One million young adults from around the world are in Madrid, Spain for World Youth Day 2011. Large groups of pilgrims from countries world-wide are seen moving along the streets waving flags from their own countries and singing and chanting songs of faith in their native language. Though the temperatures of high 90s to 100 degrees is oppressive, the energy and spirit of these young adults who have made their way to Madrid is awesome to see. Last night the Palacio de Deportes was host to a Marian festival to honor Mary, the mother of God. Catholic rock singers led the thousands in a song fest singing contemporary music about Mary.
We have a vocation booth at the Vocation Expo in the Parque de Retiro a park the size of Central Park in NYC. Sr. Pat Dowling from the USA along with Sister Elena Serrano from Peru and Sr. Rosa Sanchez from South Africa are heading up our vocation booth. We have had 1000s of young adults drop by to sign our Path of Solidarity paper feet from tiny island countries in the Indian Ocean to Russia to Karzachastan to Chile to North America and every country in-between. All very respectful and looking for items to help their faith along.
We are giving these young adult pilgrims WYD pocket sized pamphlets with comments from Pope John Paul II from the first WYD and we are making tiny bead solidarity bracelets which they are standing in line to choose their tiny bead to string.
Pope Benedict arrives today so there is a felt sense of excitement and energy as pilgrims line the streets hoping to see him as he is driven through the streets of Madrid to where he will stay.
More to come….
Tags: PPop Benedit, Religious Life, sisters of bon secours, World Youth Day Madris 2011
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