In our World Youth Day Series, I did not only took time and effort in documenting the history, story, theme song, and photos of the event from different years and countries but also the souvenirs that came with them. Souvenirs are like relics, they remind us of good things that happened to us on a particular event. It brings memories to us which we usually cherish and help us remember the lessons we’ve learned from such experiences. A month ago, a woman from Colorado USA named Sue (real name with-held upon request) wrote to OTWOMD via email asking us if we want her daughter’s memorabilia of the 1993 Denver World Youth day. Here is a verbatim of her original letter:

[2010/07/03 at 3:39 am] I have a bagful of World Youth Day ’93 including Pilgrim’s Handbook, the official souvenir magazine, The New Catholic Explorer published in Joliet, Illinois which has photos from the event, and an unused coupon book! Would you like these items? Just contact me at my email address above. Suen

Sue and Joe from Colorado USA sent us their daughter’s WYD 93 Memorabilia

I responded to her letter and told her that as part of OTWOMD’s apostolate in promoting everything “World Youth Day”, I will gladly and willingly accept her generous offer. Susan responded back to my surprise. Not that I am doubting her, but because I was really surprised that she answered back. Probably because most people who contact me never reply back after responding to their emails like in the case of a certain Reader of OTWOMD from Lipa, Philippines who asked me to email him but when I did he never responded back or the case of a certain priest who asked me to help him in his apostolate but when I did respond to him I never got a word back from him up to this day.

For me its actually a waste of time responding to each letter without any response in return. So I am very meticulous in answering letters because to be honest, they waste my time when they do not answer. This is the primary reason why I created this “Letter Sender” series. I respond to their letters publicly depending on the case, and if it happens that they do not answer back or reply, then it doesn’t matter anymore at least my response served a purpose as a “post for OTWOMD”.

But in Susan’s case, she responded immediately, like what I mentioned above “To My Surprise”. Here is her reply:

Hello Bluepanjeet,

Glad you are interested in the material. I am not the one who went to Denver for the Youth Day. It was my daughter. I am cleaning up all of the things around the house and in closets and found her bag of memorabilia. I would be glad to send it to you free. She has given me permissin. I have limited resources for scanning and would be happy just to give it to somebody who is interested in having it. When I found it, I just googled World Youth Day and the year and you came up as one of the options. If there is an address or PO box I can send it to, let me know. God bless you. Sue

After a few weeks, the packaged arrive as what she have told me. (Stamped on Post Office on July 26, 2010). Immediately opened and everything she told me on her letter was there. I was planning to email her back, at least to let her know that the package arrived but because OTWOMD experienced a glitch, I wasnt able to email her back since I was caught up in maintaining the internal side of this website which can really take months depending on free time. I was thinking of writing a post especially for this letter and I was thinking of just sending her an email with the link to this post but she sent me a letter before I could even write the post. Here was her third letter:

So glad you got it and hope you like some of the stuff in it. You can use the photo if you like but not our last name – just Sue and Joe if that’s OK. We are also busy with work – we are both school teachers. It’s fun but sometimes I feel so OLD! I love the little guys and girls – ages 3 to 5. Thank you for the email and I hope that you will stay busy/happy. Sue PS I look forward to your writing – send me a link when it’s done.

The Package which Sue sent to OTWOMD

Inside the Package: Various WYD 93 publications including Brochure, Stubs, Tickets and Pamphlets

More of the Package: Official handbook of WYD 93, ID, Magazine and a special edition of the Catholic Explorer

So to Sue, from the bottom of my heart, thank you very much for your Generosity. The memorabilia you gave will help new generations of WYD alumni to appreciate the history of the events that happened in Denver, with John Paul II, in 1993. Many Alumni and future WYD Pilgrims will surely have a knowledge of what it is like to be in the WYD in Previous Years.

May the Lord Bless you and your husband, together with your whole family.

To view the entire souvenirs which Sue sent to OTWOMD, CLICK HERE