To this day the trauma of the pandemic paralyzes a chunk of society. Many businesses aren’t recovering, education will never be the same and many youths, having been tested by the pandemic and racked by the tragedy of war, are struggling with their faith trying to find meaning in their lives.
Like the Virgin Mary after the Annunciation, who found herself lost by the uncertainty of her future, she did not become paralyzed by fear but found her life mission in God.
The Catholic Church, after three years, is bringing back the international World Youth Day (WYD) with the theme “Mary arose and went with haste” (Luke 1:39).
This year, the WYD will take place in Lisbon, Portugal. Youth from all over the world are called to gather and go on this pilgrimage to find God, and like Mary, find their vocation on this pilgrimage.
In answering this call, local youths together with other small communities all over the country are raising funds so they could go to Lisbon. Communities from San Roque Parish, Sacred Heart Parish and San Nicolas Parish are doing various fund-raising activities like simple online selling and caroling. They have even emerged as the champions of the 2022 Mandaue City inter-barangay caroling competition.
Throughout months of fundraising, they have created several initiatives, one of them being the Caravan initiative.
Inspired by the early Christians that go on pilgrimages in a caravan, the group goes around setting up a tent in random locations around the city every Sunday.
The youth groups from the parishes skipped the Sinulog festivities for their fundraising efforts. They sacrificed their plans of going out to set up their small pop-up shop selling hand-made bracelets, shirts, tote bags and various snacks.
The group is composed of young people, many of them in high school and some just started college. The group learned to produce products themselves, assigned themselves roles and assigned business roles to operate the business.
Youth coordinator John Paulo Suico shared what inspired the group. “They do this for the vocation of our youths; for the will of God in our lives.”
While many of these volunteers are still in school, they have their own share of struggles between balancing their personal lives and this calling.
One youth volunteer, Anna Maria Larrobis, shared:
“The struggle has always been to talk about the reason behind the fundraising activities. I had to tell people, including my friends, about the pilgrimage, its point and what it has to do with me. They usually cannot comprehend the depth of this motive. But there lies the success — that even though they do not exactly understand, they still support and even participate, by purchasing and praying for this cause. I believe the Lord has appointed these people to be a vessel of His mercy and grace, which I am very much grateful for.”
Mary was a young woman, like many of these youth, and she was inspired by the Holy Spirit. She answered the call to live her life according to God’s will for her.
The Lisbon WYD pilgrimage will mark a new beginning for the youth. Pope Francis said in his official message for the WYD:
“I firmly believe that the experience many of you will have in Lisbon next August will represent a new beginning for you, the youth, and — with you — for humanity as a whole.”
Representatives from the group say that they will continue to raise funds until all youths from their parish community have a chance to go on this pilgrimage and answer God’s calling. Look out for them and be an instrument for their formation.