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September 7, 2023World Youth Day is a special time of worship and fellowship for young members of the Catholic Church. Held every few years in a different city around the world, it brings thousands of young people to celebrate and deepen their Catholic faith. The most recent WYD also saw a group from across the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City embark on a pilgrimage to celebrate the history and culture of the Roman Catholic Church.
World Youth Day 2023 was held in Lisbon, Portugal, from Aug. 1 to 6. The archdiocese led a group of 36 participants, which represented eight parishes, including in Oklahoma City, Yukon and Lawton. The group was led by Father John Paul Lewis, pastor of Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Oklahoma City and director of seminarians for the archdiocese; Kendra Mann, coordinator of youth, young adult and campus evangelization and Sandy Harem, from the Archdiocese of Denver, along with parental sponsors.
“Pope John Paul II established an event for young people in 1985 where young Catholics from all over the world could celebrate their Catholic faith together,” said Mann. “It was held in Denver in 1993.”
The pope inaugurated the event to help young Catholics deepen their faith from a truly global perspective.
“He created it because he had a love for young people, and help them to strengthen their faith,” said Mann. “We talk about how in the Catholic faith, we’re all one family, and being able to see youth from all over the world is really inspiring and gives a glimpse of what heaven is like – billions of people worshipping together.”
The group spent five days at WYD, but that was only one aspect of their travels, as they had a chance take their own pilgrimage into the heart of the Catholic Church in Vatican City and Rome, seeing the church’s history and culture come to life before their eyes. Their trip began July 27.
“We started at the pastoral center with Mass with Father Lewis. That was the priest that was with us the whole time,” said Mann.
They soon were on a plane for Rome and The Vatican City, visiting many historical sites in the city. Those sites included Saint Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel and the Basilicas of Saint Mary Major, Saint Paul Outside the Walls and Saint John in the Lateran. They also viewed first-hand the Roman catacombs underneath the city.
One parent sponsor was Robert Noble, who attended with his sons, Zachary and Benjamin. Noble is the director of liturgy and music at Saint John Nepomuk Catholic Church in Yukon. Seeing the catacombs was awe-inspiring for him.
“We got to see the catacombs, and standing near the original burial place of Saint Cecilia, she was the patron saint of church music, was rather moving,” said Noble.
It would be only a few days before WYD in Lisbon, and on July 31, they were on a plane to Portugal.
“It was held at a giant park, Parque Tejo. It was also called ‘Campo da Grace,’ ‘Field of Grace,’” said Mann. “There were events throughout the city at hundreds of locations.”
Participants participated in many church activities, including adoration, confession and prayer, many praying in their own language. Pope Francis celebrated Mass during the program.
“Events were held country-specific,” said Mann.
Bishop Robert Barron, from the Diocese of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota, spoke to the U.S. attendees at the event.
“In the morning, we had Mass with Pope Francis,” said Mann.
Luke Dannemiller was one student who attended from the archdiocese who shared about the impact the trip had on him.
“It was eye-opening, fun and soul-changing. During events held at WYD, I got to see so many youth like me, experiencing the word of God professed by Pope Francis and other holy men and women,” said Dannemiller. “I will never forget this trip.”
Luke’s mother, Kari, was also a parent sponsor, and shared her experiences.
“Attending World Youth Day with my teenage son, together we witnessed a jaw-dropping scene. Standing there in the middle of what looked and felt like a sea of young people, from all over the world, boldly illustrating and professing devotion to Christ, it gives me, and us, great hope,” said Kari.
Everett Brazil, III is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.
Photos provided.
