By Sr Ashwena Apao SSC

Sister Ashwena is a Columban Sister from Jimenez, Misamis Occidental, which has one of the oldest Spanish churches in Mindanao and was a Columban parish for many years. She gets her name from the fact that she was born on Ash Wednesday. Sister Ashwena is based in Myitkyina, northern Myanmar.

This was the theme of World Youth Day (WYD) 2011, held recently in Madrid, Spain, in which 1.2 million persons participated. WYD was a time when young and not so young people from all over the world gathered together to pray and share experiences coming from within the cultural richness of each one. Everybody went with their own agenda, searching for truth, longing for a deeper meaning in their lives. Everybody wanted to encounter the truth of Jesus Christ, which they believed would set them free.

My journey to Spain was a great encounter of a loving, generous, and compassionate God whom I found in my daily ordinary meetings with the other participants. Those meetings made me realize how firm my faith in Jesus Christ is. WYD 2011 has been a journey of faith for me.

At the 1995 WYD in the Philippines, I was so touched by the words of Pope John Paul II encouraging young people to become missionaries, to become agents of love and peace to the whole world. That was the peak moment of my life, leading me to say ‘Yes’ to God’s call to me, to let go of my own personal desires and to share and proclaim God’s love to the whole world. Those moments of encounter have helped me in my missionary life especially during days of doubt, confusion, rejection, and the humiliations of being a missionary in a foreign country.

I am grateful to my congregation, the Columban Sisters, for giving me this opportunity to join WYD 2011, even though I don’t belong to the youth category anymore, strictly speaking! At the time the invitation came, I felt the need to rejuvenate the youthfulness in me in order to be a more effective agent of God’s love to others. I wanted to encounter again the God who called me and touched me during WYD 1995 in the presence of young people from all over the world.

Now that I’m back from WYD 2011 I know that my prayers have been answered. The whole process involved, from my visa application to finding accommodation and a hosting family, to actual travel, to meeting generous people who helped me all the way to make my journey possible, was an experience of gifts sent by God to me. I believe God called me to be in Madrid for WYD 2011.

In WYD 2011, I found what I had been looking for. I met Jesus again on the journey. I strongly felt his question, ‘What are you looking for, Ashwena?’ He stayed with me, walked with me, and explained many things to me. Slowly I came to my senses again. I felt my heart was burning again to follow him and to be with him on the journey. I renewed my commitment again to be with people in a foreign land and be a witness there of his great love to all.

Basilica of St Ignatius of Loyola

WYD started with activities in different dioceses from 11 to 15 August. I went to the Diocese of San Sebastián in the Basque Country of northern Spain where St Ignatius of Loyola was born. I was the only Filipino and Myanmar participant there but I felt very welcome. The days in diocese focused more on prayer, and the sharing of one’s faith and culture. We prayed the international rosary, followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, with the presence of the relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux. Confessions went on at the same time. We had the culminating Mass at the Basilica of St Ignatius of Loyola built over the birthplace of the saint in Azpeitia. I was very happy to step on the holy ground of St Ignatius, his house and the chapel he prayed in, where his conversion took place.

Plaza de Cibeles

On 15 August all pilgrims travelled back to Madrid for the main event. I was very happy to find and join the Myanmar group there since I had been separated from them in the beginning. We were 26: 16 youths, nine priests and I.

I participated in the whole event with the group enthusiastically in spite of the scorching heat which reached up 40 Celsius. Millions gathered in the Plaza de Cibeles in the heart of Madrid. Antonio María Rouco Cardinal Varela, Archbishop of Madrid, was the main celebrant at the opening Mass on 16 August.

During the following days we were divided into language groups for the catechesis given by bishops from all over the world. In the afternoon, there were cultural gatherings, concerts, and some prayer sessions. In the afternoon of the 18th was the Papal welcome ceremony. There was great excitement and joy for everybody to meet the Pope even from a distance.

Welcoming Pope Benedict at Plaza de Cibeles

On the afternoon of the 19th was the Via Crucis, the Way of the Cross, where statues from traditional Spanish Holy Week celebrations were used. It was very moving because everybody was reminded of the suffering of Jesus for truth and love.

Statues used in the Via Crucis

On the night of the 20th in Aeródromo Cuatro Vientos (‘Four Winds Airport’) all the participants, volunteers, and guests came together with the Pope too for the all-night vigil that included Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The whole crowd spent the night in the open field for the culmination of WYD, the Eucharistic Celebration at 9:30, the morning of Sunday 21 August.

All-Night Vigil at Cuatro Vientos

The Pope concelebrated the Mass with thousands of bishops, and priests. There were many religious sisters, priests, brothers and secular groups present also. Pope Benedict encouraged everybody, especially young people, to go out to the whole world and become witnesses to their faith. The Pope urged and encouraged them to follow and answer God generously and bravely; to communicate the joy of their faith in Christ to others and not to keep it within because the world needs the testimony of each one’s faith.

The Pope also reminded the young people of the need to follow Christ within the Church, receiving the sacraments; ‘For your friendship with Christ to grow, it is fundamental to recognize the importance of your joyful insertion in the parishes, communities, movements as well as participation in the Eucharist every Sunday; the frequent reception of the sacrament of forgiveness and the cultivation of prayer and meditation on the Word of God’. He thanked the young people because they rejuvenate him, inspire the Church and refresh the world thirsty for hope and courage. The Pope sent out the young people as ambassadors of the joy that our world needs. He announced that WYD 2013 will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Closing Mass and ceremonies

The whole event went well. Indeed, it wasn’t considered an event so much as a time of evangelization and conversion. The experiences will continue to stir the hearts of all pilgrims who encounter the truth and love of Jesus. I am one of them. I am very much alive and awake as I go back to my mission assignment to share the love of God especially with young people.

As a final word, I encourage you to join World Youth Day. It is worth going to because it is a journey of faith in and with Jesus Christ, the Source of all our being.

You may email Sister Ashwena at apaoashwena@gmail.com and find her at Facebook under the name ‘Ashwena Apao’.

Some Addresses and Homilies of Pope Benedict at WYD 2011

• Welcome Ceremony with Young People, Plaza de Cibeles, Madrid Thursday, 18 August 2011, Address.
• Meeting with Young Women Religious, Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Friday, 19 August 2011, Address.
• Meeting with Young University Professors, Basilica of the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Friday, 19 August 2011, Address.
• The Way of the Cross, Plaza de Cibeles, Friday, 19 August 2011, Address.
• Holy Mass with Seminarians, Cathedral of Santa María la Real de la Almudena, Saturday 20 August 2011, Homily.
• Visit to Young Persons with Disabilities, Fundación Instituto S. José, Saturday 20 August 2011, Address.
• Prayer Vigil at Cuatro Vientos Airport, Saturday 20 August 201, Homily.
• Holy Mass on the Occasion of the 26th World Youth Day, Cuatro Vientos Airport, 21 August 2011, Homily.