Penang diocese holds pre-World Youth Day preparation

May 05, 2016

By Geraldine Lau
It was a sunny and beautiful Saturday morning, April 9, when a group of young people, together with Fr Simon Anand and Sr Margarete Sta Maria, FdCC, gathered at the Community AIDS Service Penang in Bukit Mertajam. This was part of the preparation for the participants from Penang Diocese who will be attending the World Youth Day 2016 in Krakow, Poland. This was the first time for most of the participants to have an encounter with people who have been affected with HIV/AIDS — people whom society has shunned out of fear. The encounter was an eye-opener for many that morning.

After spending some time there, the group took a pilgrimage walk from the centre to St Joachim Spirituality Centre, which is situated on St Anne’s Church grounds. It was a good time for getting to know each other. The group shared their experiences that morning. Some of the comments were about the residents. “They seemed to be cheerful, happy and positive towards life despite having this disease,” said one participant. Another one commented about the workers at the centre who have touched them by their example of self-giving and sacrifice for the betterment of those who are there.

The group later proceeded to the Shrine of St Anne where each one had the opportunity to walk through the Holy Door of Mercy in a prayerful manner. Some took the opportunity to go for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. During the Mass later that morning, Fr Simon Anand asked each one to express their objective and intention of participating in the World Youth Day 2016. Some wanted to see Pope Francis in person, others wanted to make new friends, to experience God through the young people and to deepen their faith.

It was movie time in the afternoon. The group watched The Way, about an American father who goes to France following the death of his son who was killed in the Pyrenees while on his pilgrimage Camino de Santiago (the Way of St James) alone. This movie gave the viewers insights on being a pilgrim, which is what they will all be during World Youth Day. Though they have different reasons and objectives, they all have one common goal, and that is to live to the full the World Youth Day theme which is Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy. And as a contingent, it is so important for them to stick together as one by accepting one another and helping each other to reach this goal.

As a final activity, the group went to the hills behind the Shrine of St Anne for the Way of the Cross — to prayerfully ‘walk’ and commemorate Christ’s journey to His passion. It was indeed a fruitful day in preparation for the journey to Krakow, Poland.