DIOCESE OF CORPUS CHRISTI PILGRIMS SHARE ABOUT WORLD YOUTH DAY 2023 Living the Global Church

BY EMILY SALAZAR

WYD in Lisbon – up to 1.5 million people. Full streets. Joy. Energy. Chaos. The images that the media transmitted were splendid. But how was it to be there in person? Twenty-five individuals represented the Diocese of Corpus Christi at the 17th World Youth Day in Lisbon, adding the Texas flag to the million flags speckled across the streets of Lisbon. The international event that began in 1986 invites Catholics from all over the world to unite and witness the universality of the Catholic Church. Despite its name, World Youth Day does not just strive to deepen the faith of young Catholics but offers a transformative religious experience for God’s children of all ages.

Clarissa Reyes from Young Catholic Adults Corpus Christi shared how the group planned their day-to-day activities: “We had a rough outline of what we wanted to do, and then we made discoveries along the way and went where the Spirit led us. Around 8:30 am, we would head out for the day either to a prayer session, or a ‘Rise Up’ catechetical teaching and then Mass,” Reyes explained. She noted how profound it was to physically be a pilgrim walking in unfamiliar streets but chasing the constant of Jesus like the disciples did.

Valerie Jones from Islander Catholic at the Newman Catholic Student Center explained how Catholics from all different countries were able to understand the many speakers and Masses offered: “If a speaker was talking like the Pope, or sometimes they had youth speak at the huge ceremonies, they had radio stations, so everyone was told to bring their radio. Then, you would tune into the radio station broadcasting your language,” Jones stated.

Pope Francis, along with other notable Catholic names from the U.S. like Bishop Robert Barron, actor from “The Chosen” Jonathan Roumie, and Christian music artist Matt Maher were there to celebrate World Youth Day 2023.

Newman Catholic Student Center Spiritual Formation Leader Layna Souza described what it was like to see Pope Francis in person: “He represents the unity of the Church. We could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit, and talks through him and brings us these messages and directions to the Church. It is an encounter; it’s a special moment because this person represents the Church and the message God wants to give us,” Souza said.

Being one pilgrim in a million

Seeing the Pope was just one of many favorite moments from the pilgrimage. Parishioner at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church, Kyla Srp, shared her most memorable moment from the Mass with more than a million participants.

“One of my favorite parts of the trip was the communion at the Masses. When we had the opening Mass, a million people were in a massive park. I was standing next to Father Carlos, and at the beginning of Mass, I asked him, ‘Are we going to be having communion with all of these people here?’ And he replied, ‘If we did, I would not be able to imagine it.’ But sure enough, every person in that park went up for communion,” described Srp.

Fr. Carlos De la Rosa, Chaplain at the Texas A&M Newman Center and Parochial Vicar at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, spoke about his joy in bonding with the pilgrims.

“One of my favorite parts of this pilgrimage was getting to know the pilgrims personally. As a priest, one of the greatest joys in my life is to sit down with someone and listen to the joys and sufferings that they are going through. During our after-dinner gelato runs and many coffee breaks, I was blessed to visit with the pilgrims this way,” explained Fr. De la Rosa.

Valerie Jones appreciated these informal moments with Fr. De la Rosa and Sister Stella Maris from the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy

Trinity (SOLT). “I think it was really awesome to see them as people because I hadn’t really known either of them before, but now I think I know them both very well. When you first meet a Sister or Father or Brother or anything outside your mind framework, it’s really powerful to realize, ‘Okay, this is a person, ‘I’m a person.’ What they’re doing is something I can strive for because we’re both just trying to reach sanctification,” she explained.

Discovering the universality of the Church within their pilgrimage and with the other pilgrims visiting from all over the world was the goal of their journey. Islander Catholic and Newman Catholic Student Center member Leah Saldivar explained what lessons they are now bringing home.

“Bishop Robert Baron talked about how Mary said yes to God, and she didn’t stop there; she rose and went with haste when the Angel told her that her cousin Elizabeth was pregnant. So, we felt God’s love so much; now it’s our job to go out and show people God’s love. The only way we can show God’s love is by being there for others and emphasizing how important community is,” said Saldivar.

St. Pius X parishioner Natasha Medina advised those interested in attending World Youth Day in the future: “If you have the opportunity to go, at least once, you should. We were reminded that it is a pilgrimage, not a vacation, so it is important to keep that in mind. It is fun, but more importantly, it is an opportunity to focus on your faith,” Medina said.

So, everyone who is young or still feels young, get ready: the next World Youth Day will be in Seoul, South Korea, in 2027. And 2025 will be a Jubilee Year for the worldwide Church with special celebrations in Rome.