we continue to do things today as we have since our faith began. When you see St. Peter’s Basilica you understand we are meant to have a strong leader for our faith just as He trusted Peter to lead the church as our first pope. I continued to develop this understanding and why it is worth fighting for when we celebrated Mass at The Ark church in Krakow. Knowing that we were celebrating our faith in the place where Catholics defeated communism to do just the same thing years and years earlier allows me a greater appreciation of my freedom to practice my own faith.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? I would definitely encourage others to attend WYD, because everyone and anyone can get something out of it. It is a great challenge and experience for anyone to have.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God in our smaller Mass celebrations at St. Peter’s Basilica in the morning with Archbishop Tobin, at St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, and the ones in The Ark Church. It was nice to remove ourselves from the large groups and take time to refocus why we were truly on this pilgrimage in a more intimate setting.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? I was able to experience the Universal Church in a new way by witnessing and observing Catholics from every country tune into different radio stations to understand and celebrate the same Mass that we do at home. It was a completely new experience to be surrounded by millions of people all plugged into earbuds, full of eagerness to hear and understand the words of Pope Francis in the hopes to hear them and then live out these words in their respective countries.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I was surprised by the positivity and flexibility of our pilgrimage group. As a coach and a teacher I am put in a position to lead and work in many group settings. I often times hear much negativity either about individual members or roles of authority, so it was very surprising and refreshing to travel with such a large group and to have the level of positivity that we did. It was greatly appreciated and very helpful while traveling.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? It is hard to top Papa Francesco and the grace of his words and wisdom. One thing that particularly stuck with me was a time when he was talking about youth responding to all of the violence, crime, and hate in the world. From what I remember he was discussing a war on brotherhood and that our response as youth should be to live selfless lives and go out and serve and love those that need it the most. It is easy to stay self-focused and become a “couch potato,” but it is necessary to get out and actively live our faith. I hope to use and carry this message with our Youth Ministry to help them understand it is not enough just to say you are Catholic and show up at a few events, it is how we should choose to live our faith every day.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? My first words would be words of thanks, appreciation, and gratitude which would be followed by an invitation to their questions and what parts of the trip they want to know about. When people take the time to invest in your life experiences it is important to want to return the interest and share how their investment has impacted you.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? This pilgrimage has changed me by reaffirming Catholicism for me as a whole. There are often times when I question how much I support some components of our faith that I may not think are ‘with them times’ or fit into my current life. This pilgrimage has shown me how deeply rooted our faith is and that there is no reason to change many of the aspects of what we believe because they still hold true for today’s Catholics.
WYD Reflections ~ Lucy Herth
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? This pilgrimage was filled with powerful experiences. These experiences taught me how loving, merciful, all knowing, and how present God is in my life. But the number one powerful experience at World Youth Day was at the vigil while doing adoration. All the youth from every nation at World Youth Day spoke different languages, but during adoration I knew I had something in common with every one of them, the love for our Lord. All youth from every nation were kneeling with candles for the love of Jesus. It was silent, the sky was beautiful, and the view of 2 million people kneeling left me speechless.
What did you learn? I learned so much every single day. There was not a day that went by that I didn't learn something. While in Rome, I learned so much about saints when I went to all the different churches. In most churches there were relics of Jesus, martyrs, and saints. My favorite church, and the most informative to me, was Saint Paul Outside the Walls. I learned that St. Paul’s tomb, where he was buried, is right inside the church. Bordering all the walls of this church were the past and present popes. There were a few blank spots left for the future popes. There is a legend, I learned, that once all of the spots are filled that is when Jesus will come again. (Don’t worry…there were like 10 spots left.)
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? This entire trip was fun!! I had so many great experiences starting off in Roma: we had a very strange but funny tour guide, and she definitely set the tone for our trip. “Guyza” she would say; she said the strangest things, but they are stuck with me forever. I would say the most fun I had on the trip is when we were singing. We passed the American embassy and sang all of the American songs we knew; when we ran out, we broke out YouTube and looked up songs to sing (the other bus was jealous). While in Poland we even sang on the tram all the way to the hotel, and one day some French people were requesting songs and singing along with us (we even sang a few Christmas songs). Going with the All Saints group of people definitely made my trip because we were such a fun, outgoing, funny group to be around.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned that I have such a blessed life. Listening to all of the speakers at World Youth Day about their life, where they came from, and how they got there made me so thankful. I was so thankful because I was born into a Catholic family and I never had to suffer like these other countries and test my faith, or be afraid to practice my faith.
Have you deepened your understanding of the church? If yes, in what way? Yes, how the Catholic faith came to be.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? Yes, definitely!! WYD is something I will always remember. It helped me understand and appreciate the Catholic Church and its teachings so much more. You attend Mass with the Pope and 2 million youth of all walks of life. Walking around, seeing everyone singing, dancing, and laughing makes you so happy and you want to join in. Having people just come up to you to talk is so amazing. It is amazing because we do come from different worlds, but know you both have one thing in common: the love of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is an experience that will change your life for the best.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God at World Youth Day when I went to all the beautiful churches and was praying.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? I experienced the Universal Church in a new way when we went to the opening Mass and it was in a different language, but you still know what was going on and being said.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? What surprised me the most is how loving everyone was. I always felt safe everywhere I went even with everything going on in on world.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? My favorite speaker who touched me the most was Pope Francis. The message when he talked about young people retiring to early really spoke to me, because I do see it in today’s society and I will remember that speech so I will not retire too early and stay young.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? I would say thank you so much for financially helping me go on the WYD pilgrimage. It was a trip I will remember forever. You allowed me to live out my faith and experience it with the entire world. I cannot thank you enough, and I am truly blessed to have you as a part of my life.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you, how will you be different? This pilgrimage has changed me for the better, as I am so much more appreciative for everything I have and so thankful for where I grew up. Listening to all the speakers showed me how truly blessed I am. After going to Rome and Poland there is no way I could ever doubt my religion. I saw things first hand, right in front of me, it was just so real and I knew there could be no other way.
WYD Reflections ~ Jessica Hoffman
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? The most powerful experience that I had was praying the Scala Sancta or the Holy Stairs. Being in an area where Jesus had walked and being able to pray to him in such a manner was very profound.
What did you learn? I learned a lot about the history of Jesus and the Catholic Church on this pilgrimage. To be able to see Jesus Christ as a historical figure was a big eye-opener to my faith.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? One of the experiences that was the most fun was getting to know others, whether they were from our groups or from people around the world. It was awesome being able to connect with others. Another experience that was enjoyable was singing as a group in the streets. It was such a joy to listen to others join in and really getting excited about a group from the USA. We hear so many negative comments about the USA that it was great to see others get enjoyment from our presence there.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned that I have a large capacity to let Jesus into my life. For many years, I feel as though he was missing and I experienced that he can do great things with my life if I just let him. I feel very fortunate for the blessings that I have already received and I know that if I let Him into my heart more, that even greater things can happen.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? I feel that I have just a small glimpse of what it is like to be a part of the Universal Catholic Church. With more than 2.5 million individuals gathered to celebrate our faith, I learned that the Catholic faith is truly worldwide and even more importantly, alive!
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD, if yes, why? I would encourage other to attend WYD if they are interested in deepening their faith and celebrating their faith with others. While it does come with its own set of unique challenges, it was worth the sacrifice.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God during our trip to Rome. To actually see and experience the churches that were built in his honor and to learn the history behind the time of Jesus was extraordinary. Standing in places where individuals from the Bible were laid to rest was astounding.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? Our pilgrimage allowed me to see the Universal Church as just that, a universal church. A church in which no matter where you go in the world, Mass is celebrated generally the same and we can connect, even though the languages may be different.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I am surprised by how much my faith has deepened. While I was open to it and even expecting it, I did not expect a revelation such that I had on this journey.
During WYD, we heard many speakers, which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use?
During WYD we listened to many speakers about their own journey to their faith. One of the speakers that reached me the most was a girl from Iraq. She spoke of how dangerous it was to celebrate the Catholic faith and the many dangerous experiences her family and friends had had. We often hear about the war taking place in the Middle East, and it was truly touching to hear a personal testimony of what it is like. Also, Pope Francis had a message that reached me personally. He stated that many young people retire before their time and become boring. Having fallen into a certain routine the last few years, it really opened my eyes and made me realize that I need to be more active and more adventurous in my life, both spirituality and physically.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend, if you were looking at someone in the eye, who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? First and foremost, thank you for helping me change into a person I hoped to be. Please know that your sacrifices were not in vain. I truly had a once in a lifetime experience and will be forever better because of this opportunity.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? This pilgrimage has helped me have more faith in the questions that I do not have an answer to and to be patient and wait for an answer. It has also taught me to be more proactive in my faith. I hope to be more patient and understanding and celebrate my faith with others.
WYD Reflections ~ Stephanie Hoffman
The most powerful experience that occurred during the pilgrimage was actually a string of connections that really spoke to me. It first started with praying on the steps that Jesus climbed, but this was just the beginning. At Mass that same day at St. Mary Major, I realized that this is how it should be... all about Him. The design of the side chapel in the larger church made it all about him with the way we were all surrounding him. With this distinct memory continually reoccurring during the duration of the trip, one particular catechesis speech hit me the most. The topic was about the crosses that we wear and how it was all "for me!" I knew this before the trip, but I really didn't KNOW this. But now I have seen, looked at, studied, observed and questioned, the connection is more real to me now than it has ever been. The final profound connection that really solidified this awakening was at the Stations of the Cross. The images and art presented are burned into my memory. It made it all the more real to me.
I had no clue that a church could have more than one Mass going on at a time. Many of the beautiful churches that we visited, prayed in, and had Mass had multiple altars in one area; side chapels and adoration chapels all in one place of worship. This worship continued outside of the wall of the churches because we were surrounded by so many that were there also with youthful joy and love for Christ. On the tram, I met a Frenchman that also had a priest that took care of four churches. Those churches were 900 years old though. This was just one experience that show me that we do belong to a "Universal Church".
Anyone that has a desire to deepen their faith and devotion really should consider attending a World Youth Day experience. I have never witnessed so much love and devotion in one place; of course, I don't think that I have ever been surrounded by 2.5 million+ people before either. I know that each person is on their own path, but WYD will have something for everyone which will help them come closer to the Lord.
The experience showed me the importance of stepping back for reflection and prayer time. I loved having the time for Mass scheduled in daily. It was disappointing not to have that devotional time set aside when I arrived home, and I miss it already. So, as I move forward I plan on changing the amount of time I spend in prayer, reflection, and listening to him. It may not result in daily Mass, but those stops at stop lights or the time while folding socks has really come in handy as times to pray and reflect in the everyday busy life.
Thank you, Father, for all your time to make this trip happen! I wish I would have taken a trip like this earlier. I know that it will have immeasurable positive outcomes in the future for all involved, giving those that invested in us their money's worth plus some.
WYD Reflections ~ Maria Keck
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? There were so many powerful experiences for me... I was particularly moved by the climbing of the Sancta Scala, or "Holy Stairs" in Rome. These were the stairs that Jesus walked up when he received His sentence to death from Pilot. The stairs were transferred to Rome in the fourth century by St. Helena and now lead up to the Sancta Sanctorum, or the Holy of Holies, in the old personal chapel of the popes, the Chapel of St. Lawrence. It is tradition to reverence these steps by climbing them on your knees and offering a different prayer intention with each step. This experience was mind-blowingly intense because it brought us close to Christ in his suffering in a whole new way. We physically felt the stairs that He climbed, and could imagine the emotions He felt as He began the journey of offering His life for us. Our offering of prayer as we climbed these stairs was a beautiful way to unite us with Christ and His passion.
What did you learn? I learned that the Catholic Church is alive, vibrant, and well-equipped to change the world. I learned that with enough prayer and grace, anyone can be changed in order to live for Christ. I learned that we have a duty as Catholics to put forth the effort and to work together for a Christ-centered world. I learned that we are stronger than we could ever imagine.
What was the funniest experience? The fact that some random pilgrim from All Saints has model photos of Fr. Meyer, Fr. Dustin, and Fr. Hollowell that Irene took on his/her iPhone 6.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I discovered that I am truly capable of turning suffering into a joyful prayer. Though what we "suffered" was nothing in comparison to the suffering of Jesus or the martyrs, we were still able to share in an experience of exhaustion, hunger, and extreme frustration. And because of this, we were given the opportunity to offer this up to our Lord and to turn it into a prayer. I think I realized this big time during our hike to Blonia field and during the time we spent waiting for our food. Many people were being rude and angry, and it took a lot for the Arch Indy group to joyfully push onward as Christians. This experience taught me that God's grace is always enough, and that all I need to do is trust in Him through any difficult times, to focus on Him and only him. If I do this, I know that He will lead me out of the fire; maybe not unscathed, but certainly stronger than when I started.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes! This is an awesome question because I think my understanding of the Church deepened in two ways: first, in a historical sense, vertically, across time, if you will. Having the opportunity to pray in places like St. Peter's Basilica, and to visit the tombs of St. John Paul the Second, and St. Paul, to see relics of the true cross and the wood of Jesus' manger, to walk in the catacombs where Christians of the past buried their dead... all of this gave me an idea of just how deeply rooted our faith is, and also how well-preserved it is.
The second way my faith deepened was across the expanse of our modern Church-- horizontally, I'll say. Being united with faithful, excited, young Catholics from across the globe and seeing the joy that each and every one of them found in their faith brought me so much hope. It showed me that we are not alone in our faith, and that there must be a reason for all of this crazy World Youth Day stuff. I mean, let's be honest: what other religion can boast a tri-yearly gathering of two million of their most vulnerable, moldable minds? And from countries across the entire world. It's incredible to be a part of something universal and so cohesive.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? YES YES YES. Although we all have similar outward experiences while attending WYD, each one of us has a different internal experience... a different spiritual revelation or encounter. All I can say is WYD will change you in a way that you need to be changed. All you have to do is hand yourself over to Christ and beg Him for the grace to be changed. He will change you.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? My closest encounters with God were all very internal. I would say the most intense was during and right after I went to confession. I believe this was on Wednesday or Thursday in Kraków at the Mercy Centre. I cried profusely during confession and confessed my most ugly sins, also admitting that I was afraid of myself and the near and present danger of committing them again. The priest comforted me and spoke to me as Christ, telling me that Jesus is always waiting to forgive me, no matter how many times I fail. After I left confession, I fell to my knees in front of the Blessed Sacrament in adoration. In that moment I felt so loved, so completely at home in God's embrace. It was beautiful.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? It was incredible in every gathering how we could all be listening to the Pope, or singing the WYD theme song in 50 different languages, and still be listening or singing the same things. The same beliefs. The same faith. It was beautiful.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? Having traveled to Rio de Janeiro for WYD in 2013, I had a lot of preconceived ideas of what WYD Kraków would be like. Fortunately, God always has lovely little surprises for us. Things in Kraków didn't quite go as smoothly when it came to logistics and planning, and although they were small issues, like waiting in line with rude people and running out of food, they still caught me off guard. But I'm grateful for these struggles because they taught me to pray in ways I haven't quite learned. #blessed
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say? You have no idea what your support has done for all of us. Your donation was worth every penny because you helped to change the lives and hearts of many young people. We will never be able to thank you enough.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you, how will you be different? While I was in Kraków, I made a promise to change my life for the better. I did this a lot as a teenager, but being in my fourth year of college and really having made some bad decisions thus far in my life, I am now yearning for truth and peace. I discovered this in a profound way when I opened myself up to God's love in Kraków. Every time I prayed in Kraków, I begged for the courage to bring back the faith I had found there to my home and school, and for the grace to be able to share that faith, and to truly live it. I have been changed because I have found that God doesn't just want us to believe in Him, He wants us to LIVE for Him. This goal will not be easy, but I am determined, and I continue to beg for God's grace. Even though Kraków was inspirational and empowering, I know now that I MUST find that inspiration and empowerment here, in Ohio, because He is here, too, even if we don't see Him. He is everywhere, because we cannot live without Him.
WYD Reflections ~ Dalton Kuebel
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? The most impactful moment during our pilgrimage for me was the first step I took inside St. Peter’s Basilica. The sheer size of the church is like nothing I’ve experienced before. At every step you take is a masterfully made fresco, mosaic, sculpture, altar or column. The first morning in Rome we had the pleasure to have Mass with Archbishop Tobin at an altar dedicated to St. Jude and St. Simon, which also housed a tremendous mosaic behind the tabernacle. The altar was only steps from the main altar of the basilica, which made for a tremendously powerful Mass. Between the unbelievable architecture and pondering how man could handle such a tremendous undertaking without the use of modern equipment, I could barely believe what I was seeing. We prayed in a chapel with the Blessed Sacrament exposed and then moved to pray in front of the tomb of St. John Paul II. This really helped me see the history and power of the Catholic Church. The symbolism and meaning behind every single art piece and design of the basilica is also what made it so impactful for me. Nothing was in there by accident. If you ever make it to Italy, St. Peter’s in Vatican City should be very near the top of your list to go and see.
What did you learn? Throughout this pilgrimage, I learned that there is a lot more of the Catholic Church than what we can see in Southeastern Indiana. Although I love going to Mass at a parish where I know and recognize most of the population, it was eye-opening to see the Church on such a vast level like we did at WYD. When you put 3 million Catholics in 1 city for a week, tremendous things are bound to happen. Seeing WYD and the living church was extremely impactful for me, especially having seen the church and its history in Rome. Connecting the old, traditional ways of the Catholic Church into a massive, modern event full of the vibrant church was extremely insightful for me. I will never see the church only as some small parishes, but as small parishes as part of a worldwide tradition extending throughout the world and into lots of languages.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? The most fun I had while on pilgrimage was walking. We walked everywhere. You might think this is an odd answer, but walking was our way of touring Rome and encountering the people and relics of our Church. Walking in Krakow however, was one of the most unique and awe-inspiring things I’ve experienced. We would walk around the city hearing groups singing in other languages, waving at anyone and everyone, shouting out to countries when we knew where they were from because of the flag they were flying, and even starting and joining chants and cheers. No one was judgmental or too nervous or scared to just start singing or having a conversation with someone from a different nation. It was as if we all just came together like we had been around each other our whole lives and were comfortable around each other.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? After studying the saints and seeing how they’ve built up the church and even sacrificed their lives for its continuation, I understand the phrase “We’re all called to be saints.” I think this is something that didn’t mean a whole lot to me prior to this trip. Now seeing the caskets and tombs and relics of the saints and seeing where they walked and preached, I’ve seen a devotion in me open up to become more like them; to follow by example and help spread the Word via their help and guidance. If you’re lost or stuck in a rut, just pick up a book about a saint. It doesn’t really matter which one (St. John Paul II is a good start). Read and you’ll be inspired to rediscover who God made you to be. For me, learning about the 2 patron saints of WYD 2016, St. Faustina and St. John Paul II, has made the word “mercy” a tangible concept and something I can implement in my life and improve upon as I continue to study and pray for these saints’ intercessions.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? My understanding of the Church has furthered to see the Church as “catholic”, which literally means “universal.” We always hear about how there are millions of Catholics and how universal the church is, and we hear the pope talk in a different language; but when I heard songs of praise and worship sung in multiple languages and by people of different races and from different walks of life, it really hit me. The Church has accomplished something that I believe we have all taken advantage of and not really fully appreciated. One Lord and one church has brought together millions, no, billions of people throughout history and has brought them to believe in the same thing. This is an incredible feat and isn’t something to take lightly.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? I would encourage every person in every stage of their faith to go to a WYD. It is something that is unlike anything and everything you’ve ever imagined. Think about going to an NFL football game and the crowds that are there with you. Think about everyone in that stadium all cheering for 1 team. Now multiply that crowd by 100 and that team is our Lord. WYD is a gathering of faithful people that is unprecedented by any other event in the history of mankind. On top of having that large of a crowd, everyone can find a way to be friendly and joyous with one another and feel embraced by the church in a way that you’ve never experienced before. Panama 2019, I’ll see you there!
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God in our catechesis sessions in the mornings during WYD. Seeing celebrities of our faith up on stage talking about their experiences and showing us how to better our lives really impacted me. It also helped that they were speaking English. But the speakers really spoke to your inner necessity and desire to further your faith. To share Mass with so many people in an intimate setting, lead by cardinals of our Church, really struck me and helped motivate me to become the best version of myself. You could really feel and see God working in the speaker’s lives, showing us what they’ve learned and how they’ve managed even through very difficult times.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I didn’t expect to be so welcomed by the locals of Poland. I had this feeling that WYD was going to encroach on their lives and that they wouldn’t be open to having so many people flood their city and back up everything. But I experienced the opposite. Every Polish person I encountered seemed happy to have us and was participating in the event itself. We met a nice family on the tram one evening. The two boys were around 9 and 5 years old. Their parents wanted to show them WYD and how this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for their home town to hold such an event. They loved the people and the kids had so many wristbands and knick knacks that pilgrims had given to them, they were loving every second. We started to sing some songs that the kids knew and they joined in with us. One of the songs I remember singing was “Yellow Submarine.” They knew the words better than I! This was an experience I will not forget and hope to cherish for many years to come.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? I would say thank you. Thank you for helping us get to the Eternal City and Krakow. Thank you for helping me to experience the Church on a worldwide level and thank you for helping us meet the future of our Church. But most of all, thank you for allowing me and the rest of the pilgrims to experience God in a way none of us will ever forget. I think every person that went on the trip will come back with a plethora of stories and knowledge that will fuel them spiritually for many years to come. It would not have been possible without the help of our community, and for that I am forever grateful.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? This pilgrimage really showed me the power of prayer. Prayer means a lot of different things to different people. There are many types of prayer and many different ways to pray. This is something I struggled with seeing. Praying takes practice and maybe a little kick start is what I needed. But this pilgrimage really showed me that even though there are many different ways to pray, the important thing is to just pray. It may seem overwhelming to pray a certain amount of time on certain days of the week, but seeing the power prayer brings into our lives…you can’t afford not to pray! This is something that will be forever instilled upon me after this pilgrimage.
WYD Reflections ~ Ian May
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? Praying the Holy Stairs.
What experience was the most fun? Meeting all the different people.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? How much more time I need to give to the Lord.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes, I could see the history of the church in a real and actual way.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? Yes, because you see the church alive.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? During the closing Mass with the Pope.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? I saw how the church was united by people from all over the world.
Looking back, what surprised you, what experience did you not expect to happen? Getting so close to the Pope.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say? Thank you – this pilgrimage changed my life for the better. I am a better man due to this experience.
WYD Reflections ~ Amanda McCann
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? For me, personally, it was the Mass we had at St. Paul's Basilica. I don't know why, but that Mass was by far the best I have ever been to in my entire life. I don't know what made it so inspiring…maybe it was because St. Paul had a connection to my confirmation saint (Saint Phoebe) who I have been praying to, or the homily Fr. Hollowell gave about vocations, but I walked out of that Mass with an entirely different view on my faith.
What did you learn? I didn't realize before how much art is involved with the church, which I saw in the Vatican museum and the basilicas. I also learned more about the history of the church as we toured around Rome.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? One of the days we were in Krakow, we all split up into our groups after catechesis. After my group ate, we made our way to the field for Stations of the Cross but we stopped at this square where all these people were gathered. There was a fountain in the middle that a lot of people had climbed on and were waving their flags and singing so loud they were screaming. I would have joined them but I had no idea what they were saying. Anyway, my group just went around trading items and giving people free hugs. Just seeing so many happy people brought together like that I thought was so much fun and left me with the biggest smile on my face.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned to appreciate a lot of things that I would normally have taken for granted. Like bottled water. Or being too picky about whatever food was placed in front of me.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes. When we saw the relics of our Lord's Passion and went up the Scala Sancta and saw the Last Supper table and manger, all of those just helped me to understand and realize exactly what our faith is about.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? YES! It is a great way to embrace your faith, meet other Catholics from around the world, see the Pope in person, and overall have the most life-changing experience you will ever have, hopefully growing closer to our Lord along the way.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? When we did adoration with Pope Francis at the Saturday night vigil. I love beautiful sunsets, and the timing could not have been better for one to happen during the benediction that evening. On the screen I was watching from, the camera was placed so that it showed the monstrance with the beautiful sunset behind it. It was beautiful.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? By meeting all those other Catholics from around the world. It didn't matter that we didn't speak the same language. Everyone was smiling, hugging, and trading things and we were all so happy!
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I was not expecting to receive that touching experience during the Mass at St. Paul's Basilica. It's funny because that basilica wasn't even the biggest or most beautiful one we visited! In fact, at first it seemed a little plain compared to the other ones, until I saw the back half of it. Then everything just fell into place.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? The speaker that touched me the most was the nun from Saint Faustina's order. Before she started her talk, she had everyone in the arena take a crucifix and hold it in their hands. When she ended her talk, she asked us to turn the cross around and look at the empty side of it and she said something along the lines of "That empty spot is for you" and that we are called each day to take up our cross and follow Jesus.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? I can't thank you enough for giving me this opportunity of a lifetime. Without your generosity and support I would have never been able to experience the best time of my life I have had on this pilgrimage.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different?
Every Mass I celebrate now reminds me of the opening Mass we had with the Pope. I'm half expecting to turn around in church and see people waving flags and speaking in different languages. Also, ever since that inspiration I received during the Mass at St. Paul's Basilica, I've felt the need to start looking up retreats and praying more about what God wants to do with my life instead of what I want.
WYD Reflections ~ Renee McCann
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? The most powerful experience that I had was on the Holy Stairs. To actually step foot where Jesus himself walked on Good Friday, and pray on each step, was incredible. Words cannot fully describe the feeling I got when I walked through the doors and saw the stairs. (I had to pinch myself several times to make sure I wasn't actually dreaming.)
What did you learn? I learned so much about my faith and about myself, in who I am and my purpose on this earth. I learned history and culture about the Church, my faith, and just each country's way of life itself.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? For me, what I would describe as the "most fun" was bonding with the group, from singing and chanting through the streets to the sleepless nights in airports and buses and making new friends. The entirety of the pilgrimage in itself has been one of the most fun, inspiring, educational, and profound experiences I have ever had.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned that I was a lot stronger than I had previously thought, in mind, body, and spirit. I came to a deeper understanding with my faith, and because of that I feel like I have come to a better understanding of myself. This pilgrimage also helped me take a leap of faith and finally make a decision that has been weighing on my mind for close to two years now: what I am going to do with my life. I feel like I have taken a giant leap forward in getting to where God wants me to be.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Absolutely. I feel renewed in my faith in every way possible. I have never been so immersed in my faith like I was on this pilgrimage, and I feel so much more connected to God.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD? If yes, why? Again, absolutely. I have already talked to a couple of my friends about attending WYD in 2019, encouraging them to go. It will change your way of life, your views on life, and enhance your faith. You will feel so much more connected to God and the Church.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? At the Holy Stairs and on the walk to the vigil. As we walked to the field where the vigil was going to be and got stuck behind the masses of people waiting in line, dehydrated and feeling sick from the heat, all I could think about was what it was like for Jesus when he carried his cross. Though there is no comparison, I felt closer to him, like I was suffering a bit. The suffering was worth it once we reached the field and the vigil began; sleeping out under the stars also made me feel a bit closer to God.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? Before this pilgrimage, I never really understood how universal our faith was. To go to any church, and attend the Masses during WYD itself, and find that they were almost completely the same as back home, was a bit of an eye-opener to me. To realize that every Catholic around the world shares the same faith and celebrates Mass in almost the same way we do really made me feel connected to everybody. To me, it was an absolutely amazing experience.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? As I mentioned before, the Universal Church surprised me. I don't know why, but I never expected it to be so similar. What I did not expect to happen was getting stuck behind the masses of people on our walk to the vigil site. I tried to prepare myself for any kind of situation, and I left for this pilgrimage with an open heart so I wasn't really surprised per say at much else, but I never expected how crazy it would be with everybody like it was. No amount of preparation could have prepared me for that.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? Pope Francis, particularly during his speech when he said that we "didn't come into this world to vegetate, to make our lives a comfortable sofa to fall asleep on. No, we came for another reason: to leave a mark." In today's world, the majority of people are addicted to the internet and all its different forms of social media. People do a whole lot of talking, and not enough acting. If each person goes out into the world and even makes the smallest difference, the tiniest change, and touches at least one person, imagine the difference it would make. All of Pope Francis' talks spoke to me, but this part in particular did. I have my own personal issues dealing with standing up for myself or speaking out and spreading my faith the way I should, so this really cut close to home. I realize the importance of standing up for what I believe in, and this has renewed in me the desire to spread my faith across all ends of the world, even if it means beginning with one small person.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? "Thank you for giving me the opportunity to live what God desires from me.”
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? I have answered a bit of this throughout all my responses, but this pilgrimage has opened my eyes to many things. It has changed me in the fact that I feel renewed in my faith, and that I need to get up and spread my faith throughout the world just by starting with one person. This pilgrimage also gave me the push I needed to decide what I am going to do with my life, as I was terrified of making the decision and commitment before. I was afraid of cost and devoting my time to something that I'm not guaranteed a job in, and in just studying something so intense in general. I was too worried about all the worldly aspects that I never stopped to truly pray to God about what I should do. After coming home, I know exactly what I am to do. Because I feel renewed in my faith, I hope to be different by strengthening my prayer life the way I need to and delving back into learning and participating more. This pilgrimage has changed me in a way that words cannot describe. I feel renewed in faith, and healed from past mistakes. God is good.
WYD Reflections ~ Darlene Murray
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? Seeing the artifacts that came from Jesus' Crucifixion and being able to witness people praying the steps that he too walked.
What did you learn? No matter how messed up this world seems at times people all over the world still have their faith in God. We were witness to this as we all gathered together in the field and prayed.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? Our tour guide Irene. She made everything fun but also educational.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? How the people in other countries love the USA but especially in Poland. They were so receptive of us. Their waving out of their windows and on the sidelines as we passed.
During WYD, we heard many speaker. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use?
The Sister of Mercy. She said when we pray we must first thank God for loving us then proceed with our blessings and request.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? It was the most moving religious experience of my life. I hope others have the opportunity to have the same experience.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you, how will you be different? I know my faith is deeper than before. I will try to share not only the experience but the love of Jesus with all I meet.
WYD Reflections ~ Patsy Oehlman
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? We entered St. Peter’s Basilica very early in the morning, before 7:00 a.m. The Basilica is not open to the general public until 9:00. I had no idea there were so many altars in the Basilica, and as we passed each one, there was a priest saying the Mass, most of the time alone, a few had a small group of maybe 5-6 people. It just touched my heart to think that all these Masses were celebrated each and every day in honor of our Lord and Savior. The significance of the altar really stuck out in my mind.
Our group of 104 was heading to the St. Joseph Altar to hear the Mass celebrated by our very own Archbishop Joseph Tobin of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
What did you learn? I learned more detailed information about our faith and church: Vatican City, the Basilica, the Vatican Museum, Rome, the Sistine Chapel, the many churches and basilicas of Rome, the Catacombs, St. John Paul the II, St. Faustina, andthe history of Krakow, Poland. It was a wonderful experience/trip.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? I really enjoyed the group trips into Rome in the evening, singing, touring the city as a group. It was a lot of fun!
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I struggle day in and day out to be in the moment. As Father Meyer put it to the group on our trip “Participate don’t anticipate”. Throughout the trip, minute by minute, I had to say this to myself. As I mentioned I struggle to just be and let be. I want to plan, know my every move and so, I tried to let go and let God.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? I suppose deep inside of me there is a tiny bit of Thomas in me; seeing is truly helpful in a stronger belief/faith. Actually getting to experience and see the grave of our first pope, Peter, to see the steps that Jesus walked on, to see the ruins of the Romans, and the wood from the manger and cross made our faith become so much more real and maybe deeper for me.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? Yes, to have the chance to attend a Mass celebrated by the Pope. To see so many other young people with such a strong faith in God from so many parts of the world is awesome. To experience and see all the nationalities as ONE BODY IN CHRIST, was phenomenal! So cool!! The struggles you go through to get to that point helps you to appreciate even more what Jesus Christ went through for us.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? When the Pope blessed us with the Holy Eucharist (in the Monstrance) during the Benediction.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? The days leading up to the closing Mass, I felt such solidarity as we were in catechesis, traveling around the city, and moving towards the culmination of the pilgrimage. We were all there for one thing and that was God as our savior, our merciful God.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? This is kind of a funny thing to mention, but I was very anxious about the night of the vigil, even months before the trip, I was not excited about this part of the trip what so ever. For many reasons, one being, I thought I would not sleep a wink and that I would end up sick. I actually came down with an upper respiratory virus early on in the trip and really did not get much sleep leading up to the vigil. I still was very nervous about the whole day and night, to the extent that I planned to leave and go back to my room before night fall. I prayed many times for God to get me through this night. Well, surprisingly enough, I crawled into my sleeping bag around 10:00 and woke up only once, and did not get up again until around 7 a.m. on Sunday morning. It is silly, but I also hated the thought of using port-a-let, but actually my experience with that was not bad at all. In saying all this, I believe I was at peace in the Lord and just let go, and it was good. J
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? I believe it was Cardinal Timothy Dolan; he spoke about how much God loves us, and stressed that God loves us first!
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye, who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? It was an unbelievable experience with so many emotions. As an older adult attending the celebration, it was so real, and witnessing the faith of so many young adults whose faith was so strong and alive amd seeing the church in a very different light was amazing.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? I think my faith is stronger, seeing the old history of the church in Rome, and then witnessing the young church in Krakow, as I saw so many nationalities coming together for one True God!
WYD Reflections ~ Sarah Oehlman
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? An experience that really touched me and stands out was our time praying on the Holy Steps, the Scala Sancta. These steps were the steps Jesus ascended and descended to meet with Pontius Pilot before he was crucified. St. Helen had them brought to Rome. We ascended the steps on our knees, spending time on each step praying. It was very powerful to me to spend time in prayer on these steps and time in meditation on the fact that Jesus Christ had walked on those steps.
What did you learn? I learned a lot on this Pilgrimage about the church, history, Pope John Paul II, our world and myself. To pick out one thing, I learned a lot about the life of Pope John Paul II. I learned the hardships he had to go through in his early life and the amazing ways that he touched people as a pope. Being in Krakow, where he grew up, and visiting Auschwitz, the concentration camp that was active during his young adulthood, really allowed me to know Pope John Paul II more.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? It’s hard to pick one experience as being the most fun. I really enjoyed the community of our group and how I felt like family to fellow parishioners that I didn’t really know before the trip. The gelato was very tasty in Rome and our tour guide Irene was very fun! On our first day in Krakow, I was in awe of all the positive energy and excitement from all the people coming together for World Youth Day; everyone taking pride in their country and excited to meet other people.
A unique experience that stands out was a run I went on in Rome. Some of us that were willing to wake up early one day on our only day to sleep in went on a “running tour” led by a highly recommended running tour guide, Father Jonathon Meyer. It was very cool to see the city that way. It was a quiet Sunday Morning and not many people were out. We were able to see views that we would not be able to see as easily on our charter bus.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned that I often live a life where I am looking to serve myself and make myself more comfortable. While it is important to take care of myself, I also learned that a little suffering is okay. During one of the times Pope Francis addressed us, he spoke of getting off of our couch and doing something, acting and serving. This is something I want to live in my life.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? Absolutely, it’s definitely a life changing experience that I am struggling to put into words.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I only had surprises because I tried to have to expectations going into the trip. We were told that there would be “suffering” on this trip because it wasn’t a vacation. I was very surprised at the perspective I took on the times of suffering or discomfort. I actually really appreciated that it was part of the experience. Being in a place feeling so close to God, it was very easy to let go of those sufferings and understand that it was an experience I was meant to go through and learn from. This is true at all times in our lives, but it was easier for me to accept on this trip so focused on God.
WYD Reflections ~ Darren Weber
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? The most powerful experience that I had was praying up the Sancta Sanctorum, the steps Jesus climbed and descended when he was condemned. I was in awe that they actually transported the actual steps from Jerusalem to Rome. Then to have the ability to pray up them was awesome. Praying up the steps was not easy – the steps were painful for my knees and legs; it was crowded, and it was so hot that I had sweat dripping off of me. However, the suffering contributed to the deepness of the prayer. On each step I offered up the suffering and my prayers for a member of my family – my grandparents (deceased), my parents (mom deceased), my sibling’s families, my wife, each of our children, her parents, her sibling’s families, and my godchildren.
What did you learn? Growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, I always loved and admired the pope at that time, Pope John Paul II. However, there was so much about this holy man that I didn’t know about. During this trip I learned so much more about St. John Paul II and am inspired to learn more. I learned how much he suffered in his life and how in all of that suffering he turned to God and God used him to change the world. He did so much as a priest, archbishop, and then pope to help his homeland, Poland, escape from the oppression of Nazism and Communism. Plus, I didn’t realize how instrumental he was in bringing the message of Divine Mercy to the world.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? The experience that I found to be the most fun was the singing and chanting we did while traveling to and from events in Poland. I enjoyed the comradery it brought our group and the smiles it created in those around us. It was especially noticed on the tram rides where other riders would join us, sing their own songs, applaud, and sometimes even make requests.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? The biggest thing I learned is that I am not defined by my sins. No matter what I have done, God is waiting with open arms to accept me back and forgive me. This shouldn’t have been something new, but I have lived with the guilt and shame of my sins for a very long time. However, God in his infinite love and Divine Mercy takes away that guilt and shame. I don’t need to hold on to it. I need to let go and let God.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes, WYD has greatly deepened my faith in the Church and how it is the connected, living Body of Christ. For me this is exemplified by the providence of God that revealed His Divine Mercy to St. Faustina, how it came about that St. John Paul II gave it to the Church, and then how the message was so woven into the themes of WYD 2016 to be shared with the whole Church. It was just so clear how the Spirit is still working in the Church. Also, the talks from Pope Francis were so current and applicable to the times today. The stereotype from our culture is that the Church is stagnant and behind the times. That stereotype is so wrong. The Church has, is, and will continue to provide the world what we need to get closer to God and find happiness in this life and the next.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD? If yes, why? Yes, I definitely would encourage everyone to attend one. To see that many Catholics together at one place, celebrating the same Mass, being lead and taught by the Pope is so awesome and humbling. It is so amazing that the faith I was taught here in Dearborn County is the same as that in Rome, in Poland, and everywhere around the world. And I think it takes actually being there to truly grasp that.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt close to God a lot during the pilgrimage. One of the times I really felt close was being able to go to adoration in a side chapel of St. Peter’s Basilica. The chapel (as well as the rest of the basilica) was beautiful and gave great honor to our Lord. It also struck me that I was not far from the remains of St. John Paul II, St. Peter and several other of the Popes. And that many of them had also adored the Lord at this same location. It was during this time of adoration that I felt the warmth of God calling me to have a closer relationship with him.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? A new way that I experienced the Universal Church was meeting people from all over the world and seeing that we did share the same faith. The languages were different, but the meaning is the same. Even hearing the mass in different languages, you still know what is happening. And to see 3 million people from all over the world celebrating one Mass together – if that is not universal, I don’t know what is.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? Looking back, what surprised me the most was the amount of people. I have never witnessed so many people at one place at the same time before. And then for the organizers to have managed it so well was amazing. The one thing that I didn’t expect was the issue we had getting food prior to the vigil. But I think what amazed me the most was that I was not upset about it. I trusted that God would provide for us and ultimately He did. In fact, we ended up with more food than we could really eat.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? We heard so many great speakers during WYD. The speaker that touched me the most was Pope Francis though. He had such great messages for the young people and even for us older people. I really enjoyed his comments about us ‘getting off the couch’ and being a force to change the world. He encouraged us to ‘make our mark’ on the world. I also enjoyed the talk by Cardinal Dolan on mercy. He gave some very clear examples of how we can be ’instruments of mercy’.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? I would tell them that I am so honored that through their support we were able to take this pilgrimage. It is really eye opening to see how connected we are with the rest of the world through our faith and how faithful that the young people are. To see 3 million plus young people gathered in a field is one thing, but then to see all of them go silent, on their knees, adoring our Lord is so much richer. It was great for me to see. However, I think it is awesome that the young people from our small rural community had the chance to see it. The chance to see that they are a part of a much bigger thing and that no matter where they end up in life they have a church and that the church needs them to be a part of it.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? The trip was so amazing. I am still trying to remind myself that it wasn’t just a dream. I am in awe of what man can create, but yet it pales in comparison to what God can do. The message of Divine Mercy really hit me on this trip and I plan to continue learning and reflecting on it. When my mom was dying from brain cancer, I was fortunate enough to lead my family in a Divine Mercy chaplet as she was joining Our Lord. From then on it has been hard for me to say a chaplet without getting very emotional. However, with WYD’s focus on Divine Mercy I was able to learn more about this powerful devotion and God’s infinite mercy - and was able to say many chaplets. I really wish I could have come home and told mom all about this trip. Instead, I think she was there with me. My plan now is to continue to offer chaplets for my loved ones, have a deeper relationship with God, and do my best to get my family to heaven with mom.
WYD Reflections ~ Lydia Weber
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? Going to the steps Christ walked up, and visiting the catacombs.
What did you learn? That there are so many people that share the same love for our Catholic faith.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? I loved walking down the street or riding a tram and either singing or hearing people sing.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned that I really need to open up and ask God what he wants with my life. I also should not be so afraid of the answer.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes, I really understood how singing in Mass is one of the greatest ways to pray.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? Yes. WYD is an amazing experience! To be in the presence of the Holy Father. Also just to learn and be with a bunch of people your own age is so great!
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God when we were in Auschwitz. It was crazy how you could just feel how something really holy had happened there.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? I experienced the Universal Church by seeing so many people engaged and excited about their faith, even if they couldn't understand the languages being spoken.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I didn't expect so many of the locals to be so happy to see all these people in their back yards.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? I really liked the cardinal from the Philippines (Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle). He talked so much about how your achievements don't define you.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? I would thank them so much for letting me have this opportunity to experience the church in a new way.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? I plan to attend daily Mass at least once a week. I also really want to find places in our community that need my help.
WYD Reflections ~ Mary Weckenbrock
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? It is hard to choose just one moment that was more powerful than the others. The whole trip was incredible, but I have to say that climbing the Holy Stairs was surreal. It was hard to even fathom the fact that I was touching the same steps that Jesus, my Savior, walked on the day he redeemed the world.
What did you learn? I learned that my faith is much bigger than I ever imagined. That there really is no “time” because we are all connected to each other around the world but also to those who came before us: the saints, apostles, any follower of Jesus, and Jesus Himself. Seeing all the relics showed me that everything that I learned growing up is real and parts of our faith are tangible.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? The most fun part was meeting different people from around the world! Taking pictures, exchanging things, singing together and everything else that connected us during those days even if we couldn’t fully understand each other. I also really enjoyed the times we spent just in our group, singing on the tram or bus or laughing about the experiences we had that day.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned a lot about myself surprisingly. First of all, I can go without sleep longer than I thought (ha ha). But really, I learned how much I was struggling with things in my life, but that struggle is a part of growth. I think God was really trying to teach me to lean on Him in times of struggle or suffering. Everyone goes through suffering, but it is necessary in order to become the person we are meant to be.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? I don’t know if I can say that I completely deepened my understanding, but this trip really made me realize that I know very little about the church that I have been a part of my whole life. It deepened my desire to learn more and study my faith.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? Definitely YES! WYD is an experience like none other. It will test you in every way possible. It will get you excited, it will make you question things, and it will make you want to do more in your life. I don’t think there are any other experiences that can teach you the same things.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I think the point that I felt closest to God was on the first day of Catechesis, when I went to confession. The priest helped me see my faith from a different perspective. After that, my experience and prayer changed completely for the rest of the trip.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? Sitting in a field with millions of other people who share my faith is something that cannot be described with words. Hearing the Pope speak in Italian and then listening to it translated to English, but also hearing someone else having it translated to their own language is incredible. But the real experience was hearing the Mass in different languages; this is when it all connected for me. This showed me how universal our faith really was because I didn’t need someone to translate for me in order to understand the Mass.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I was really surprised by how excited people got when they realized we were from the US. Everyone immediately started chanting U-S-A! It was so cool! Generally, I have felt like people don’t like the U.S. Obviously, I was wrong!
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? Although all the speakers were amazing, nobody beats the Pope! Every time he spoke, he had a strong message for all of us. I will always remember his words of inspiration, to go out and live our faith! "Do NOT retire at a young age!" Keep life, and teach people about our faith. It is time for all of us to stand up and be the change in the world; that is what I took away from one of his many messages to us.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? THANK YOU!!!! I can’t say it enough! This experience changed my whole perspective on life and faith and I can’t imagine where I would be going if God hadn’t stopped me with this trip.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you, how will you be different? The whole trip was a bit overwhelming and hard to take in, but as we were traveling home we had a lot of time to think. The whole time I was thinking about everything that happened. We had group discussions but I also had personal reflections and I felt so peaceful and joyful and realized that I had to bring that home with me and share it with others. I felt inspired to do something to help others experience Christ and His love and mercy the same way I had. I’m still praying about what it is that I am supposed to do but I know there is something. I want to continue to grow in my faith and to never let go again because I have never felt peace and joy like this before!
WYD Reflection Answers ~ Abby White
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? The most powerful experience for me was simply listening to Pope Francis speak to us young adults and how he thinks highly of all of us as individuals.
What did you learn? I learned to definitely not take life for granted and to stay positive
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? I think WYD was fun all around. Being able to meet new people from all over the world and to become closer to GOD was amazing.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned to not be so hard on myself, to not stress, and to trust in Jesus.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes, by better understanding different Saints.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? I would definitely encourage others to attend WYD because it is so awesome to see how universal the Catholic Church is and to experience it with so many individuals.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I think I felt closest to God Saturday night at the candlelight vigil.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? I experienced it in a new way by gathering with 2 million individuals in a huge field.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I think I was prepared for anything to happen. Father Meyer explained WYD pretty in depth to us and what all to expect. I didn’t expect them to run out of food or to get stuck shoulder to shoulder with tons of people unable to move though.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? Pope Francis and his homily at the opening Mass is the one I will remember forever.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? Thank you so much for giving me this unforgettable experience and allowing me to be able to experience this opportunity. It will definitely be one to remember for the rest of my life.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you, how will you be different? I will not stress as much, I will pray more often than usual, and I will not take things for granted.
WYD Reflections ~ Charlotte White
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? I had several powerful experiences but I think the most powerful one was getting the opportunity to pray on the Holy Stairs.
What did you learn? I learned that prayer is powerful. You can literally pray about anything and everything. There were several times where we needed a restroom but none were in sight so we would start praying. When in doubt, pray it out.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? Everything about the trip was fun, but I think the most fun experience was getting to yell chants through the streets of Krakow and also getting to dance in the field. We can't forget about the fun that Irene (our tour guide in Rome) brought!
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned that I am not a big fan of huge crowds and being pushed everywhere instead of walking was not ideal.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes, I learned more about why we do some of the things we do and why certain things are in the church.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? Yes, because everything about it is awesome, even the walk to the vigil! You get to see the pope, you get to share your faith with millions of other people, and you are reassured that there are still good people in this world!
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God when we were walking to the Vigil and everybody was so miserable and we were all ready to turn around and go back home. However, eight hours later we were all OK and still had food, water, and a spot to sleep, and we had a blast even after an exhausting day.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? Going to daily Mass in a different location each day.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? Getting to celebrate Mass at St. Peter’s with Archbishop Tobin.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? The sister that thought she had her life planned out touched me the most. She finally let God take over and he had a different plan for her. I will now take time to stop and ask God if my plan is the right plan for me.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? Thank you for everything you did to help get us to WYD. We are blessed to have been able to experience it all and to be able to send 40 of us from one parish was even more awesome! I prayed for all of those who helped financially and will continue to pray for them. Blessings!
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? This experience allowed me to come out of my shell and not be scared to express my faith. I will no longer be scared of what others think about me and my faith and I will let people know that I am proud to be Catholic! God is awesome!
WYD Reflection ~ Courtney White
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? The most powerful experience that I recall was after the opening Mass. I just remember looking around and seeing everybody that was there and everybody was happy and singing the theme song and just being awed. I was in awe because I don’t think I really realized how big the Catholic faith is and I just loved that everybody there believed in the same thing. We were all there for the same reason, which was to praise our Lord.
What did you learn? I learned so much about St. John Paul II. I thought I knew about his life but going on this trip I learned so much more. He led an amazing life and I really enjoyed getting to learn so much about him and what he did.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? The most fun I had was when we were in Rome with Irene. She made the trip in Rome very interesting and she kept things fun. I loved getting to know a real Italian person and getting to see her personality and what she was like. It was really funny to see Father Meyer squirm around her, too.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I discovered that I am not as close to God as I thought or would like to be. I have a lot of praying and learning and loving to do so I can continue to deepen my faith and understanding of God. I really look forward to getting to do just that.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way?
I have deepened my understanding of the Church because when most people think of the pope they think of this old guy who doesn’t understand what is going on in the world today, but that’s not the case at all. After listening to Pope Francis speak on multiple occasions I realized he knows and understands everything that is going on in a young persons life in today’s world and he knows how to relate to it and speak to us about it. He knows our strengths and weaknesses and how we can improve on those weaknesses.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? I would definitely encourage others to attend WYD because it’s an experience unlike any other. It really gives you a chance to either renew or deepen your faith with God and what better way than with millions of others who are believe and are doing the same thing.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God when we were singing at the masses. I just felt how much everybody was praising him when they were happy and singing and having a good time. I also felt closest to God in one of the church’s, I don’t remember which, but I remember sitting there praying and I could really feel him all around me.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? Getting to know people from all different countries was how I experienced the Universal Church in a new way. It’s just amazing sharing the same faith as somebody from Spain and being able to talk to him or her about it. I also really liked hearing the mass done in different languages because you may not have been able to understand the language but you knew what was going on and being said because it is all the same.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? What surprised me the most was the amount of people and how open and friendly all of these people were. There is no other religion that does something like this and it’s just amazing to see in person how well organized everything is and how many people travel from all over the world to come to it. I didn’t expect the issue with only have sparkling water to drink but we made do and were just happy to have some kind of water to drink after the 8-mile trek.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? The speaker that touched me the most was actually the emcee. There was one time in between speakers when he was talking about how he didn’t like or was embarrassed to talk about his faith with other people who didn’t share the same beliefs. That really resonated with me because I find it hard to talk about my faith to others. He really taught me that you shouldn’t be scared or embarrassed to talk about your faith with others, and that is something I’m really working on.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? I would thank them profusely for helping me have the chance to experience the Universal Church in such an amazing way. My faith is changed forever and they didn’t even realize how big of a part they played in that because without them it couldn’t have happened.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? It changed me because I’m not so scared to talk about my faith to others and it also just gave me such a deeper meaning and connection with God. God was always present in my everyday life but after experiencing this I’m realizing even more how present he is in everything. I also realized how sometimes I need to just sit and be quiet and listen for God when I have questions instead of worrying and stressing about different things. My trust in God is stronger than it ever was thanks to this experience.
WYD Reflections ~ Emily Whitehead
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? The most powerful experience I can recall is sitting in a field with thousands of Catholics with not only candles on fire, but souls on fire for Jesus. It was such a beautiful sight to look up and see Jesus Christ on the altar, and to look around and see Jesus Christ within each and every person.
What did you learn? I learned that there are many levels to our faith. By that I mean we can praise God through reading scripture, studying the history of our faith, praying, singing, talking about God with a friend, and many more ways of being able to learn about and praise our Savior.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? I had the most fun singing and dancing with people from all over the world. Whenever we would ride on a tram we would sing traditional Catholic songs, and people from France would join in (in English) with us. It was neat that they'd know the songs in two different languages.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned that I have absolutely no patience in crowds. I also learned that sometimes I need to take a break from the fast paced life I live. You don't always have to be running…take time to sit down and talk to Jesus.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes, I now know more about scripture, saints, the history of the church, and important stories of the church than I've ever known before.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? YES. It's such a powerful experience for youth and it allows you to grow deeper in your faith. It makes you realize how small you are in this big world God has created.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God through other people's words and actions during WYD. Others would come up to me and say "God bless" and "you are loved". It was as if God himself was talking to me, because he knew I needed a compliment to uplift my spirits.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? I experienced the Universal Church in a new way whenever we had Mass in a local church. Locals allowed us to use their facilities, and provided us with bread and wine so that we were able to praise God.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? What surprised me the most is that nothing too terrible happened. Yes, we were dehydrated because we didn't want to drink the sparkling water; yes, we were overheated, and yes, we were tired. But there were no shootings, no bombings, and no killings. And looking back, God was truly with us. God is good, all the time.
During WYD, we heard many speakers, which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use?-Even though I can hear Father Meyer speak every Sunday, he touched my heart when we were at Auschwitz. He spoke about Maximilian Kolbe and how he died for his faith. He said "these camps saw the worst of humanity, but they also saw the best of humanity". This comment really touched my heart and opened my eyes to the raging world around me. God brings light into this world of darkness.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? THANK YOU. Thank you for investing time in prayer, and thank you for investing in us to travel on this pilgrimage. It was worthwhile for every person that went, and it truly changed the hearts of many. Thank you.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you, how will you be different? This pilgrimage has taught me to always look on the bright side. Even when you think things may be going wrong, it is actually falling into place. God has a plan for me and everybody else. I will continue to go to church every Sunday, but I will get more involved in the community. My prayer life has sky rocketed, and it will continue to do so. I now have a better understanding of my faith, and I will put it to good use. Evangelization will be a big part of my future.
WYD Reflections ~ Margo Whitehead
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? As we were kneeling and praying up the Santa Scala, there was a step where I saw an image of Jesus on the cross with Mary standing in front of Him, looking up at her son. I began to cry, because I felt such a great sense of sadness, but at the same time there was a powerful feeling of love and mercy. I'll never forget that.
What did you learn? I learned that our faith is vibrant and young. I also learned that even though people may not speak the same languages or may not come from similar backgrounds, our faith unites us in Christ.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? I would have to say that meeting people from around the world and talking to them about their lives and faith was the most fun.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I discovered that I can walk 6-9 miles every day and still be joyful. : )
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? My understanding of the Church has deepened in that I know for a fact that our God is full of mercy that He longs for us to have. I know that God is someone that I can turn to at all times.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? I would definitely encourage others to attend WYD, because it's an amazing place to meet with people that share the same love of Christ and you get to celebrate mass with St. Peter's successor.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God during the Stations of the Cross.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? It was awesome to be with the youth of the Church at Mass and other celebrations.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? To be honest, there wasn't anything that surprised me because I went into WYD with an open mind and an open heart. I was prepared to go with the flow, and accept anything that God was ready to bless us with.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? There were many awesome speakers at WYD, but I'll have to say that the message that stuck with me the most was from Chris Stefanick when he said, "One out of 7 people are Catholic. Think about it, if each of us taught our faith to 7 people, we have the whole world covered!"
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? I would say, "Thank you so very much for giving us the opportunity to go to WYD. This pilgrimage has opened our eyes and ears to the message of Divine Mercy which Jesus so desperately wants the world to hear. We learned so much while on that journey, and now we are blessed with a mission; a mission to bring the message of God's love to the world.”
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? I will not be afraid to share my faith, even though many may say that I believe in a myth or a concept. I will always remember the experiences that I had on this pilgrimage, and I will not hesitate to share the good news.
WYD Reflections ~ Sandy Whitehead
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? The most powerful experience that I recall was the first time we gathered with other WYD attendees at Blonia Field...it filled my heart to see so many people in one place to praise God and share in the Catholic faith. The only feeling I can liken it to would be the mixture of happiness and how proud I feel when I watch one of my children accomplish something.
What did you learn? Rome is so aptly nicknamed the “Eternal City”, because its culture, architecture, historical and religious sites seem to go on endlessly. Personally seeing relics associated with Jesus’ life and visiting the tombs of apostles and popes was surreal, but certainly provided reason and concrete evidence for our faith. As far as World Youth Day, the theme of mercy was so well planned: how could there be a setting better than Krakow, the home of St. Faustina’s Shrine of Divine Mercy, and the home of St. John Paul II, the founder of WYD?
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? I had the most fun spending time with other people from our parish and getting to know them better, as well as meeting new friends from the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. All this while visiting historic sites of worship. I was not ready for that to end! And singing everywhere! In the streets, in the field, and on the tram!
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned that it is possible to turn off the noise of this life and hear God. All we have to do is take the time to be quiet and listen, even for a moment.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? As far as deepening my understanding of the Church, this trip allowed me to personally experience the rich history of the church, and made me realize that my understanding only scratches the surface. This trip created a personal urge to learn more.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? I would encourage others to attend WYD because it is a week of being surrounded by positive energy; WYD is a chance to experience cohesiveness in a world rife with division.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God at WYD when we celebrated Mass and participated in Eucharistic adoration with Pope Francis. Even though you are one person among hundreds of thousands of people, it felt very special to be celebrating with the leader of our church; a true disciple of Christ.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? Attending an early morning Mass at the local parish church in Rome near our hotel, I experienced firsthand the Universal Church. Although in Italian, the readings for Mass on that Sunday were exactly the same as those in the English version we had brought on our pilgrimage. It was the same as our Mass structure in the USA, so it was easy to follow along. Experiencing that connection makes one feel like we are all speaking the same language.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? I knew that we were going to celebrate Mass with Archbishop Tobin at St. Peter’s Basilica, but there was no way of knowing how awesome that would be. Let me just say that again: we celebrated Mass with our archbishop on a side altar of St. Peter’s Basilica, just a stone’s throw away from the main altar of the church, under which the body of St. Peter the Apostle’s body lies in repose, the “rock” on which our church was built. Phenomenal.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? Pope Francis delivered the best messages from my perspective. I usually have a hard time carrying messages with me, but his words resonate in my head. From his message, I will remind young people not to "retire before their time" and to put effort into their lives. For myself, I will do my best to "use the Gospel as a GPS for my life."
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? Although this pilgrimage came with a price tag, the experience was priceless, and we are forever in debt to those who supported us financially. I feel very fortunate to have been able to experience this pilgrimage with my two oldest daughters. I look forward to discussing this adventure with them in years to come and hearing their observations as the realization sinks in as to what they observed with their own eyes.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? Father Meyer urged us in his homily at the Mass celebrated at Saint Mary Major to continue to look for change and growth in our spiritual lives even if nothing dramatically occurred to us while on the pilgrimage. He armed us with the words, "Lord, teach me how to pray," which I intend to use to deepen and improve my conversations with the Lord.
WYD Reflections ~ Jacob Wilgenbush
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? The most powerful experience for me was praying on the Scala Sancta and being able to understand a little of what Jesus went through before he died for our sins.
What did you learn? I learned a lot on the trip. One thing that comes to mind is that it wasn’t just the Jewish people who had died at Auschwitz but that there were a lot of Polish priests who had died there as well.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? It was a lot of fun when we would walk to the outside gatherings and sing songs and listening to people from other countries sing as well.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? I learned more about the true amount of love that Jesus has for me and for every other human being.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes WYD has shown me that Church is large and touches people from all over the world.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? Yes, I would encourage others to attend a WYD in order for them to see just how large the Catholic Church is.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? During WYD, I felt closest to God when the pope was turning the bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus during Mass. That was a powerful experience.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? Being able to experience a Mass with millions of people at the same time, with everyone knowing and understanding the importance of celebrating the Eucharist was an awe inspiring experience.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? The local people of Krakow were extremely nice and pleasant. Instead of being resentful of the large amount of people being in their city they were very welcoming and seemed excited for us to be there.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? Cardinal Dolan’s speech about Marge had a message that I will remember. That message is that little acts of mercy can do a lot to makes someone else’s life a lot better.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? Thank you for this once in a lifetime opportunity. This trip has been an experience that I will always remember and think back on for the rest of my life.
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? This experience has given me a much deeper appreciation of the Church and I intend to show my love for God to others so that they too may appreciate God’s love for them.
WYD Reflections ~ Zach Wilgenbush
What was the most powerful experience that you recall? Seeing thousands upon thousands of candles radiating at the Saturday night Vigil.
What did you learn? I learned how diverse of a world there truly is and yet we can all come together and understand one another enough to celebrate Mass.
Which experience would you describe as the most fun? Walking the streets of Rome in the evening, listening to the outdoor concert, and enjoying gelato. It was a simple happiness that is truly hard to describe as anything but enjoyable. The only other moments that matched it in fun were the small frequent moments of trading or giving gifts to those from other countries.
What did you learn or discover about yourself? That I have the ability to find deeper patience and more appreciation of everything around me if I just put my mind to it. If I truly want to help the world as a leader I will need to push past my struggles and reach new depths of inner strength to help the world as it needs during these troubled times.
Have you deepened your understanding of the Church? If yes, in what way? Yes, I feel like I have seen a side of the church that is really hard to comprehend in the U.S., and that is I didn't realize how closely everyone follows the same format all around the world of readings, responses, gospels and homilies. Our church is truly universal and it took this trip for me to realize it.
Would you encourage others to attend a WYD; if yes, why? Absolutely yes, if not for the amount of amazing sights and sounds, if not for the internal spiritual revelations, then simply for the eye-opening experience that there is indeed a larger world out there than just our small corner of Indiana.
When did you feel closest to God at WYD? I felt closest to God through some suffering experienced in some extremely stressful situations such as attempting to get food in a crowd when there was not enough to go around and trying to get to Mass when the roads were closed off. I feel God gave me strength and patience in these situations to overcome these stressful moments when we were the most lost.
How did you experience the Universal Church in a new way? Through the sheer multitude of different people speaking various languages. I was attempting to learn a new language every day just to try and understand our brothers and sisters in the Church around the world.
Looking back, what surprised you? What experience did you not expect to happen? It surprised me that though we live in the U.S.A., for whatever reason other countries enjoyed chanting our name. And in a similar sense, we enjoyed chanting their name. It was a weird sense of community that transcended the divisions of nationality.
During WYD, we heard many speakers. Which touched you the most? Which had a message that you will remember and use? Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle was the speaker that moved me the most. He discussed why God goes out of his way to look for the lost sheep, such as myself, when we have lost our way. The reason God does this is because we are HIS children and not someone else's.
Many people sacrificed financially for us to attend. If you were looking at someone in the eye who gave to this pilgrimage, what would you say to them? Thank you and what can I do for you? This was an experience that I could never pay back with enough money, but maybe I could with deeds. Please let me help you!
How will this pilgrimage experience change you; how will you be different? I will consider how people are tied to each other across the world through religion and how communication can occur without knowing the right language. I will also remember how poor communication can upset people in some cases. It just gives me a different sense of understanding on how we can all work together and the struggles we will have to overcome to work together.
WYD Reflections ~ Erin Wilhelm
The thought of attending World Youth Day with members of All Saints Parish was very exciting. The preparation and fundraising helped prepare me both mentally and spirituality. The idea that our small group of 42 would be among millions was a great way to focus and obtain what some thought may not be realistic. I had to step out of my comfort zone and travel without my parents or family for the first time. I was comforted in knowing that I was surrounded by parish family and that we would look out for each other. I enjoyed getting to know my fellow parishioners and others from our Archdiocese and spending time laughing and feeling adventurous. We have developed a connection that will go on forever.
Our time in Rome was nothing less than breathtaking! Yes, the sights were amazing but the thought I was walking through the very history of our faith was at times overwhelming. I learned about the Vatican and the Pope in classes, but thoroughly appreciated learning and seeing it through my own eyes. Krakow was awesome and I enjoyed the history and learning more about it. Seeing where Pope John Paul II was from was awesome and being there was an honor especially now that he is a Saint. I enjoyed every single thing about this experience. If I had to choose one thing that meant the most to me, it would have to be praying on my knees up the Steps. Words will never be able to tell the love and sense of awe I felt. I do feel very blessed and honored too that I was able to hear Pope Francis speak.
Growing up hearing we are one holy, Universal Church was finally experienced and realized. Celebrating Mass and the Holy Eucharist in another country/language validated it! I know we believe without seeing, but I feel blessed to have witnessed it. People from all over the world gathered to celebrate our God and our one Universal Church and faith. It didn’t matter what your skin color, language, rich or poor – we are all members of God’s great family.
I will never forget or really be able to put into words how it felt to attend such a life changing event. I believe without the commitment, prayers and support of my family, Parish, friends and community, this experience would have never happened. I felt I represented everyone, the young and the old, that traveled with me in spirit on this pilgrimage. I would like to attend WYD again, and will do my best to help others have the chance to experience too. I will make every effort to take this experience and use it every day with my words and my actions. I am very proud to be a member of All Saints’ Parish!