A Filipino priest who attended the recently concluded World Youth Day described his experience as an opportunity to find Christ in people he did not know or understand.
"World Youth Day is such a good platform for deepening the spirituality… it is a good training ground to be [one with] the Universal Church amidst cultural differences," said Father John Patrick Gumasing, one of the delegates of the Diocese of Malolos in the Philippines.
"I was amazed by how energetic and lively they are in practicing their faith as well as their love of their country," he explained.
Fr. Gumasing said more than the chance to visit Lisbon, Portugal, the week-long activities they have attended there were an incredible way for the youth to build their character as servants and volunteers in their own church communities.
"It was a good place for them to reflect on life from the numerous sessions, talks, and homilies," the priest said.
Fr. Gumasing said that he believes that the Church has nothing to worry about in the future if the purpose of this kind of gathering of young people is fulfilled, especially in their own communities.
"The deeper their spirituality, the stronger the church they will build," he said.
Fr. Gumasing also explained how his first-ever WYD experience gave him a much-needed spiritual boost to do more in his duty to be a ‘channel of grace’ to the youth.
"They needed us priests, our guidance, and our love," he said. "The youth of today face different problems in their journey of faith… I need to extend my hand to hold with them, to journey with them in times of their struggles and challenges."
He encouraged his brother priests to be in union with the youth, most importantly during their times of struggle.
"Journeying with them will allow us to understand deeply what they need from us. We must be their shepherd, and no youth must be left behind," he said.
Fr. Gumasing participated in World Youth Day 2023 with five other delegates from his diocese, joining two other clergymen and three laypeople.- Luke Godoy
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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