THE PHENOMENON OF WORLD YOUTH DAYS

The phenomenon of World Youth Day has become a powerful seedbed for vocations to the priesthood, consecrated life, and lay ecclesial ministries. Whether it is because those who have already sensed a call choose to attend World Youth Day out of their strong faith life, or because World Youth Day awakens young adults for the first time to the special call of God, World Youth Day can be a moment of life-changing discernment.

Any one of the diverse experiences of WYD may be the occasion for insight into one's vocation. For some young adults, it might be the challenge of the Holy Father to live out the Gospel in a radical way. For others, it might be meeting a particular priest, sister, brother, or consecrated layperson. Some may be touched by the preaching of the catechesis workshops or by participation in the Sacraments of Holy Eucharist or Reconciliation. Some may not know what exactly inspired thoughts of dedicating themselves to God as a priest or consecrated person, but just know that they have this thought on their minds and in their hearts.

Such thoughts may be only temporary. In the emotional "high" of WYD, one may feel an impulse to give everything to God as a priest or religious. The feelings may pass within a month or two. But many other cases may truly reflect a calling from God. For these young adults, the process may be alternately exhilarating, scary, peaceful, and depressing. Support given by fellow young adults can be enormously helpful at this point. The World Youth Day Vocation Harvest is underway now throughout Canada and elsewhere.
In working with Catholic young adults, we have a responsibility to broach the subject of priestly, religious, and lay ministry vocations with openness and sensitivity. In a world in which these vocations are little understood, speaking about them in a positive forum can be a way of letting young adults know all the life options which are open to them and to which God may be calling them.

How have our vocational strategies addressed these important questions flowing from the international experiences of World Youth Days? How often do we raise these reflection questions with young people who have returned from World Youth Days?

1. Did you meet any young priests, seminarians, and religious at World Youth Day? If so, how were they like you in spirit, attitude, or life? How were they dissimilar to you?

2. Have you ever asked God what He wants you to do with your life? If yes, what has God said? If not, are there any reasons why you have not asked?

3. How do those with vocations to the priesthood or consecrated life in the Church affect your faith life? What support can you give to these men and women who have given their lives to Christ in this way?

4. How can full-time lay ecclesial ministers participate and aid in the work of the Church?

Through World Youth Days and reinvigorated youth and young adult pastoral ministry in the universal Church, John Paul II unleashed something totally new, unthinkable some 25 years ago! The reality of that new thing is just beginning to sink into our minds, hearts, churches and religious congregations. Many still remain resistant to or ignorant of the power and dynamic that has been unleashed in the Church through the phenomenon of World Youth Days.

One of the significant contributions of World Youth Day 2002 to the universal Church and to young people throughout the world was the highly successful Vocations Pavilion at Exhibition Place. The security personnel informed us that 50-55,000 young people visited the pavilion each day for the week of World Youth Day 2002. Many Vocation Directors from dioceses and religious congregations wrote to commend us for the vocational dimension of World Youth Day 2002 in Toronto.

The Cologne World Youth Day 2005 missed out on a wonderful opportunity to give witness to vocations in not having a similar pavilion last summer in Germany. I am happy to say that the Australian organizing committee for WYD 2008 is following the example of Toronto, especially for the Vocation Pavilion, the pilgrimage of the World Youth Day Cross, and the magnificent, historic Way of the Cross through downtown Toronto.

Let us ask the Servant of God Pope John Paul II to pray for us and intercede for us, and especially for the young people who found in him a father, a grandfather, a teacher and a demanding friend who loved them. May those same young people find in us a rock, a shelter, a harbor, a home, and a possible lifetime of service in the Church today.

Continue to "The Teaching of Pope Benedict XVI"

BACK TO SPLASH PAGE