Tag Archives: Catholic Church

Volunteering for UKpilgrims and Rio2013

10 Jun

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Hi, My name is Paula and together with Jo-Anne, I am helping to organise the UKPilgrims group to World Youth Day Rio2013.

I am also working as an International Volunteer for Rio2013, helping with the day to day running of the official twitter account @wyd_en, with other 2 international volunteers – one of them is from the North of England and the other one from the USA. I have been involved in doing this job more or less since September last year and it entails twitting for this account on a 24/7 basis. One of the things I love most about this work is the opportunity to belong to a truly international team, being in contact with pilgrims from all over the world and reflecting on the daily Gospel readings.

Having the opportunity to do this volunteering work is amazing, I love my Catholic faith and since I went to Madrid in 2011, my life has been transformed and revitalised. Madrid has given me confidence in my faith and the gift to live life to the full in real time.

During my time in Madrid I acted as a Communications Officer for the Bishops Conference of England and Wales. This meant blogging my Madrid experience on the ukpilgrims.com website, tweeting and posting on Facebook. Apart from getting access to the media centre and press passes to some of the press boxes – which was awesome – it was also a great opportunity to absorb the WYD experience at a deeper level. By writing about all the different happenings after a WYD day, it gave me the opportunity to review every detail of what had happened during those extraordinary days.

It was during this time that I met Jo-Anne and James, and we decided this event was too amazing to keep to ourselves; we had to do something and so the idea was born for a WYD book. We gathered testimonies from different pilgrims that we met along the way and asked for their stories. Finally last month we released the book – World Youth Day: Inspiring Generations in two different versions: an ebook full version available worldwide through Amazon (http://www.amazon.co.uk/World-Youth-Day-Generations-ebook/dp/B00C0GBAMY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370900484&sr=8-1&keywords=inspiring+generations) and a CTS booklet with a shorter selection of testimonies (http://www.ctsbooks.org/world-youth-day-inspiring-generations). Not one testimony is the same as another – we all go to WYD together but we all have different journeys of faith.

It may sound crazy but one of the reasons why I am volunteering to organise the UKPilgrim Communications Officers group is because of a particular occurrence in Madrid when a friend – John – and I made our way to the Way of the Cross via the Parque del Retiro. We had a Union Jack flag with us and along our journey we were stopped several times by individuals or groups of pilgrims who wanted to chat with us. It was then that I realised that UK pilgrims have so much to give to the universal life of the Church and no matter how small or insignificant the number of UK pilgrims when compared to other nations, it is still an essential part of the body of Christ – and his Church. In other words World Youth Day would not be complete without pilgrims from the UK.

Last year, I spent some time visiting different events for young Catholics in the UK. It is clear to me that this country has great potential in its hands – the young Catholics in this country have a deep faith rooted in Christ. My job as a coordinator for UK pilgrims is to serve these young people so they can experience World Youth Day to the full. Jo and I are both using our experience in Madrid to make the most of Rio for UK pilgrims. We hope that we can give them the confidence to get out there: tweet, Facebook and blog so others may know UK pilgrims are going to attend World Youth Day and that they will make this experience their own.

World Youth Day in Rio2013 from 23rd-28th July.

You can follow UKpilgrims on
Blog: ukpilgrims.com
Twitter: @ukpilgrims and
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ukpilgrims

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Link

Book Feature – by the Catholic Church in England and Wales

10 May

posterbook

This is WORLD YOUTH DAY: INSPIRING GENERATIONS Book Feature

A sample of the book can be found on Amazon

Enjoy!

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WYD symbols are officially in Brazil

21 Sep

The most precious World Youth Day symbols, the Cross and the Icon of Our Lady have now officially arrived in Brazil.

Last Sunday 18th September, whilst we Brits celebrated the first anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the UK, Brazil was unveiling a huge party.

An open air mass with more than 100,000 young people welcomed the Icons in Campo de Marte located north of Sao Paulo and it was celebrated by its archbishop, Cardinal Odilo Pedro Scherer who said ‘The church has faith in the young people, who have a generous heart and a desire to build a better world for the next generations’.

The reception of the Icons on Sunday can be better described as a dry run for WYD. It not only ran for 12 hours (9am-9pm) but also included an area for confessions, chapel for adoration, videos about the history of WYDs including Madrid, testimonies and many musical presentations.

If you want to see a video of the procession of the cross and the excitement of the young Brazilians click here watch?v=WVClJXFGrXE&feature=player_embedded

The WYD Icons will be touring most of Brazil from now until December 2012, when they leave the country to visit Chile, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. They then return to the south of Brazil and finally arrive back in April 2013 in Rio de Janeiro.

The theme for the next World Youth Day 2013 in Rio de Janeiro is “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:19). Whilst next year’s theme for World Youth Day, to be celebrated by local Churches is “Always be joyful in the Lord!” (Phil 4:4).

Finally, take a look at this video where people are singing and venerating the cross, Brazilian style:watch?feature=player_embedded&v=SBuvZqaqpHg

Enjoy!

Paula

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Life during and after the Papal Visit 2010

18 Sep

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A year ago, this historical visit of the Pope to the UK changed my life quite dramatically.

Indeed 2010 had been quite a rubbish year for me: in the 8.8 earthquake in Chile I saw my home country in a state of emergency, including the anxiety of not knowing for a few hours whether my family and friends were dead or alive. A couple of months later, due to the economic crisis in this country, I faced redundancy and then came the trapped Chilean miners! I really felt that my life was moving…

However in September, as the Pope’s visit became a historical event for this country, for me this would mean a dream coming true and a change of direction in my life.

You see, when JP2 visited Chile I was 10 years old and I remember so clearly that I could only sit in front of the box as my parents deemed I was too young to be taken to the acts. This negation in 1987 became joyful enthusiasm in 2010 and so when Fr G announced that tickets were up for grabs in Church, I did not hesitate to sign up straight away.

So I attended the Hyde Park Vigil and Cofton Park Mass but I followed much of the visit from start to finish via the internet. It was right at the beginning with the Mass in Scotland that I realised that I was witnessing a once in a lifetime event.

As I followed the Papal visit on screen, what I enjoyed most was the atmosphere that was formed by the people in the events and also by the content of what the Pope said to all of us which I can only describe as spiritual food.

The meeting between the Pope and the young people outside Westminster Cathedral really touched my heart when he said: ‘after all, we were made for love.’

Also, I will never forget being part of the Hyde Park Vigil: the people, the atmosphere, the music were completely out of this world. The testimonies before the actual Vigil started were tremendously moving as well as the silence during adoration… and of course those very important words pronounced by the Pope himself: ‘come to Madrid for World Youth Day’.

Three hours sleep later, I was in a bus heading to Cofton Park with my parish. We had a dark drizzly start but as soon as the Pope arrived the clouds opened and the sun started to shine :-) . During the bus trip and waiting times, the Holy Spirit was stirring my heart and I truly felt that He was telling me: tell the young people in your parish about Madrid… come to Madrid.

And so in the bus back, Adelene and I cooked up a plan which would consist of talking in the following mass about our experiences during the papal visit and invite all to come to WYD and, on the way, try to start up a group for young people in our parish. Throughout the year this materialised in fundraising events for WYD in the parish, Youff mass every month and a lectio group with some of them at home.

Hard work and enthusiastic determination of proclaiming God and the young Church experienced in Hyde Park; these encapsulate for me this past year which of course had a high – very high – point during World Youth Day in Madrid. Planted and build up in Christ, firm in the faith indeed and a truly amazing, inspirational and spiritually gifted year of my life.

Paula

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Hyde Park Vigil 2010

18 Sep

Many of us who attended the Hyde Park Vigil during the Pope visit last year, heard and responded to the call to become pilgrims in World Youth Day Madrid 2011.

Here is a video, for you to re-live this historical moment in our country and in our lives.

 

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WYD in the BBC Radio 4

4 Sep

Paschal Uche

Here is a recording by Paschal Uche in the Edward Stourton’s BBC program this morning.

He is around minute 5.27. I hope it brings you good memories.

Enjoy!

Paula

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We are all called to Mission – Talk by Archbishop Dolan from NY

3 Sep

Archbishop Timothy Dolan @ Love and Life

Here is the link for the outstanding and inspirational talk by Archbishop Timothy Dolan about Mission and Evangelisation, given to ukpilgrims and another 16,000 pilgrims at the Love and Life centre.

And since it has been a few weeks from WYD and life is swimming back into normality for many of us, it is important to ask ourselves: will I let WYD become part of history? Or am I ready to spread the good news of Jesus Christ and share my experiences lived at World Youth Day with my friends, family and parish?

There is lots that can be done but personally, I will start this weekend by telling my parish congregation (in all 3 masses)   about what a wonderful experience World Youth Day was – a life experience not to be missed by anyone! And I will formally invite anyone who is interested in WYD Rio 2013 to join me and start fundraising. All I had to do was approach my parish priest and ask to do this – I don’t particularly like to speak in public but I figure that if I want to spread the good news of Jesus and WYD, I really have to get out of my comfort zone as well as give a little of my time for it.

However WYD Madrid is not the only thing I want to speak about as I will be making the most of the opportunity and inviting young people to attend the  Flame Congress to be held in March – this will be a great opportunity to re-unite all of us ukpilgrims for a catch up as well as a spiritual warm up for the next WYD.

As you can see, there is lots that can be done! Madrid wasn’t a dream, the dream starts now in our homes and parishes, now that we’ve been ‘planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith‘  (St Paul) it’s time to ‘go out and make disciples‘ (Mt 28:19) with those around us.

Let’s do it! By getting our inspiration by praying to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit  – who are the everlasting source of energy – listen to the talk by archbishop Dolan again, remind yourself of Madrid and the wonderful experience it was, reflect how it touched your heart and build up your faith with other Catholics like you.

Paula

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On boarding that Plane back to the UK….:-(

1 Sep

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Lost in Translation: The Word ‘Youth’

30 Aug

We all agree the English language is somehow peculiar both in the written as well as the spoken word. I canstill remember one of my English friends who’s mother is from the US telling me: tomatoes and tomaytoes, potatos and potatoes (you know what I mean!) as a classic example of English as a non-phonetic language.

How about using different words for the same thing? Fingers and thumbs (a thumb is a finger), jam and marmalade (marmalade is a particular flavour of jam). What about different names for the same things in different quantities: tooth and teeth… But keys can’t be keyses! Or the same word for different things! Such as polish and Polish or turkey and Turkey.

After 16 years living in this country, I’ve just learnt the hard way that Youth does not mean ‘Juventud‘. When I spoke to my parish priest and said I wanted to go to World Youth Day, various members of my parish took the time to tell me: are you going to World Youth Day?… but you are not a youth? (but I am not old either! – I wanted to say)

This terminology in the English language was kind of stuck in my head since last year until I actually went to WYD two weeks ago (I needed to see the evidence you see…) and finally I have the courage to come out of the closet and say: Are we British “lost in translation” with this language?

Jornada Mundial de la ‘Juventud’ or World Youth Day as it is better known in English, refers to the term ‘Juventud‘. This in the vast majority of countries outside the UK, is the age group starting at 18. Under 18′s are officially considered to be children. The big change comes at 18 when people leave school and start university, driving, voting and legal drinking. When you can do all these, that’s when you start being young or ‘joven‘.

And so it seems to me that in England, this is a problematic terminology at many levels, not only becuase it makes our children grow far too fast, but because in Church terms, the congregation have, as a result of the language, a huge mental barrier. This is what I personally experienced in my parish whilst trying to invite people to come to WYD last year after the papal visit: many young people already considered themselves too old to attend even when their age fell into the 18-35 bracket!

Surely, this is not good for the Church. If anybody over 18 is not considered ‘juventud‘ instantly we have an ageing Church population. Furthermore, there is always talk about the hope that the youth or ‘juventud‘ will take on the Church and bring new breath, but being truthful and honest, is it fair to put the future of the Church in the hands of under 18′s who are really still children?

After the Papal Visit and WYD Madrid, many of us have experienced a more youthful church – una iglesia mas joven – maybe the Church we would like it to be and the Church where many of us feel we belong. We have come and gone to Madrid but at least in my parish, there was missing exactly that age bracket between 18-35  and therefore as a consequence, we will miss out on the opportunity of having young people fresh out from WYD. This age bracket is tremendously important for the church because in my experience these are more willing to commit to parish life, as their faith is usually just a little bit more mature than those who are under 18.

Therefore, I plead! The run up to Rio de Janeiro should be taken seriously across all English Parishes and the point made that such an event is not confined only for the ‘youth’ but to all those who are willing to contribute, especially the 18-35 years old. Also, please remember, those pre-WYD events bring so much life to parishes whatever they are: from youth  Masses to fundraising events, the important thing is that young people feel and become part of the parish.

So as the English Church is getting ready to change the whole translation of the Mass, maybe the opportunity should also be taken to change this ‘youth’ term in order to represent us all. I thoroughly refuse to be called ‘Young adult’ (it sounds ambiguous as ‘little adult’) but on the other hand I am not old yet… I am who I am! Young! Youth! Joven! …but I am not 15….

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Interview to a Voluntario

30 Aug

Voluntario! Voluntario!

Who are the Voluntarios? Voluntario is the Spanish word for Volunteers in World Youth Day Madrid. These were thousands of  young Spanish people, to be exact 30,000 of them, who were helping out in the smooth running of the event. They were everywhere with their fluorescent t-shirts, impossible to miss.

Every time there was an issue or a question, the easiest people to approach were the Voluntarios, who  were always happy to help and had a big smile on their faces. Their jobs where varied, sometimes they were answering queries, sometimes distributing media passes and at other times, Voluntarios were making a circular human chain, like the one to  protect national monuments such as the Puerta de Alcalá (this is the monument the Pope crossed with some young people on his arrival). I remember on this occasion saying to one of the Voluntarios: ‘you don’t need the police to guard Spain, because Spain has the Voluntarios!’

Above all, it was a real testimony of life to see these young Spaniards so involved in JMJ (WYD). They were really proud  hosts of the event.

Here is an interview I conducted with one of them. The Audio is in Spanish, but below there is an English translation.

Voluntario

P: Hello How are you?

V: Very well and you?

P: Good Thanks. It’s been a great coincidence that we have bumped into each other so many times and I want to know  you a little more. What is your name?

V: Jesus

P: Jesus, what a beautiful name! What does it mean to be a volunteer?

V: Well, it’s about helping the Church because the Church has helped me a lot, so well… Jesus is also there… He said to us that we can find Him in others….

P: So how has it been for you?

V: Very good, Very good. At the moment we have worked a lot and in the meantime we are waiting for Cuatro Vientos which is going to be the event where the Voluntarios will be able to enjoy more than in the Vigil but anyway, the working atmosphere is very good and at the end, despite any difficulties, everyone is happy and that is important.

P: When did you hear about this? And when did you put your name down for it?

V: Well, the first meeting which I attended was in December 2009. Then I put my name down and we were in communication via internet and then I attended the first proper meeting in December last year.

P: So you were in contact direclty with WYD not via the parish?

V: No, it was directly with WYD

P: Did you put your name down with friends or was it your own decision?

V: At the beginning I was on my own and afterwards, I started to meet people in the parish who put their name down.

P: Well Jesus, I would like to tell you that as a pilgrim it is an honour to be in Madrid, especially as I am originally from Chile but coming from England. it is fantastic that this is in Spain, that everything is beautiful and that the presence of the Voluntarios is very noticeable and that you are giving a great witness of Christ. It’s very beautiful, thank you.

V: Thank you very much to you all as well. For coming and all the effort that this entails.

P: Thank you. Goodbye

V: See you soon.

The following day, after the Via Crucis, I bumped into Jesus for the last time. He was blocking one of the roads adjacent to Plaza de Cibeles, with hundreds of other Voluntarios. That morning, I had put in my rucksack a Portsmouth T-shirt of the Papal Visit – just in case I met Jesus again. When I saw him, I said a had something for him, and so I handed him the T-shirt and told him it was from the Papal visit to UK, he said: ‘thank you very much, I actually followed the whole visit on TV’… suddenly a shout… he had to go, he was being called by one of his colleagues. We embraced and said goodbye.

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