Reflections on World Youth Day 2016 - Part 1
Sr. Patience Ezimigbo shares some thoughts on her World Youth Day experiences.
Preparing for the Night Vigil are (from left): Srs. Roseline Legunsen and Victoria Zirra of the French OLA Province and Sr. Patience Ezimigbo, a member of the OLA Community in Dublin, Ireland.
On the morning of July 22nd, Sr. Mary Crowley and I boarded the plane for Krakow, Poland. There was a big welcoming ceremony in the airport for those of us coming for World Youth Day. An SMA seminarian picked us up from the airport and we made the two and a half hour journey to the SMA House in Piwniczna. On arrival we were welcomed by the SMA priests, OLA Sisters who had travelled from Italy, France and Argentina, along with a group of young adults from Tanzania. The Tanzanian group was organized by Fr. Yanusz, an SMA based in Tanzania and originally from the Maszkienice area of southern Poland. SMA youth from Poland and Italy were part of the “Tanzania group” and there was much sharing of culture. In total there were sixty our group. We spent the first days joining-in on the local celebrations in the Parish.
Sr. Patience with members of the Tanzania group during a celebration of the Eucharist.
We left SMA Community on July 25th and travelled 100km to the village of Fr Yanusz where we were to be accommodated by some of the families in his home Parish. This was a wonderful period for me and also a challenging period because I have never lived with a family who have no relationship with me and I felt the language might be a hindrance to building this family spirit. To my surprise it was never a problem. We lived as if we knew ourselves and permit me to say that their hospitality is a treasure I will forever hold dear to my heart. Not only in the village of Fr. Yanusz but it was seen and experienced during our stay in Poland. We learnt a bit of Polska in the village and they were ready to learn from us too. The people were very modest and humble.
The long awaited arrival of Pope Francis at a prayer service on July 27th was welcomed by all present with big and wonderful cheers. The Pope welcomed us and encouraged us to celebrate our Faith. He also challenged us to believe we can change the world for the better. He concluded that “we can do anything when we are together in Christ”. At that moment we all held our hands together to encourage one another that we can bring this change when we are together.
The night vigil on July 30th and Sunday Mass the following day took place at a different venue to accommodate the growing number of pilgrims. We were presented with different experiences of different people. The one that stayed with me is the sharing of the Syrian lady who asked us to pray for her beloved country. Even though her country is in ruin she still referred to it as her beloved country and ask for our prayers. Pope Francis encouragement of “sticking together” when we return home is for everyone. He said, it is not those who fall that fail, but those who forget to get up. It was announced that the next World Youth Day will be in Panama in 2019.
Sr. Patience with members of the Tanzania group at World Youth Day 2016.
The pilgrimage continued after the closing Mass with the Pope. We climbed a mountain to celebrate Mass with some people who live on the mountain, visited a table water plant in Piwniczna called Piwniczanka, the Auschwitz-Birkenau, the formal German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp, the birthplace of Pope John Paul ll, the oldest rock salt mine in Poland and Divine mercy church where St Faustina is buried.
The long awaited World Youth Day has come and gone but the experiences and love shared will forever live with me and always remind me that we are one in the love of Christ. While it was very hot in Poland and it rained most of the time, there was never a dull moment as the youth were full of life. It was also a time to pray, to feast, and to reflect. Above all it was a time to build our faith and make a commitment to make our world a better place. And I say, forever let this World Youth Day 2016 be a cry of hope that together we can make the world a better place. Amen.
Thank you to all those who contributed to make this journey to Poland a success. To the OLA Sisters in Ireland, especially the leadership team, other provinces who sent representatives. To the SMA priests present in Poland. The wonderful SMA youths who kept the spirit of togetherness alive. To all the families who shared their time and resources with us in Maszkienice. To all in the background who contributed to make Poland 2016 a success.
Thank you. Dziekuje Bardzo.
- Sr. Patience Ezimigbo, OLA
Click here to read Sr. Mary Crowley's account of World Youth Day 2016.
