For the many young Catholics who couldn’t make it to Portugal for World Youth Day, they were able to be part of their own faith formation with the Diocese of Parramatta’s WYD At Home event.
WYD At Home was conceived by the team at Youthworks from St Andrew the Apostle Parish, Marayong, out of a desire to bring the spirit and joy of World Youth Day to young individuals aged 16-25 who were unable to join the global pilgrimage in person.
As July and August, the traditional months of World Youth Day, approached, the Youthworks team pondered: what about those young Catholics who couldn’t physically partake in the grand event? Why is nothing planned for them? The answer was a day designed to infuse the same joy, fellowship, and spiritual enrichment of World Youth Day.
Held on Saturday 5 August at St Andrew’s Parish in Marayong, over 50 people from the Dioceses of Parramatta, Sydney and Broken Bay gathered and kicked off the program by sharing a meal (and probably a better one than the pilgrims at WYD!) – the typical youth group fare – pizza. The event then officially commenced with the music and worship, setting the tone for the day ahead.
The heart of WYD At Home was a series of activity stations, carefully designed to represent key elements of the pilgrimage. Small groups embarked on a journey through four stations, each embodying different facets of pilgrimage: speed, patience, teamwork, and faith. This interactive exercise not only added an element of fun and engagement but also allowed participants to reflect on the deeper spiritual significance of pilgrimage in their lives.
Rachael Kama, one of our Mission Enhancement Team members delivered a thought-provoking talk centered on the power of saying “yes,” drawing inspiration from the example of Mary’s resounding acceptance of God’s plan, and the theme of WYD – “Mary arose and went with haste.” Her reflections delved into the profound implications of Mary’s unwavering trust and openness to divine guidance, challenging the participants to emulate her unwavering faith.
“A highlight was Rachael’s talk. She affirmed that God had a plan for those who attended,” said a participant.
“Rachael talked about the weight of Mary’s ‘yes’ and how it changed our lives. Mary was full of trust and openness to our Lord. Though she is gentle and graceful, she is described as a sword of faith because of her powerful love and intercession,” they continued.
The ‘pilgrimage’ continued with solemn reflection and worship. Attendees had the opportunity to partake in the sacraments of confession, adoration, and Mass which brought a sense of spiritual fulfillment and connectivity, anchoring the day’s activities in the rich tradition of the Catholic faith.
WYD At Home was not merely an alternative to the grandeur of World Youth Day; it was a heartfelt endeavour to bring the core values and experiences of the event to those who couldn’t be in Lisbon. The hope behind this initiative was to inspire young Catholics to embrace their faith, step out in trust, and respond to God’s calling with the same urgency as Mary did.
“My hopeful outcome of this event is that young people were inspired by Mary’s yes! We hope they they’re inspired to go out and say yes, with haste, just like Mary.”
As the day concluded, participants left with a renewed sense of purpose and a fresh perspective on pilgrimage.
To read more about the experiences of WYD, please visit parrawyd.org. If you would like to connect in with other young people, please contact the MET Team at met@parracatholic.org
