A PILGRIM'S JOURNEY...
Q: Many in Kuwait (and abroad) have read your previous article "Discovery of Love - A Pilgrim's Diary". What prompted you to write it?
Dr. Andrea: After my amazing pilgrimage and spiritual journey to Australia last month,
I felt that my encounters should be penned and shared with my near & dear ones.
It is not enough to just listen to the Word & see the miracles, but also bear testimony to the marvels of our God. As the Kuwait Youth Animators we made a promise to carry on our works in the community & what better way to start than with my own journey of the Cross.
Q: Why did you want to make this pilgrimage? What were some of your hopes?
Dr. Andrea: The greatest invitation for me was in the WYD’08 theme itself, “You will receive power”. So when Someone as Supreme as the Holy Spirit offers a promise like that, I’m sure even sailing the seven seas wouldn’t be an obstacle. But more than just acquiring power for any ambitious or selfish reasons, I looked forward to this pilgrimage as a means to intellectually understand my faith. Blind faith may be a good thing but as a young person in a modern, highly developed world where everything is based on facts & reason, it makes one question religion in a similar manner.
I know there exists but one God - The Holy Trinity; I know that we are given the power to live and act through the gifts of the Holy Spirit;
but I asked myself if my life was steered by that same Spirit. The more I thought about it, the more it began to raise questions in my head about my present and the future. I hoped to change “My-living” to “Be-lieving”
Q: Let's begin with the months leading up to WYD'08. What preparation and spiritual formation did you receive?
Dr. Andrea: Our preparation for this great event began seven months before the event itself. Our group of 40 youth was divided into 4 smaller groups (ministries) namely Festival, Music, Encounter & Human Resources. Every Sunday, Rev. Fathers Lionel and Ben would conduct a 2 hour meeting. Each group would take turns to conduct the meeting based on a theme related either to WYD or the week’s liturgical readings. Through these meetings, we would try to imbibe the components of Faith, Formation & Fellowship, which would equip us for a better experience at Australia. Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament would precede the meeting, followed by an interactive session of quizzes, action songs or biblical games. The meetings concluded with discussion of the logistics & technicalities of our trip. The culmination of our seven months' preparation was the “Worship” Presentation performed at the three parishes. It displayed our spiritual maturity, our unity & our readiness to be witnesses.
Q: How would you describe the "mood" of the forty young people from Kuwait just about to set out for WYD'08?
Dr. Andrea: There were mixed emotions, a little anxiety about what would be awaiting them on the other side. However everyone moved forward with the motto of keeping God at the centre of everything. And although there were setbacks, trivial or big, we were able to overcome them.
Q: Was this your first trip to Australia?
Dr. Andrea: Yes, this was my first visit to Land down-under. The first thought that popped in my head was that I could finally add the Opera House to my list of “Wonders of the World - Visited”. I was dreading the winter season though. And after the scary descriptions from people like “Chill to kill” & “Cold stone to the bone”, I was not all that thrilled.
But believe me when I say that there is nothing like the warmth of human caring & like I mentioned (in "Discovery of Love"), Aussie hospitality outbeat any hot chocolate or bonfire.
Q: Can you tell us a little about "Aussie hospitality"? *chuckle*
Dr. Andrea: Each one of us has a special story to tell about the homes we lived in. I’m sure if you ask anyone, they would be delighted to narrate their individual encounters. My sweet house-mate & I were billeted into a home where Croatian & Australian cultures come together. Our hosts were an elderly couple who have 12 children. But even with so many people around, it felt as if their home was dedicated entirely to us girls.
After our whole day out in Melbourne city, we would return home very late and exhausted. Our foster parents would wait with Macadamia nuts, coffee, 
arms wide open to hug us & eyes beaming to hear all about our day’s happenings. I don’t think anyone can forget such love.
Q: Why is the event "Days in the Dioceses" (DID) a necessary part of the World Youth Day celebrations? Did you feel a "connection" with the local Catholic community there?
Dr. Andrea: The “Days in the Dioceses” in Melbourne was like the priming agent for the bigger experiment in Sydney. We were like esteemed guests for the community that would in turn help & inspire us en route to the main city.
The DID joins the hosts & guests together to celebrate their catholicity, their sister & brotherhood in Christ. Each diocese is not just a loose collection of “villages or tribes” but rather a collection of faithful communities. It gives pilgrims a chance to have a rich cultural & spiritual exchange with the locals and see the “Living” church in action.
Q: What were some of the activities that the pilgrims participated in during "Days in the Dioceses"?
Dr. Andrea: On 11th July, we were a part of the Salesian House programme, courtesy our own Salesian stalwart, Fr. Lionel. We were honoured to meet a Cardinal from Honduras; Cardinal Oscar Rodriquez who is the President of Caritas International, a Catholic organization that fights against social injustice, corruption & poverty. He focused on the need of the young and old to work together for solidarity. Later that evening, all the pilgrims in Melbourne attended the commissioning mass at Telstra Dome.
On 12th July, we attended a workshop called the “Life giving love meditation” which was in the form of a Lectio Divina. A prominent Archbishop explored the link between experiencing God in prayer and our love for our neighbours, in a meditative setting. Later that evening we sang praises to our dynamic God at a Matt Maher concert. With an incredible love for Christ, and a heart to reach people with the Gospel, this man used the universal language of music to glorify God.
Q: On arriving at Sydney, how would you describe your feelings and emotions?
Dr. Andrea: I was ecstatic. I remember, as soon as our bus stopped at the Sydney station, my feet hit the floor; I heaved a big sigh & said to myself “Finally, here comes party time with my God”. A little distance from the station, we spotted this massive water fountain. I guess we were so filled with the Spirit that two of my closest buddies & I ran into the water, dancing & prancing around singing the hymn “You are the one that I love…” (hahaha) We were on cloud 9, just waiting for the best to happen.
Q: Did you have the opportunity to meet fellow pilgrims from India and the other Gulf States?
Dr. Andrea: Actually, we were always on the lookout for our beloved chakra with the saffron & green (Indian flag). When we finally did spot it, there was a huge & rather loud reunion of fellow Indian pilgrims. In a nation where we were the foreigners, it felt so good to meet our very own. And what was more appealing & refreshing was to see Catholics from the Arabian nations proudly professing their christianity. We came across pilgrims from Lebanon, the Emirates, Iraq and Egypt.
Q: What was it like to wait "to see the Pope" along with thousands of young people at Barangaroo? Did the Kuwait pilgrims manage to get a close view of him?
Dr. Andrea: Oh! Yes, as the Holy Father was cruising on his pope mobile through the entry way at the Harbour & then into Barangaroo, an entire hoard of people including us lucky Kuwait pilgrims ran toward him. We were only a hand’s distance from touching his vehicle. Had there been no metal barricade separating us, I’m sure the Pope would have been engulfed by the cheering pilgrims (chuckle). It felt so exhilarating, just like a natural high!!! Just the thought of being on the very same ground as the Pope was incredible. It made all those months, days, minutes & seconds of waiting seem like a breeze, because every bit of the wait was worth it.
Q: Apart from the fun and fellowship, were there catecheses that the pilgrims attended?
Dr. Andrea: Every morning from 16th-19th July, we attended daily catechesis in the Parish Church closest to our accommodation. From 9:00 a.m. - 12 noon we would join the local church community in prayer, song, teaching, questions & discussions.
The themes taken each day were Our Lady of the Cenacle, Universal church, Evangelisation of peoples & Mary, Queen of Apostles respectively. A Bishop from an international country was invited everyday to lead the catechesis programme. He would give a talk on the assigned theme for the day, organise a co-ordinated discussion and allot a time for questions. This would be followed by silent reflection before the Blessed Sacrament, Mass & then a nice cosy lunch with all the parishioners.
Q: What are some of the critical challenges and issues that you discussed during your workshops? In a nutshell, what solutions were offered?
Dr. Andrea: Among many of the issues challenging youth today, the one that received the most emphasis was the Sanctity of Marriage and Sacredness of Sex. In a world where “showing skin” makes you beautiful or “sleeping around” makes you popular, it is so important to understand the value of our bodies. If we live with the knowledge that our body is the Temple of God, then respecting and protecting it would be easy.
We also discussed the battle between good & evil which youth constantly face. The greatest weapon offered to us is the Holy Spirit. Our lives are blessed with talents & virtues, but we also lug a lot of junk around. It’s the Spirit’s goal to increase His gifts in us, while Satan’s goal is to trap us in sin. So, it is up to us as free-willed individuals to decide on whose team we want to be.
Q: Can you describe in a few words the experience of the Night Vigil and the concluding Mass led by the Pope himself.
Dr. Andrea: The Night Vigil was a celebration in expectation of the Holy Spirit, the key entity in the entire WYD. As the gigantic screens at Randwick Racecourse depicted the 10 patrons; pilgrims lit their candles & sang the theme song “Receive the Power” invoking the Holy Spirit to pour out His rich gifts on all gathered that night.
The concluding Mass began with the hymn “I Surrender All”, which was so apt considering it was a moment when I just let go of everything, every burden, every task, every regret, every pain & just let myself be in His presence. We renewed our Baptismal promises, our rite of Confirmation and received our destined gifts. The Pope conferred on us the right and power to go forth & bear witness of Christ to the world.
Q: Does WYD present an opportunity for young people to discover their vocation? Do you think Catholic youth shy away from the thought of a religious vocation today? Why?
Dr. Andrea: WYD is all about the discovery of self & vocation. In some cases, there is a trend going on, a rather sad trend, where children are not only not encouraged, but are actually discouraged by parents and family to take up the Religious life.
Contrary to popular misconceptions, Religious orders aren't filled with (smile) crooning priests and cranky ol' nuns, ready to rap your knuckles. We have only to look at the example of our own clergy and religious to know how progressive and (tech savvy!) they are. The most common myths that haunt & elude youngsters and their parents are that Religious orders are dying out, Religious life is a life of suffering or the Religious are docile or that they give up their families and friends or the most common myth, that the Religious are celibate, thus unhappy. These portraits are not only inaccurate but also potentially damaging to the future of many young people who consider religious life. The Vocation Expo (a collaborative event) at WYD was a great instrument to dispel these myths.
| World Youth Day 2008 |
FACTS & FIGURES
World Youth Day is one of the largest youth events in the world.
70,000 international pilgrims took part in Days in the Diocese throughout Australia during the week before WYD08.
Over 170 nations were represented at World Youth Day Sydney 2008.
450 Youth Festival events took place during the week from Tuesday to Sunday in over 100 venues
There were 4,000 priests and deacons, 420 Bishops, 26 Cardinals and one Pope present at WYD08
An average of 2,500 pilgrims walked through the Vocations Expo every hour
1,000 priests heard confession during the WYD08 week
24 people were confirmed by the Pope at the Final Mass including 14 young Australians and 10 international young people
There were 10 World Youth Day Patrons: St Thérèse of Lisieux, St Faustina Kowalska, St Maria Goretti, St Peter Chanel, Blessed Peter To Rot, Blessed Mary MacKillop, Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, John Paul II, Our Lady of the Southern Cross
Read the Complete list
of Facts & Figures
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Q: What can the Church / parish do to counter such a mind-set?
Dr. Andrea: Our church must start now to actively nourish & enlighten the youth about vocation & religious life. Getting parents involved is so important! We should have counsellors, priests and consecrated sisters who will be able to recognize & help the youth to discern their calling. A Life in Christ, whether as a priest, consecrated sister, spouse, parent or a committed single, is a life well lived, as long as Jesus is at the centre.
Q: How has the experience of your pilgrimage changed your life? What do you feel compelled to do?
Dr. Andrea: My entire experience can be summed up as a “discovery of love”. For me, it has mapped a path from Reconciliation to Righteousness. One scripture verse that struck me the most was I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. It doesn’t matter what may have happened in the past, He takes our sins and casts them into the sea of forgetfulness. That means He chooses not to remember them. When He looks at us, He doesn’t see the past mistakes and failures; He sees the future. He sees the gifts and talents. He sees our destiny. St. Augustine said, "God loves each of us as if there were only one of us."
This beautiful truth has formed the basis of my evangelization to bring more people to God. I tell people, there is no sin too big for Him to forgive, just repent & let go. The moment you do, He forgets & so should you. I think I’m going to name this little mission of mine “Grace Guaranteed”.
Q: Have you made new friends? Do you keep in touch?
Dr. Andrea: Too many to count, but, definitely too precious to lose, so I try to keep in touch as much as I can, thanks to wireless communication & the internet. Each one of my new friends has added to my treasure of spirituality. My wealth keeps increasing.
Q: Do you think you will attend the 24th World Youth Day celebrations in Madrid?
Dr. Andrea: If God wills it for me, I will be more than happy to attend. But why wait for 3 years to gain spiritual maturity. Each day provides an opportunity to connect & discover God. Even the simple task of bringing one more youth to God can be a celebration of my very own World Youth Day. Our God may be All Powerful, but He is also a God of small things. Every word & every deed is accounted for, whether it’s in the home, community, country or the world!
Q: What has been the most inspiring / unforgettable moment of your trip? What was the biggest challenge you encountered?
Dr. Andrea: The most inspiring, yet, challenging moment was the pilgrimage walk on 19th July. I discovered that when you are at your weakest, that’s when God takes over. It is said, “The will of God will never take you where the grace of God cannot protect you.”
Q: What has been the general feedback of fellow WYD animators from Kuwait?
Dr. Andrea: Overall, the entire team has come back more enthused & infused with the fire of the Spirit than ever before. They felt that the doctrines & perceptions of our Church were so well laid down & exemplified during the Eucharistic celebrations, vigils, workshops & concerts. It hasn’t erased all our doubts & questions but rather tuned them to a more meaningful level. Now, nobody asks, “Why should I be a witness?” but instead asks, “How can I be a witness?” Everyone has come a step closer to evangelisation.
Q: What can moderators of parish youth movements do to build on the tremendous experience it has been for the young people?
Dr. Andrea: To begin with, we should try to recreate in our parishes the same enthusiasm of WYD. Youth are the largest resource of energy, creativity & skill. They are also "the future of the Church". Parish moderators should tap into this, even exploit (chuckle) this amazing potential for "a better Church for a better World". Youth are called to be "like leaven in the world" (leaven has a way of penetrating substances and transforming them into something new). In this manner, we must try to derive a positive effect from peer pressure. Youth are the greatest magnet to attract other youth - "Youth for Youth!" so goes the refrain.There were many youngsters who were transformed by their experience at WYD & they should be motivated and guided further into being worthy witnesses and leaders.
Q: We can already see this happening in our Vicariate. The youth are definitely more “visible” in parish activities. We welcomed your presence at the parish fete and at the Unity Congress. Can you tell us more about your (the youth) involvement.
Dr. Andrea: The youth have always been carrying out activities such as personal development workshops, sport tourneys, youth festivals, etc: which help to strengthen their own spirituality and encourage other youth. But these have either gone unnoticed or unappreciated. The youth have not got as much motivation or encouragement as they should be getting. Instead of adopting an attitude of discipline & authority all the time, maybe a better way to approach them would be to connect with them & their "small way" of thinking. Maturity only comes with age. It is easier for a person of 40 to adjust their thinking to that of a teen, because the adult has been through that stage of life. But for a teen to escalate his way of thinking to that of a 40 year old's level, is just unreasonable. (I may come off as strong here, but I think I am expressing a general opinion that the youth have).
Q: Do you see yourselves taking on more challenges in the future?
Dr. Andrea: WYD gave us a platform to express our ideas & hopes for the future. Moreover, we are now being given more opportunities in our Vicariate with the full support of our Bishop and the clergy. The youth could also be given a voice through representation on pastoral committees. So, it's for us to come out of our complacency & satisfaction with mini events & go all out to present ourselves as dynamic & vibrant youth. I would like to quote 1 Timothy 4:12 - "Do not let anyone treat you as if you are unimportant because you are young. Instead, be an example to the believers with your words, your actions, your love, your faith, and your pure life."
We are the future church, as for challenges??? ...bring 'em on!!!
Q: Which of the Pope's speeches (words) do you think have a special message for you?
Dr. Andrea: In one of his speeches, the pope spoke about love as an important ingredient of our existence. He said, “When we love: we are fulfilling our deepest need and becoming fully human. Loving is what we are programmed to do, what we were designed for by our Creator.
I am not talking about fleeting, shallow relationships, I am talking about real love, the very heart of Jesus’ moral teaching: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength” This, if you like, is the programme that is hard-wired into every human person, if only we had the wisdom and generosity to live by it, if only we were ready to sacrifice our own preferences so as to be of service to others, to give our lives for the good of others.That is what human beings are called to do, that is what it means to be truly alive.”
What a profound call to life!!
Q: The Holy Father's words continue to echo: "Dear young friends, the Lord is asking you to be prophets of this new age, messengers of His love, drawing people to the Father and building a future of hope for all humanity. Do not be afraid to say 'yes' to Jesus, to find your joy in doing His will, giving yourself completely to the pursuit of holiness, and using all your talents in the service of others!"
.... Do you feel a responsibility that comes with this momentous task of witnessing to the world?
Dr. Andrea: I would like to quote a famous line from the movie Spiderman, “With great power, comes great responsibility.” Now, he may be a super-hero on screen, but we are the super-heroes in reality, empowered by the gifts & fruits of the Holy Spirit. Ours is not just a task or responsibility, rather, a way of life for those who strive for Christian perfection. "Holiness cannot be separated from mission!" – BXVI
We thank Dr. Andrea Pinto for taking time off her busy schedule to reflect on her experiences at WYD'08. Andrea practises in the field of Internal Medicine. She belongs to the parish of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Salmiya (Kuwait), and is an active member of Salmiya Parish Youth (SPY) & Kuwait World Youth Day Animators. We wish her God’s abundant blessings and all the very best in her personal life and professional career.
Dr. Pinto can be contacted by email at the following address: andreapinto@gmail.com
Photo Credits: WYD Kuwait Animators, [Fiona Basile] DID'08 Melbourne official web-site, WYD'08 official web-site & Arab Times, Kuwait.
See Also:
Discovery of Love - A Pilgrim's Diary By Dr. Andrea L. Pinto
