World Youth Day
has drawn thousands of young people together in a celebration of faith,
fellowship and love.
Reflecting on
their experiences, the 1,200 pilgrims who took part in the MAGiS08 activities
ahead of World Youth Day spoke openly of the genuine friendships they formed,
the fun and exciting activities they shared, and the deeper connection with God
they built.
‘We did a lot of
reflections every night before bed time, and went to Mass regularly', said
Micronesian pilgrim Rochstein. ‘It was very fun. A new experience, new friends
and new emails!'
MAGiS08 drew
together young people from 40 countries to celebrate World Youth Day, and take
part in experiments and reflections in the Ignatian tradition.
The experiments,
held in the week before the pilgrims gathered in Sydney, provided the pilgrims with an
opportunity to experience God in action in the world. Some worked in the
community, others experienced God in art or nature, while others found a deeper
connection of faith through other labours.
US pilgrim Marie was full of praise for the
Loyola Labyrinth Experiment.
'I absolutely
loved it. The physical labour was so rewarding and it was so nice to be able to
give something back to the community and know that it's going to stay there and
be used by students and the local parish', she said.
‘There was also
so much hospitality', she added, saying that she will be taking home multiple
email addresses and photographs of new friends.
Gilbert, from Kenya, says he enjoyed the multicultural
interaction he experienced during the Liturgy and Mime Experiment in Sydney.
‘We went to see
the Opera House', he said. ‘We've been having fun. It's been quite an
experience actually. We were with guys from Ethiopia,
Kenya, Australia, and we also met
Aboriginal guys from Kings Cross.'
Micronesian
pilgrim Lily said the physical work and weather had made things difficult, but
the experience was worth it.
‘At the end,
every time we do the Magic Circle
and everyone shares their joy and their struggle, it's the answer. Everyone
feels the same and the bonding is there', she said.
The often chilly
weather proved a challenge for many pilgrims from the equatorial regions.
'It was freezing-we
felt so cold but we had fun!' said Catherine, from Kenya, who went on a Blue Mountains
Aboriginal pilgrimage. 'We played games, we climbed up the big rocks so we
could see the view properly. We had an Aboriginal guide who told us about
Aboriginal culture.'
Singaporean
pilgrim, Benedict, was enlightened by his Aboriginal encounter. 'I guess I
haven't been exposed to Aboriginal culture before, and that was quite eye opening',
he said.
Australia's natural beauty also proved a hit with
him: 'I loved the nature walks, even here at Riverview-back in Singapore
we definitely have a concrete jungle!'
Being on home
soil didn't prevent Australian pilgrims from stepping outside their comfort
zones either.
'We went around
to the housing estates in Melbourne',
says Annie, who was part of the Jesuit Social Services Experiment. 'It was
really very enlightening, and you came away with more of an optimistic view of
the poor people in Melbourne.
The experience [also] gives you a look at how different people practice religion.
During the Experiment there was a big contrast between people from different
countries. That's been a nice thing to learn about.'
Annie's
compatriot, Niamh, agrees, 'The best aspect has been the international crowd
that's here at the moment. Just hearing the different languages and the
different accents is exciting.'
With their
exuberance based on a common faith, many pilgrims looked forward to learning
from one another as WYD progressed.
'I'd like to meet
a lot of people-as I'm bound to-and get an insight into how other people live
out their own faith and hopefully learn something from them that will
strengthen my own faith', said Bridget, an Australian pilgrim. 'I'm really
interested in how everyone else lives out their lives according to what they
believe. It's terrific to see yourself as part of such a big group. You realise
you're not odd or alone.'
The joy of
MAGiS08 was perhaps best summed up by Reksa, a pilgrim from India, who went on a pilgrimage to Seven Hills
in South Australia.
'It's been
wonderful. Everything-the people I met, the work I did, and the reflections-were
so great, and I want more!'
Fr Edward Dooley
SJ, MAGiS delegate, says that the sharing encountered during the Magis Circle had to
be one of the most popular parts of the MAGiS08 Experiments.
'The Magis Circle was
wonderfully successful. People enjoyed sitting in smaller groups reflecting
upon the days', he said. 'People also really enjoyed the various activities,
and the challenges that came with those activities.'
Fr Dooley said
that the event had reinforced these Ignatian activities as 'a successful
formula for the future. It opens up the spirituality for pilgrims, and gives
them an understanding of Ignatian spirituality in today's world.'
As for the
Gathering, Fr Dooley described it as a wonderful realisation of a common faith.
'I think the greatest gift that our visitors from overseas have given our local
members of MAGiS is a realisation that it is okay to express one's faith
upfront and to say to people yes, I'm Catholic, yes I love God. And that's
wonderful.'
By Catherine Marshall