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MommyHacker
Guest
What do you all think of World Youth Day? My son wants to go but I have heard some disappointing things about what goes on (not Church mandated but).
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Mrs_Sally
Guest
We went to Spain with a group of teens from a US parish. My main comment is that YOUTH means college age/young adults, not high schoolers like we think in the US. Our group was mixed ages from 15 to 21. The older teens managed much better than the younger ones. The events and programs were more geared to older teens/ young adults also.
I will also say that WYD is not a program for youth who aren’t already strong Christians and practicing Catholics. It is meant to feed the faithful, not be a conversion experience. Especially with this year’s WYD being in Brazil, I would say to be very careful about who you take. There will be SO MANY distractions for a person looking to be distracted.
Culture in SA (and Europe) is also different and lack of drinking restrictions, differences in traffic habits, and the overwhelming crowds also conspire to cause problems if someone is looking for ‘adventure’.
That said, our group had some amazing spiritual experiences and learned a lot. We also were travelling with a priest and continuously ran into the same group of Franciscan Friars who were a mind-blowing example to our young men!
I will also say that WYD is not a program for youth who aren’t already strong Christians and practicing Catholics. It is meant to feed the faithful, not be a conversion experience. Especially with this year’s WYD being in Brazil, I would say to be very careful about who you take. There will be SO MANY distractions for a person looking to be distracted.
Culture in SA (and Europe) is also different and lack of drinking restrictions, differences in traffic habits, and the overwhelming crowds also conspire to cause problems if someone is looking for ‘adventure’.
That said, our group had some amazing spiritual experiences and learned a lot. We also were travelling with a priest and continuously ran into the same group of Franciscan Friars who were a mind-blowing example to our young men!
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MommyHacker
Guest
Thanks! I also think $5,000 is a lot of money for a 17 year old to have to raise and spend all at once. I was trying to convince him to maybe save up first and take a trip to Rome…
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Mrs_Sally
Guest
Oh yes! We did a year’s worth of fundraising and our group got a nice gift from the parish, but our family (we all went) did have to come up with quite a bit even after that.
The accomodations the group chooses also affects the cost. We had ‘simple’ accomodations, but our trip included a pilgramage to Fatima (amazing!) as well.
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Ophelia23
Guest
I went to World Youth Day in Toronto and it was fantastic. Attending a Mass being said by Pope John Paul II was phenomenal.
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Nige90
Guest
I went to WYD in Madrid from the UK, I was 21 at the time. I can honestly say it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. To be surrounded by millions of young Catholics from around the world gathered with the Holy Father. It was during my time in Madrid that I came to the final conclusion that the Lord was calling me to the priesthood, so it was certainly a life changing trip.
We went as a large group of 100+ from Portsmouth Diocese, and I don’t believe the under 18’s got as much from the experience. I think they were quite restricted due to the need for constant adult supervision.
As I’ve already stated, it was definitely worth all the hours of fundraising, but I don’t think under 18’s would get as much from it, certainly not at $5,000. I’m not attending this year mainly due to the price and secondly due to applying for formation to the priesthood, so I have enough on my plate. I would suggest saving up for the next one which sounds like it may be Poland 2015, to coincide with the 10th Anniversary of Blessed JP II, which will be an amazing experience, especially if they take the opportunity to Canonize him then.
We went as a large group of 100+ from Portsmouth Diocese, and I don’t believe the under 18’s got as much from the experience. I think they were quite restricted due to the need for constant adult supervision.
As I’ve already stated, it was definitely worth all the hours of fundraising, but I don’t think under 18’s would get as much from it, certainly not at $5,000. I’m not attending this year mainly due to the price and secondly due to applying for formation to the priesthood, so I have enough on my plate. I would suggest saving up for the next one which sounds like it may be Poland 2015, to coincide with the 10th Anniversary of Blessed JP II, which will be an amazing experience, especially if they take the opportunity to Canonize him then.
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GEddie
Guest
I went to three WYDs (Toronto 02, Koln 05, and SYD in 08) and am now overage.
I don’t think it would be worth $ 5,000. I never spent near that much, even going all the way to Australia! Since SA is much nearer than any other continent, it should cost less, not more, than other overseas pilgrimage destinations.
HS age kids do go en masse to WYD, and there are venues geared to them, but they are less likely to profit spiritually from it than those a few years older.
If the boy is in HS, he has plenty of time. I’d say make the Roman pilgrimage first (it would cost less) and start early to prepare for WYD of 2016.
ICXC NIKA
I don’t think it would be worth $ 5,000. I never spent near that much, even going all the way to Australia! Since SA is much nearer than any other continent, it should cost less, not more, than other overseas pilgrimage destinations.
HS age kids do go en masse to WYD, and there are venues geared to them, but they are less likely to profit spiritually from it than those a few years older.
If the boy is in HS, he has plenty of time. I’d say make the Roman pilgrimage first (it would cost less) and start early to prepare for WYD of 2016.
ICXC NIKA
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thewanderer
Guest
I’ve been to WYD in both Cologne and Madrid. A lot depends on what group he goes with. Find a good group that you trust and let him go with them, it can be an absolutely amazing experience. Especially if he has his head set straight on his shoulders I would make an effort to make sure he can go if he is showing interest. If he’s a good kid interested in WYD I definitely think it is worth the effort. As for 5,000 being a lot, the experience of having to take responsibility to raise that much money is also a very good experience to have, it will help teach your son about work ethic and responsibility.
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Godloves13
Guest
Dear OP,
I went to the WYD in Sydney (as a grown adult, let’s not talk about age per se
), guess never too late, and I have been to Rome and other sites (Marian and Christian).
If I may say, if you are comfortable to let your child travel, I sincerely believe that going for a WYD experience is a once in a lifetime opportunity (though some have gone for many).
The difference is, he will be able to see for himself how many other youths&/others from all over the world come together to grow in their faith and to experience God together. Of course choosing a good group to go with, and a good Spiritual Director would be advisable; not to say that this can’t happen in Rome.
But Rome will always be there (baring the Euro crisis), and your child may have a better appreciation of his faith and the history of the church, once he has that experience of God.
Of course in all this, anyone can go to a WYD, to Rome or anywhere else in the world and not experience God, or never leave their home but still experience God.
Blessings
I went to the WYD in Sydney (as a grown adult, let’s not talk about age per se
), guess never too late, and I have been to Rome and other sites (Marian and Christian).If I may say, if you are comfortable to let your child travel, I sincerely believe that going for a WYD experience is a once in a lifetime opportunity (though some have gone for many).
The difference is, he will be able to see for himself how many other youths&/others from all over the world come together to grow in their faith and to experience God together. Of course choosing a good group to go with, and a good Spiritual Director would be advisable; not to say that this can’t happen in Rome.
But Rome will always be there (baring the Euro crisis), and your child may have a better appreciation of his faith and the history of the church, once he has that experience of God.
Of course in all this, anyone can go to a WYD, to Rome or anywhere else in the world and not experience God, or never leave their home but still experience God.
Blessings
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Nils
Guest
How old is he? If you want to go from Sweden, you need to be at least 18 years old…
I would guess WYD is more inspiring than Rome though, depending on what you are doing there of course. Our Holy City sometimes turns into a museum and it can even hurt the faith to see all the holy sights treated as such. My guess is that going to Mass and adoration with thousands of young adults is more inspiring in many ways…
Your friend in Christ,
Nils
I would guess WYD is more inspiring than Rome though, depending on what you are doing there of course. Our Holy City sometimes turns into a museum and it can even hurt the faith to see all the holy sights treated as such. My guess is that going to Mass and adoration with thousands of young adults is more inspiring in many ways…
Your friend in Christ,
Nils
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Tucek1014
Guest
I agree completly with this comment. I went to Koln in 2005 as a 16 year old without much interest in the faith. I didn’t get much out of it and went just because a friend who had similar feelings about the trip went. I got nothing out of the trip spiritually to my knowledge. Fortunately, I was able to fundraise the whole trip so I didn’t waste my parents money. Now that I had a reversion I would love to go, but that proves difficult with a young family now. So I would say it depends on his level of interest in his faith as to whether or not the trip would be worth it. My two cents.
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peacoat
Guest
If your son wants to go, I’d move heaven and earth to make it happen.
I was the same age as your son during WYD in Toranto. The 3 day gig was at my price range (few hundred with fundraising) and what I considered “enough” time for God. If I could change one decision in my life it would be to have gone for the entire week. I knew as soon as I went there.
All the doubts I had about being a young Catholic were gone for 3 blyssful days. While we ran into hecklers in the streets of Toranto we didn’t face the day to day scrutiny that Catholics today face. Priests were free and happy. they had real joy ad it was ok for them to show physical affection…give hugs and high fives…and even get into a friendly wrestling match. The Monks were like little boys playing with makeshift footballs and arguing over whose turn it was to carry the litter of the virgin Mary. The nuns, those who were old, appeared to be young girls giddy and happy, servant sisters who cared for everyone. The young ones chatted like there was no tomorrow, or taught young people how someone their age could enter into deep prayer.
WE ALL HATED THE FOOD. And could not eat it no matter how many nations were in poverty.
Catholics from all over the world prayed the rosary together. We spoke the same language in our beliefs.
Those of us without a good command of foreign languages chanted for “la Papa” until we were informed that we were chanting for our holy potato. It’s “EL Papa” btw.
I have friends who have gone to Rome and Germany and Australia. They all were amazed. It seems that 20-30yos get the most out of it but I’d never deny a teen an opportunity. One young guy in our group was literally two days short of the youngest cut off…turned 13 that week…and he changed that weekend from infant faith to exploding faith and gave him the motivation to study in Rome for college…he’s not persuing a vocation at this point, but he has been very blessed and has lead many others in his young wisdom.
I was the same age as your son during WYD in Toranto. The 3 day gig was at my price range (few hundred with fundraising) and what I considered “enough” time for God. If I could change one decision in my life it would be to have gone for the entire week. I knew as soon as I went there.
All the doubts I had about being a young Catholic were gone for 3 blyssful days. While we ran into hecklers in the streets of Toranto we didn’t face the day to day scrutiny that Catholics today face. Priests were free and happy. they had real joy ad it was ok for them to show physical affection…give hugs and high fives…and even get into a friendly wrestling match. The Monks were like little boys playing with makeshift footballs and arguing over whose turn it was to carry the litter of the virgin Mary. The nuns, those who were old, appeared to be young girls giddy and happy, servant sisters who cared for everyone. The young ones chatted like there was no tomorrow, or taught young people how someone their age could enter into deep prayer.
WE ALL HATED THE FOOD. And could not eat it no matter how many nations were in poverty.
Catholics from all over the world prayed the rosary together. We spoke the same language in our beliefs.
Those of us without a good command of foreign languages chanted for “la Papa” until we were informed that we were chanting for our holy potato. It’s “EL Papa” btw.
I have friends who have gone to Rome and Germany and Australia. They all were amazed. It seems that 20-30yos get the most out of it but I’d never deny a teen an opportunity. One young guy in our group was literally two days short of the youngest cut off…turned 13 that week…and he changed that weekend from infant faith to exploding faith and gave him the motivation to study in Rome for college…he’s not persuing a vocation at this point, but he has been very blessed and has lead many others in his young wisdom.
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Contra_Mundum_1
Guest
If he is a mature, trustworthy young man, then by all means let him go. He is not too young. I think that the most important thing is the group he goes with. Make sure they are OK, that there will be rules and supervision. I wouldn’t worry about Brasil per se, because they will have amazing security, plus youngsters can get into trouble regardless of where they are if they are so inclined.
WYD is an amazing experience and I think that young Catholics should go if possible. I went to Rome in 2000, and I was 24 at the time. There were some younger people and there were no problems with them. Everyone behaved well and participated in the programme. As for the spiritual experience and what the person will get from it, well, there is no guarantee for that, and I don’t think that age matters that much. (When I visited Rome for the first time I was 14 and the trip made a huge impression on me. I decided to become Catholic at the sight of St. Peter’s
)
WYD is an amazing experience and I think that young Catholics should go if possible. I went to Rome in 2000, and I was 24 at the time. There were some younger people and there were no problems with them. Everyone behaved well and participated in the programme. As for the spiritual experience and what the person will get from it, well, there is no guarantee for that, and I don’t think that age matters that much. (When I visited Rome for the first time I was 14 and the trip made a huge impression on me. I decided to become Catholic at the sight of St. Peter’s
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