MORE, MORE, more!

In the days before World Youth Day, young people from all over the world came together for the Magis programme, in which they participated in ‘experiences’ that opened their eyes to the presence of God in different ways. Two pilgrims reflect on their time in Portugal this summer.

MATTHEW O’DOWD

I had long aspired to go to World Youth Day, partially driven by friends who had previously attended, but also out of appreciation for its founder, Pope St John Paul II. I was also offered the opportunity to attend Magis, an Ignatian spirituality programme preceding World Youth Day. At a taster day in London, I was moved by how very simple exercises could have such a profound impact. I went home that day feeling truly at peace and inspired by the idea of ‘more’.

A delayed flight meant that I didn’t arrive at the ‘Magis villa’ until 1am, yet the welcoming smile of the organisers was a demonstration that the Holy Spirit was working, even at unsociable hours! I was touched by the atmosphere of joy, with laughter, song and dance accompanying the whole experience, even in the 45-minute dinner queue!

I was sent on a ‘Magis experiment’ with around twenty others to Baleal Island, a beautiful opportunity to experience God through waves and sunsets. We gathered after breakfast each day for morning prayer and to hear where we would be sent for the day’s ‘challenge’; it was like being on a spiritual reality TV show! The experience consisted of a surf lesson, beach-cleaning, a pilgrimage and service in a local community centre.

We ended each day with a ‘Magis circle’, an opportunity to meditate and reflect on the presence of God in the day’s activity. It was encouraging to be able to talk openly about my faith with a group of like-minded believers. I was among a diverse group with a range of ages and languages, yet I was inspired by the openness and depth with which others shared and, in particular, by how inhibitions about discussing faith were released as the week went on.

Even after just a few days, the relationships formed among our group were extremely strong. The final Mass of Magis was an emotional experience. Receiving the eucharist felt ever more special, reminding us that even as we went our separate ways, we would still be bound together in communion. That feeling remains with me today and has inspired me to prepare myself better each time I receive communion.

Upon completion of Magis, we were sent forward to World Youth Day. It’s hard to imagine the scale of the event: 1.5 million pilgrims practically quadrupling the population of Lisbon and creating the most joyful chaos that I have ever experienced! There was an immense variety of events; from catechesis sessions and talks, to plays and concerts, and opportunities for Mass and adoration.

One of the most powerful experiences for me was being able to find peace amid the noise. I attended Nightfever one evening, an opportunity to spend time in front of the Blessed Sacrament with music in the background. It was a wonderful realisation that the millions who had travelled were not just there to be part of a huge social event, but to be present with Jesus.

On the penultimate day, we embarked on a four-hour pilgrimage to the Parque Tejo for the evening vigil and closing Mass said by the pope. We arrived to a crowd full of excitement, yet as the Blessed Sacrament was exposed, the feeling of 1.5 million people suddenly falling silent was memorable. I’m usually nervous among crowds, yet World Youth Day actually gave me a feeling of comfort and belonging.

I expected to go home tired, but was actually buzzing! Having reflected on my experience, I feel a stronger desire to pursue a closer personal relationship with Jesus. I have been inspired by the new means of prayer that I discovered, helping me to reflect on the presence of God in my everyday life. The friendships that I made also showed me how God can manifest himself through others, inspiring me to try to transmit that same spirit of generosity and kindness to those I meet.

Allena Andress

Magis was unlike anything I’ve experienced before. To be amid a community of nearly 2,000 young Catholics, with the freedom to express and resonate with one another’s faith, was a true gift. Welcoming each day in prayer and community taught me to realise God’s presence, and find it in all beings and things around me.

The Ignatian spirit was at the heart of all the activities we participated in while in Matosinhos. Our group’s cultural diversity enriched activities such as making waste bins for children from reusable tyres in collaboration with ArkiPlay; we sensed the presence of God within our hearts while creating music; and we painted with the Espiral organisation, who work tirelessly to bring ‘more’, the true spirit of Magis, to children with learning difficulties. We also interacted with organisations that support refugees and immigrants to have control of their own future.

My Magis experience was one of ‘service and solidarity’, and was based primarily in Cruz de Pau, Matosinhos, Porto with an organisation called Centro Incentivar a Partilha (CIAP). They work in partnership with various other non-profit organisations and universities for the development and advancement of low-income neighbourhoods. I was in a group of twenty individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds, and the sense of family and belonging that I got from working together with them and the CIAP members was powerful and unforgettable.

While engaging with the elderly I was reminded of my own grandparents, and felt like I was recalling old memories and making them more precious with this new Magis family. My time at Magis helped me to rebuild my relationship with God and invoked in me the desire to live with love and joy as a child of God. The morning prayers, Magis circles for reflection, glorious music, Mass and communion with this wonderful community from across the world brightened my soul and made me feel hope.

I found God’s love in each member of my Magis group – in their smiles and their laughter, in their times of sorrow and in their joyous moments, while breaking bread together as one family, and in supporting each other through each day. I found God in strangers on a tram, in children playing and in the nature around me.

The World Youth Day events that followed the Magis programme provided a truly phenomenal opportunity for a woman like me, born in an unknown part of India, to stand with 1.5 million Christians and participate in the eucharist with Pope Francis. It was the single most powerful moment of my life.

I’m truly humbled by the grace bestowed upon me through Magis and World Youth Day, and the sense of community and profound faith I discovered in each person I encountered. I will be forever thankful for the friendships I formed, the learning and healing I experienced, and to have found Jesus in me, once again.