World Youth Day
World Youth Day (WYD) is celebrated annually on the diocesan level, and every two or three years internationally with young people from every continent and nation gathering together with the pope. It is characterized by the happiness of young adults being with the Pope and with each other.
For more information, please visit the official World Youth Day website at www.worldyouthday.org
World Youth Day 2008
July 2008 saw around 30 young people from different Challenge 2000 programmes travel to Sydney for the World Youth Day experience. The group included young people from Wellington central and Johnsonville along with a couple of representatives from Murapara thrown in. Many of the young people who attended the event had been on Challenge 2000 personal development or leadership programmes and it was a real opportunity for them to develop even stronger bonds as a group of people who are committed to the principals of personal dignity, social justice and social responsibility. For some who had never travelled out of the country, even getting on the plane and getting to Sydney was an absolute challenge.
The ten days spent in Australia provided them with many wonderful opportunities for reflection on who they are and on their identity as young Catholics in Aotearoa, New Zealand and how they as young people can work to make a difference in their communities, and their colleges and in their country.
Pilgrims Reflect
The journey of World Youth Day increased my understanding of humanity and how diversity is both a gift that brings joy and richness and also creates tension and conflict. WYD confronted me and created a lot of profound questions like how can our simple human likeness be diminished by some peoples need to be right and force their view on others. I think the realisation that there are deep divides that are caused by mere difference has meant that I am even more passionate about being a bridge between people – a bridge of learning, a bridge of tolerance, a bridge of compassion, a bridge of understanding. As a part time Youth Worker at Challenge I am able to bring together groups of people who wouldn’t normally come together. What can happen as a result of this gives me both a way of living out what I encountered at WYD and hope.
Heath Hutton
A few weeks before I travelled to World Youth Day I began doing a GAP placement at Challenge 2000. My role here started out as some photocopying here, tidying shelves and vacuuming everywhere but has since grown into helping children from poor families with their homework on a weekly basis, leading youth groups, helping a young woman with a learning disability to become more confident in her self and in what she is capable of, and just helping out where ever I can, doing whatever is needed. It was at World Youth Day that I decided I was going to do what I could to get myself in the best position to help others and thanks to Challenge I can now continue that journey. World Youth Day was an amazing experience that was more than worth the effort it took to get there. It was a real eye opener to see so many Catholics, young and old, prove to the world that we are here now and will be here for a long time yet to come, no matter what others choose to throw against us. I discovered that there are Catholics all over the world doing their best to live out the Gospel in ways both similar and different to those of us in New Zealand and that when Catholic Young people gather together amazing things happen.
Andrew Aitken
It was great meeting new people and becoming a tight, youth community sleeping marae-style at Woolaware. Seeing the pope was also awesome and the Catechesis was pretty challenging too. It was interesting seeing how different countries and cultures worship God and the American animation team was really different. The trip to Australia made me want to change myself and to become a better person and to do my bit to change the wrong and unjust things in the world.
Manu Maihi Ioane
I’ve been working full-time at Challenge 2000 for almost two years. I work predominantly at our Alternative Education Centre for young people who are unable to attend mainstream schools throughout Wellington. I went to WYD with the East Side Group which encompassed the Eastern Suburb parishes. It was great to be a part of something so huge and really realise that my Christian family is so much bigger than just the believers here in New Zealand. What really made the trip for me was our group. No matter how different we all were, everyone was so accepting of each other and went out of their way to include everyone in what ever we were doing. The highlights for me were the concerts in the evenings with groups like Hillsongs United. What I enjoyed the most though, was seeing the younger people in my group experience God for the first time. Hearing their excitement and experiences really inspired me in my faith and gave me hope.
Diana Taylor
World Youth Day was pretty challenging – the different cultures and experiences were amazing. Things that stand out for me are the hospitality and generosity of the teachers and parents at the school where we stayed – even though it was their holiday time they worked hard and even stayed every night at the school with us and then started back at school the day we left. Throughout the week the locals welcomed us and didn’t seem to mind that we invaded their place – every worker was positive and friendly. I have many different thoughts about WYD. It was hard for me when I saw people singing hymns and at the same time just dropping rubbish on the street or even people pushing past others to get closer to events. Also some people argued about who had the right to hand out holy pictures and whose opinion was right. I’m still thinking about all these experiences and have decided that I need to speak out and step up more.
Felise So’oa
At WYD joyous celebrations and joy filled strangers and friends were both enriching and refreshing for my faith. The actions of our host-parish have, however, had the most profound effect. Our group witnessed love and service working within every parishioner as they helped us through the week. Their small gestures and overwhelming generosity was one of the greatest examples of faith at WYD. On returning home this is something I shared with my Challenge 2000 / Marist Community and something we as a Youth community strive to be like - a living example and witness to the power of the Holy Spirit as we live our normal lives.
Katherine Leslie
World Youth Day 2008 was amazing! Some of the things I enjoyed the most were the camaraderie of everyone in our group, and from all the different groups around the world. It was so easy to walk up to someone you had never met and spark up a conversation just like that, even if the other person didn't speak English very well. Another thing I enjoyed was seeing so many young people coming together under one faith. We don't really think about Catholics from other parts of the globe a lot, and it was awesome to meet people from all different countries that shared the same beliefs.I learnt a lot of things like living together and putting up with a large tired group in an enclosed space for a long period of time. I also understood more the things we talk about at youth groups and masses such as servant leadership, sacrifice for others, and living the gospel as Jesus did in his time. The Challenge WYD trip gave me another chance to take a step back and look at the way I was living my life. I made the decision last year while volunteering for Challenge 2000 that I wanted to become a social worker. World Youth Day definitely helped me realise, through prayer and talking to others that this is definitely what I want to do. So next year I plan to do a Gap year at Challenge to develop more and then keep on doing what I am called to do. The experiences and things I learned at World Youth Day will stick with me for ever. It was one of the biggest highlights of my life so far and, in some ways, one of the biggest achievements.
Hadley Middleton
Delargey Award ... to one of our own!
One of the exciting parts of the World Youth Day experience occured during the New Zealand gathering where Kitty was awarded (much to her surprise) a Delargey award!
The Delargy awards recognise people who have contributed to Youth Ministry in an outstanding way, and Kittys specific award was for her contribution towards Justice and Peace in Aotearoa.
Five people nominated Kitty for this award, mentioning her incredible integrity and creativity and commitment to social justice.
The atmosphere when the award was anounced was incredible, and there was a rousing haka as Kitty approached the stage. Once on stage Kitty shared more inspiration with the four thousand young people present - with no preparation of course!
It was a proud moment for the whole Challenge Whanau!