The young people of Youth Pastoral of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico are preparing for the World Youth Meeting that will take place in Lisbon from August 1 to 6.
Based on the motto “Mary got up and left in haste” and the catechesis Rise Up, the young pilgrims from the Antilles, encouraged by the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, have started their spiritual journey towards World Youth Day Lisbon 2023. “Taking Mary’s yes as an example, a sure yes, a yes without doubt, a yes confident that God knows what He does and surprises His children in a marvellous way, I am motivated to always give this yes to the Lord, in every aspect of my life and in this project called World Youth Day Lisbon 2023,” said Yarisell Solis, one of the young pilgrims.
Recognising themselves as recipients of the writings of Saint Luke, these young people have begun the catechetical itinerary offered by WYD Lisbon 2023. Each meeting begins with the hymn of WYD Lisbon 2023 and the prayer proposed for the meeting. The participants thus feel that they are joining all the young people of the world, who are having the same experience of setting out on the road. “With the motto of this day, and the catechesis of preparation, I feel motivated to be even more convinced in all areas of my life, because everything that comes from God is good. I think I am a person who experiences the virtue of service as Mary did for her cousin Elizabeth and with this I feel grateful that I can serve selflessly. I feel that I am a spokesperson of God’s word with my lifestyle, like her, who brought the world its Saviour, says Biendy Volquez.
Like Zacchaeus, these young people welcome Jesus’ invitation to get up and follow him, understanding that Jesus calls them in their daily lives, and so they feel they must dedicate significant space to meditating and deepening their own vocation. “Mary’s decisive YES motivates me to abandon myself and to entrust myself completely to God, to launch out on his adventure, an adventure with the flavour of a promise. The occasion is propitious, because I have given a YES to this World Youth Day. How many wonders I am going to see! I must leave in a hurry and without delay,” concludes Betty Volquez, another of the young people from the Antilles.
Like Mary, these young people are preparing themselves to “leave in a hurry”, to accept God’s will, allowing themselves to be surprised by it. “Inspired by God’s influencer and also mine, our Mother Mary, I am encouraged to leave without delay to take the Good News to the whole world and to trust fully in God’s providence and love in my life. See you in Lisbon 2023!”, says Luz Mary Sanchez.
As Pope Francis reminds us in the Apostolic Exhortation Christus Vivit, “The fundamental thing is to discern and discover that what Jesus wants from every young person is, first of all, his friendship.”
