WORLD YOUTH DAY - JORNADA MUNDIAL DELA JUVENTUD - GIORNATA MONDIALE DELLA GIOVENTU - JOURNEE MONDIALE DE LA JEUNESSE - JORNADA MUNDIAL DA JUVENTUDE - WELTJUGENDTAG

The experience of World Youth Day is very unique, personalized and inculturated on your values. Yet with all these diversity of perception and hands-on, it snowballs into one big truth: The awe and joy that one feels as they participate in the WYD events is tremendously inexplicable, mysterious and found nowhere else that even the feeling of winning a million dollar in a lottery would not suffice to overshadow such emotions. The camaraderie, hospitality and brotherhood among peoples are so intricately weaved that it WYD events has become the dynamic mecca of international understanding, spiritual rejuvenation and enhancement of faith. If you haven’t experienced World Youth day before, I suggest you read this post, take time in watching and listening the media embedded and feel the goosebumps as you witness online the “Big Deal” of everything in the World Youth Day Phenomenon.

Songs

Songs that have been used or popularized in previous World Youth Days including songs officially included in various WYD album releases.

1. Adoremus Te (Deutsch)

2. Venite Adoremus (English/Deutsch)

3. Venite Exultemus Domine (English/Deutsch)

4. Unterwegs In Eine Neue Welt (Deutsch)

5. Wir Haben Einen Stern Gesehen (Deutsch)

6. There Is Still A Dream (English)

7. Thy Word (English sung by African Children)

8. I Believe (English/French)

9. Shine Jesus Shine (English)

10. Pilgrim’s Theme (English)

11. Jesus Christ, You Are My Life (English/Italian/Spanish/French)

Souvenirs

Souvenirs from past world youth days that were owned by various participants. some items were even auctioned /sold on ebay.

[Show as slideshow]

Message of John Paul II (Audio)

One of the messages of John Paul II during the past World Youth Days (Denver 1993)

VIDEO RESUME

These are various videos uploaded by Catholic youths and organizations in giving witness to the events that took place on previous World Youth Days.

WYD 1997

WYD 2000 - 1

WYD 2000 - 2

WYD 2002 - 1

WYD 2002 - 2

WYD 2005 - 1

WYD 2005 - 2

WYD 2005 - 3

TESTIMONIES

Written testimonies of young people about their experience in the previous World Youth Days

“The blending together of these different personalities and different ages that came together to know more about our faith is so profound,”

Kayla Neufeld, 19

“When you’re learning about God, about yourself and about other people, everything comes to a different perspective. I think after the WYD I will continue to grow. I think I will be more aware that there are other young people in my parish that I can bond with”

Sterling Sparshu, 18

“I do not even mind the prospect of sleeping on a gym floor while in Toronto as long as I am there and become part of this huge faith celebration.”

Suzanne Jobse, 18

“I hope we can show the world that in spite of everything that is happening, we believe in Christ and we’re still going to work to try and improve the world.”

Christopher Rehman, 18

“WYD shows to youth the universality of the Church, with 1 million people gathered together for one purpose, “We have come to Worship Himâ€?. This was also revealed on a much more personal level because I traveled with other members of the CLM from various parts of the world. I realized that our common belief in the Catholic faith overcomes various cultural and language differences. I also came into a better understanding of the personal vocation that Christ is calling me to, particularly because of conversations with others from the Movement. And of course, it was such a blessing to have a special seat by the altar for the closing mass on Sunday. I departed a pilgrim by another way.”

Riley Sanders, Age 20, Denver USA

“When I hoped in the Lord He answered; this time through my first World Youth Day experience. My days there were filled with the joys of being with people of faith from different cultures, praying every day on trains and in ancient churches walked by many saints, singing energetically with the Christian Life Movement everywhere we went, meeting locals who were curious and who brightened up when we made the effort to speak to them in German, and finally journeying with one million pilgrims to find out I was one of only a few hundred who would be sitting around the altar with the Pope for mass! Each day I was there, the hardened layers of my heart were slowly being stripped away. But, it wasn’t until I had recovered from lots of walking and talking and not much resting that I realized my life was filled with a new hope! My perspective was renewed and my heart was encouraged. My encounter with Jesus as a pilgrim was just what we sang in the theme song, “Emmanuel, God is with us.” He is present always, in big ways and in small ways, as long as I hope in Him.”

Michelle LeBlanc, Age 27, Denver USA

“For me, hearing all the masses over the course of the two weeks opened my eyes to how many different kinds of people there actually are in the world, yet it is amazing to think that they all gathered together in one place for this one event. For me that was very humbling,�

Naval Cadet Matthew Bowman

“It is an event that I will never forget. The sense of camaraderie and shared humanity created deep bonds of friendship that transcended any language or cultural barriers”.

OCdt. Andrew Richardson

“One of the most amazing things for me was standing at the Papal mass, one of 800,000! We all prayed a common prayer, the “Our Father”, in our individual languages. We may have been separated by language, but we were united in Faith. Who could doubt that Jesus was with us? After all in Matthew 18:20, Jesus says “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

Sujay L. Nazareth, Canada

“I know there are some changes that have happened in my life. There is a much bigger awareness of God’s presence in my life; this is from my personal point of view. And that percolates into everything you do so it is really hard to say you notice this big change. One part is changed and another, but it changes everything really; It didn’t just happen naturally. It was the result of the WYD experience”.

Chris Radziminski, Canada

“I feel so uplifted! Would not have missed this for anything in the world! I still have that strange feeling of peace!” The presence of the Cross has erased any doubts that the youth might have had about World Youth Days.”

Walter Kiliwnik, Elphinstone, Canada

“I had seen photos of the Cross at the WYD 2002 website but I had no idea what it would be like up close. At the rally, I didn’t immediately volunteer to carry the Cross but eventually, I let go of my reluctance and timidity and went to carry the Cross. I felt the heaviness of the Cross. I looked closely at the Cross’s detail: dents and scratches in the wood, painted brown, held together by four bolts. It was not as glamorous as I thought. Then I was struck by the fact that there were people younger and older than me, shorter and taller than me, carrying this Cross around Hall B. I felt unified to these strangers. When I returned to my seat, there was a very strong feeling deep in my soul. I believe it was the Holy Spirit stirring in my soul. I felt very humbled by the experience but very honored to have carried the WYD Cross. I guess I was pleasantly surprised that there was so much power in such a simple Cross.”

Rita Eslinger, Virden, MB

“Excitement was slowly mounting as the few transistor radios we had among us began to announce the fact that Pope John Paul II was in view and slowly approaching the area leading to the main platform. We could hear shouts of “Viva il Papa” followed by cheers and greetings, and I was again reminded of how it was two years ago in Chestochowa. Though we had not yet arrived at the scene, that same electrifying thrill of joy took hold of me and I seemed to be lifted out of my body. Then, at long last, we had suddenly at our destination - with the Holy Father! Time stood still and our joy was supreme because the Pope was with us, was one of us, and of course we wanted it never to come to an end”.

J.M., USA

“This experience clarified many of my personal experiences. Upon agreeing to assist in the preparation, I chose to reflect on what the cross really meant to me. The proceeding days prior to the event, became one of the most intense soul searching exercise in my entire life. I went through and analyzed some very emotional experiences of being both a victim and a contributor. Upon gathering my thoughts and put things into perspective. I can sincerely say that one can experience the amazing power of transforming our cross to gain wisdom and to assist others in their journey, which further enhances our independence and inner peace. The cross, is the symbol of my salvation and guiding light.”

Jose Ferreira

“The trip to Denver opened my eyes to many nationalities of youth on a global scale that love God and traveled extreme distances to hear the message of the Pope. Though we were unable to communicate with each other, we understood our universal language of loving God. As I see it, we are all one, one in the sight of God, yet still individuals by name. The pilgrimage fulfilled itself by our trials and struggles. I had very little planned to what I truly expected, yet I left myself open to whatever may have been meant for me to learn of have confirmed. I have taken home with me the messages of the Pope, my experiences throughout the trip, which includes beautiful sceneries and friendships which have continued to grow and expand. The trip has not ended for me. This was just the beginning of what lies ahead, the extension of which each person became a part of when they signed up for the trip. For me, Youth Day can be a daily occurrence and celebration, just by being with those we love: by being children of GOD!”

Darlene Chmielewski

“The pope was in better shape at that time and he attended some of the conferences. I still cherishes the chance of participating in the papal Mass with only a hundred other delegates from around the world. For me, that was a bonus. Witnessing the faith of the Filipino people “was fabulous”. I did not realize how Catholic the country was until I saw signs of Catholicity everywhere I turned my eyes. Buses, cabs, everything in the regular society, there were crosses and rosaries. Their faith is their life and the pope being in Manila accentuated that. Bringing home that experience was powerful for me and encouraged me to be more involved in my Church. My faith was intensified even more.”

Sandra Talarico

AUDIO TESTIMONIES

Audio testimonies of World Youth Day in Cologne. An excerpt from the podcast interviews courtesy of Fr. Willy Raymund’s, of the Family Theater Productions in Hollywood California.

1. Encounter with the Mormons

2. Camanee of Cameroon

3. Fr. Watts from Chicago

4. Young Man from Germany

5. Kately and Friends from Canada

6. Magie from London

7. Seth from Canada

8. Kevin from Texas

9. Young Lady of Uganda

10. Young Pilgrims from Union Island

11. Young Man from Chile

VIDEO TESTIMONIES

Back to WYD Through The Years