In January I was lucky enough to join in with the Archdiocese of Melbourne’s Pilgrimage to World Youth Day Panama, as one of 18 teachers sponsored by Catholic Education Melbourne. This pilgrimage took us first to Mexico, then Panama and finally to Houston, USA. It was nothing short of a life-shaping experience. I say life-shaping quite deliberately, as I would not say I am a completely changed person but rather that I have returned reignited and passionate, invigorated and enriched in almost every aspect of my life.
I had very little idea of what to expect, having never travelled overseas or experienced any sort of pilgrimage before. I quickly learned that the word ‘pilgrim’ means to walk. I walked with some of the most vibrant youth members of the church, having the most incredible discussions about God and faith and hearing people’s stories as our Fitbits exceeded 20,000 steps on an average day. I also had my expectations of the church challenged in some of the most unexpected ways.
I soon realised that I didn’t have to fit into any stereotype of what a Catholic should look like, or pretend to know more than I did or be anything than just me, as I walked in the hot sun next to our Archbishop Peter Comensoli in his daggy shorts and T-shirt. On day one, Archbishop Peter made it clear that wherever we were on our faith journey, we were wanted and loved. He proved this every day as we became more and more comfortable asking question after question, inquiring about things that many of us had never felt we could admit to not knowing before.
I saw the church in a new light. I saw the dedication people have to their faith and it made me wonder about my own commitment and if I, too, had the same strength behind my belief in God. I entered this experience feeling a little daunted by the number of religious experiences ahead, yet returned itching to recount every one of them to as many people as would listen. I saw the excitement that Mass, Adoration, Liturgy and Catechesis brought to people and enjoyed every minute of it myself. I went to 18 Masses in 18 days across three different languages and felt such a sense of peace and belonging, like being at home. We had Mass in Basilicas and Cathedrals, at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, in the Chapel of the Rosary (which is an eighth Wonder of the World), in local parishes, in humble village churches, in carparks, in parkland, on the land for a future housing estate, at an airport, and by a hotel pool. This isn’t what I expected, or how I thought Mass was meant to be, but it reminded me that when two or more people gather in God’s name, He is there.
It is not just the memories of this experience that I bring back home with me, but the lessons I learned that I cannot wait to share. I remember being overcome with the challenge the theme of this World Youth Day placed before me: ‘Dare to say yes’, as Mary did. I remember the tears of frustration as I prayed to God and told him just how hard that can be. I learnt that God calls me to be strong, even though that is hard, and have since heard that same lesson echoed in conversations with others since I returned. I remember the love I felt emanating from our Holy Father each time he drove past me and the sheer awe I felt as I leaned against the gate only two metres away from him.
I remember thinking ‘that is the peace God will send to me when I say yes,’ and knowing that I need to say yes each day to each challenge that comes my way. But through all of this, the greatest lesson I learnt is to love every day and be grateful for all the good in it, regardless of how much bad there is. No matter how much chaos enters my life, I am called to see the good, to see God and be thankful, and this I see every day in the faces of those I interact with at MLMC, and I hope to help them see it, too, even when it is hard.
