DOMINICAN CONNECTION
Caldwell Goes to World Youth Day in Lisbon
Sophomores Fatima Martinez and Marcia Vidal were two of the 1.5 million people who attended World Youth Day (WYD) in Lisbon in August.
Both students traveled with youth groups and the Neocatechumenal Way—Martinez with Saint Agnes Parish in Paterson and Vidal with Saint Francis de Sales in Lodi. They were very happy to feel the support of young people who shared the same ideals and faith in Jesus Christ and who wanted to share that joy with others.
Fatima Martinez (left) and Marcia Vidal (right) wearing their World Youth Day pilgrim T-shirts.
Martinez and her traveling companions walked 2.5 miles to get to the outdoor park, Campo da Graca, where Pope Francis presided over the Eucharistic Adoration Vigil Saturday evening, Aug. 5. “As we were walking … everyone was singing hymns and psalms, and it brought joy [to me] which was unexplainable,” said Martinez, an English and education major. She camped out in the park as did thousands of the attendees, a tradition of World Youth Days, and then attended the Missioning Mass the next day celebrated by the Holy Father. “This was a day that I personally will never forget,” said Martinez. It was a fascinating experience to “not only see the Pope but also to receive this love of God … everyone should experience [it] at one point in their life.”
Vidal, a psychology major, was thrilled to see Pope Francis up close in Lisbon when he passed by. “I admire and look up to the pope, not only for what he represents but also for how he speaks and speaks to the youth.” What resonated most with her was when Pope Francis told the young people to “be not afraid,” to not fear failing and that if they do fail, to get back up again. The trip took fortitude and faith since the students were not always sure what their accommodations would be like. This, said Vidal, helped her to learn patience and trust in God. The experience gave her a broader perspective on life. “I am no longer afraid. I’m at peace and so because of this I can enjoy life … this beautiful life that God has gifted me with.”
”Obrigado to you, Lord Jesus, and obrigado to you, Blessed Mary our Mother.“
Vidal and Martinez’s groups also visited shrines and holy sites including at Fatima where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three children in 1917. Martinez, whose parents named her Fatima in honor of Our Lady of Fatima, said the experience helped her grow as a young woman and in her faith. “It was an immaculate and unforgettable experience.”
Paula Vieira, Caldwell University staff member in the Campus Safety and Security Department, grew up in Portugal and came to the U.S. at 15. She was thrilled to see her homeland center stage for such a historic event. Vieira woke up early to watch many of the events live in Lisbon time, particularly the Holy Father’s closing Missioning Mass. “It was overwhelming to see so many youth so happy. As a Catholic, I believe it is important to bring the youth back to their faith. They are our future.” She appreciated how the pope mentioned the importance of grandparents in the lives of the young people. Those who attended, Vieira said, “will take a seed from World Youth Day for the rest of their lives.”
Colette Liddy, director of news and media relations, was one of 25,000 volunteers blessed to have the experience to serve at WYD. She assisted at Reconciliation Park in the City of Joy in the Belem section of Lisbon where confessions were heard by priests from around the world in multiple languages. The 150 confessionals were made by prisoners in Portugal. Liddy worked with the team that signed out the priests after they had heard confessions. “It was a gift to meet so many holy priests from many countries and witness the teamwork of the organizers, led by a priest and several young people. This was the same park where Pope Francis heard confessions a few days later,” explained Liddy.
“What stayed with me most was the spirit of World Youth Day and how the young leaders witnessed all that we had learned in the trainings, the importance of communicating to others with a clean heart— not to get exasperated by problems but to try to focus on the heart of the other,” said Liddy.
”I admire and look up to the pope, not only for what he represents but also for how he speaks and speaks to the youth.”
The theme for WYD Lisbon 2023 was “Mary Went in Haste,” inspired by the Blessed Mother’s journey as a pregnant teen to meet her older cousin Elizabeth, who was carrying her baby, John the Baptist. The theme song “Há Pressa no Ar” (There’s a Rush in the Air) communicated that sentiment in an array of languages. The message of “Rise Up” in the catechesis sessions, held all over the city of Lisbon during the week, focused on three themes of discussion for the young people—integral ecology, social friendship and mercy.
At the closing Mass, Pope Francis invited the young people to Rome for the Jubilee Year and to the next WYD. “I count on your presence in 2025 to celebrate together the jubilee of young people.” He announced the location of the 2027 WYD, which will be in Seoul, South Korea.
Pope Francis thanked everyone and most especially Jesus and Mary—“Obrigado to you, Lord Jesus, and obrigado to you, Blessed Mary our Mother.”🟥
