The euphoria over the 37th World Youth Day [WYD] in Lisbon, Portugal, held in the first week of August, has slowly died down. Pilgrims from all over the world, including over 300 from Hong Kong, have returned home. However, our teenagers, young adults and their leaders must realise that their months-long preparations and participation in the event have opened up a new stage in their life of faith and witness. They must discern ways to ensure that the missionary impetus from the field continues in their lives.
The Diocesan Youth Commission and various religious communities have been regular in organising WYD and Asian Youth Day [AYD] pilgrimages in the past. While it is difficult to gauge the impact of World Youth Day in the lives of the participants, it’s significant to acknowledge that the WYDs and AYDs have made a significant impact on the Church in Hong Kong. We have heard countless stories from our young people about how this experience has changed their lives, and it has also inspired faith renewal among all generations who watch the events from afar.
Past events have led to many participants volunteering for the Church. Many young men and women who experienced WYD as a youth or young adult are now stepping into significant roles in the Church’s leadership. Many serve in youth ministry and also in other roles, including Catholic education, liturgy and music ministry, and a small number of them have made up their minds for priestly or religious life.
Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taek of Seoul, was convinced of the tremendous impact this international event could generate, particularly for the youth ministry in Korea, and a year ago in 2022, had expressed his desire to bring the next edition of the WYD to Seoul.
“We want to bring World Youth Day to Seoul in 2027. We are presenting our candidacy to be the diocese that will host the World Youth Gathering with the pope in the edition following next year’s one in Lisbon. It would be an extraordinary opportunity to revive youth ministry in a country struggling with a demographic winter and an education system dominated by competitiveness,” the archbishop said in 2022.
The parish community and the Church leadership in Hong Kong shall benefit from the rich experiences of delegates from past and present WYDs and AYDs. In order to listen to and share their experiences, there should be reunion gatherings. They should be encouraged and invited to be part of the Church leadership. Furthermore, they could be responsible for recruiting participants for the next edition of AYD or WYD.
This is what World Youth Day does, it facilitates the transformations of the mind, heart and soul, but not only for the pilgrims attending World Youth Day. The universality of the Catholic Church is alive with the youth and the native people, leaving everyone touched by the grace of God. jose, CMF
