Page 9 - LOTN Autumn Issue 54 2023

DIOCESE
Some amazing memories

of World Youth Day 2023

BY UCHE OFONYELU

and metro queues for hours. All I could do was unite these
ords still fail me when I try to describe what sufferings with that of our Lord Jesus Christ because I know
my WYD2023 experience was like. It lives on for a fact that my suffering was so little compared to what he
Win me. I have made lifelong friends and built went through on His way to Calvary.
lifelong relationships. I have got closer to the Lord and I Leaving all this aside, there were some truly good and amazing
got to know Him so much better. experiences which I will never forget: The Petro Kibe Play led
A few weeks before the trip, I was so excited that I told almost by the Apostolic Brothers of St John; the Taizé Worship led by
everyone at my workplace that I was going on a pilgrimage.
Not many understood it but my simplest way of explaining it
was that millions of young Catholics would be gathering with
the Pope to pray together as one body. I knew it was going to
be a pilgrimage and not a holiday but I wasn’t sure what to
expect as I had never really been to one before.
In all honesty, the experience did have its highs and lows, the
lows being mainly to do with the extreme weather conditions.
Even with my dark skin, the sun dealt harshly with me and I
got burnt to the point that my skin was peeling off. My legs
and entire body were always so tired from walking so much
in the hot weather, and regardless of how much water I kept

a group from Taiwan, and the Change Worship Concert with
Matt Maher and TAYA. Then there was the time for adoration
at the Papal Vigil; the visit to Fatima; the beautiful and holy
places we visited in Portugal; the beautiful beaches and scenery.
I was so blessed at these events and they remain ever green in
my heart and memories. I grew up praying the Rosary in line
with the instructions given to the three children at Fatima as a
Block Rosary Crusade member, and I never for once thought
I would be so blessed as to visit the apparition site in person.
At the Papal Vigil, we had this DJ priest who woke us up
with banging sounds which I absolutely loved. He mastered
a mix with the popular Zulu Song Jerusalema which had the
lyrics of Jerusalem Heavenl Home. This, he combined with some
homilies by PJ II and some other nice beats. I particularly
drinking, it wasn’t really compensating for the tiredness. Shall found this very helpful because it woke us all up so we could
I also say that our sleeping conditions throughout the two get ready for the final Mass. I saw people dancing and shaking
weeks was not the greatest, neither were waiting in the train their heads to it while I went about getting ready for Mass. I

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