I look back on the great events of "World Youth Day – Sydney, 2008", with a grateful heart. Today, it seems it was just a dream, but not quite. For dreams end…but what I experienced in Sydney, lingers on. This is a tremendous grace for which I thank God each day.
I flew to Australia with a group of young Poles from Paris and Switzerland via Hong Kong. From the very outset, looking at them, I wished, both, for them and for myself only one thing – to meet Jesus, to hear His voice, to be with Him and for Him.
Hong Kong
On arriving in Hong Kong, I was assaulted by the heat and humidity, but more by the extremes of wealth and poverty. It moved me to tears. A Polish missionary who had been working in Hong Kong for ten years, welcomed us into his home. He received us with such great hospitality and care, and was there completely for us. It was touching to see. Walking along the streets in streams of rain, I tried to hear the heartbeat of this people, of this nation, and felt welling up in me a strong desire to reach out and somehow help them. As I was leaving this land and these people behind me, I realized they were in my heart.
As we continued our journey, it became clear for all of us, that this was a time of getting to know one another and a time of anticipating…THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Sydney
A beautiful wintry morning welcomed us to Australia. It seemed to me that we had reached the end of the world! I was thinking how small the world is, and how great God is! Crowds of young people at the airport welcomed one another with warm smiles. We found ourselves staying sometimes with families, sometimes in schools. This experience provided the opportunity to learn a bit of the culture of the people, of the country.
During our days there, we had shared meetings, gatherings for Eucharist, talks on different subjects, and we even did some sightseeing, all of which made for a week of prelude, of preparation for the actual celebration of World Youth Day. We took part in three days of catechetical preparation in different language groups in Sydney.
The final three days paralleled the Easter Triduum…the days for which we had waited and prepared ourselves.
Friday: the Way of the Cross. As I watched this three hour drama play out before my eyes, it became etched in my heart.
Saturday: a pilgrimage with Mary, Our Lady, awaiting the power from on high throughout an all-night vigil with youth from around the whole world. How beautiful to see! Pope Benedict XVI constantly assured us that the Holy Spirit would descend on us and we would receive His power. This was a night of WATCHING. During this very long night, I prayed for all the Sisters in our Congregation.
Sunday: It seemed as though all those who had been sleeping in their sleeping bags rose and left them as one would rise from the grave. It was a unique sight. Everyone was waiting for something…for a very important moment – the moment of Eucharist.
We, along with thousands of youth from around the world, heard the Holy Father's reassuring words telling us that in every Mass, we receive the Holy Spirit who unites us with Christ. We need to come to know this Holy Spirit, so that in times when our strength is not enough, it is this Spirit who transforms us, filling us with his strength, allowing us to live our faith each day to the full. The Spirit thrusts us forward towards others, enkindles in us the fire of love, and makes us missionaries of God's charity. And now – to live that message! |
