World Youth Day Madrid 2011 - Ursuline Croatian Presence

JORNADA MUNDIAL DE LA JUVENTUD

World youth day Madrid 2011 »Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith.« (Saint Paul Col 2,7)

My biggest joy and honor was the opportunity to lead all the preparations for this past event in our Diocese of Varaždin-Croatia. I am very thankful to the priest, Mr. Damjan Koren, who was responsible for the Diocesan Apostolate for Youth in our community, for giving me this opportunity. Thank you Mr. Koren!

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE SLIDESHOW

Our pilgrimage started in Croatia on the 14th of August 2011 and lasted for 11 days. Our bus carried 70 young people, 3 priests and one Ursuline Sr. Damjana. We travelled trough Italy, France and Spain: Nice, Monaco, Monte Carlo, Montpellier, Carcassonne, Lourdes, San Sebastian, Burgos, Zaragoza, Barcelona, Montserrat, and Avignon. This was a total journey of about 5000 km (3100 miles).

We stayed in Madrid over the weekend of August 19th, 2011. On Saturday, August 20th 2011 there was a prayer vigil led by Pope Benedict XVI at the Cuatro Vientos air base. For duration of about 20 minutes it rained heavily and a strong wind was blowing. The storm briefly prevented Pope from continuing the prayer, while the rest of us prayed in silence and hoped that the weather improved. Finally, God replied to our prayers and gave us a beautiful evening with many stars and a full moon. Afterwards, we participated in Eucharistic Adoration with Pope, bishops, priests and people from all over the world. It was amazing! In silence we were gathered together in front of Christ in the Eucharist. The following morning, August 21st, we attended Mass, which Pope Benedict XVI celebrated for about two million young people from all over the world.

In conclusion, I must admit that the most important part of our trip was revealed to me on the bus. It was beautiful to hear young people testify that this pilgrimage was for them as precious as retreats. The pilgrims on the bus either created new friendships or deepened their old ones throughout this journey.

Dear friends, thank you for every smile, song and joyous expression you have shared with me and everyone around you, even when you had to sleep on the school floor, take showers in a swimsuit on the football field, wait for meals that were not on time and endure a dreadful crowd in front of the Metro. Let your faith and willingness to become real Christians become a challenge for your friends, who do not believe in Christ. Do not fear, but walk in the silence that is deeply embedded in your hearts.

Let this pilgrimage continue to bear beautiful fruit for which we had to suffer and make mistakes. This blessing is a collaboration between human beings and God’s work. Let God take care of you, and don’t be afraid to walk always and forever in the presence of our Lovely God, even when you make mistakes, because God loves you and calls everyone: »Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations…« (Mt 28, 19) This is the motto for the World Youth Day 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. May the strength and true consolation of the Holy Spirit be in you all, so that you can sustain and carry out vigorously and faithfully the charge laid upon you! ¡Que Dios les bendiga! (God bless you!)

sr. Damjana Mihaela Barbarić

Please click HERE to see the slideshow.