A year after WYD - Michael Peter Foo

Time flies without me noticed. It been more than a year since I went for the first world youth day (WYD) in Madrid. I scanned through my old emails in my maibox and found my Itinerary to WYD last year. 

At first I am uncertain about going to WYD, no urge for me to go for it. However, with God grace I managed to pay up the expenses through numerous sponsors. Never ask never know is my motto that time. With you genuine appeal, some will respond to it. 

When the logistic preparation part settled, SPIRITUAL PREPARATION is another important part. WYD is a pilgrimage, spiritual journey, thus, I need to prepare myself spiritually through prayer and meditation. I had a combined spiritual preparation as Penang Team.

The day come when I am going to the real "battlefield". I says 'battlefield' because I am ought to face all kinds of adversities both physically and spiritually in a foreign-land. I was housed in a sports-centre in outskirts of Madrid, a serene countryside called Las Rosas. I started my pilgrimage officially in a small church with another congregation form Wales along with their Bishop. I have to rough out in the basketball court in the sports centre. Each of us were given pilgrimage bags which contains a "Magnificat"- our spiritual guide book, which contains Liturgy of Hours and Mass texts for all the days in WYD. I were also given food coupons and general guide books to inform us how and what's going on what time. 

They are temptations once I goes to the city of Madrid, SOL is among the famed places along the way to my spiritual destination. I am amazed, wherever I go, I see pilgrims from different continents, culture and language. All are friendly and shared the cramp Metro, shared laughters, language is never the boundary. 

I experience the universality of the Apostolic Church for the first time, I attended the Opening Mass celebrated by the Archbishop of Madrid fully in Spanish. Amazingly, with the aid of Magnificat & impromptu translation via radio, we can follow through.  I take time off for some silent moment to reflect and meditate in front of the blessed sacrament after asian youth gathering separating from my companions that are rushing for Marian Fest. From that silent moment with our Lord, I found true peace and happiness.  

For the vigil in Cuantros Vientros a military air-field with Pope Benedict XIV, I was given a pass to sit in the front stretch facing the altar. It was an ultimate physical challenge for all the pilgrims, sit under the scouring hot summer sun and the vigil was greeted with  a thunderstorm which eventually stopped the prayer of Pope. The gigantic spotlights on top of me are swaying vigorously, it is really a test of faith to me. We were asked be quiet and pray for 10 minutes, then the thunderstorm just died out. For me, it is a prayer from God's Vicar answered.

 I have to sleep in the soaking wet ground, being pushed to the fence of my designated site. All the hardship actually is a blessing in disguise, I have the chance to see Pope so close that I can't imagine in my whole life. It is less than 50 metres away in his Pope Mobile. So close that I can capture a clear picture with my compact camera.

It's been a year after I got the great experience. I am thankful to all the benefactors that materialised this pilgrimage of mine. With that experience I had, I can proclaim in conviction of the Creed that: "I believe in one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church."I know that not all youths can have the chance to go for world youth day or Asian youth day. Many youths might just go for the same mass every week, seeing the same faces over and over again. 

The experience that WYD and AYD can be brought to the diocesan level by bringing all the youths together to live, play and most importantly pray together as a universal church. Youthfulness is something money can't by, only come once in a life time. By offering the unique experience to the youths, only will they know that the Church is more than the same mass and crowd that they used to.

I hope that the youths will take this chance that comes 'once in their lifetime' because all are youths once. If there's another Diocesan Youth Day years ahead, they are no longer as youthful as they are now. I would like to end this sharing by the video that motivates me to go for my WYD. 

-Michael Peter Foo 17/9/2012

Northern Region Youth Gathered for PDYD 2 District Level Celebration

Two hundred eighty participants from the six parishes in the Northern District attended the Penang Diocesan Youth Day 2 Northern District Level Celebration which was held on August 25, Saturday, at the Church of Christ the King Hall in Sungai Petani, Kedah.

Young people from the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary  (Butterworth), Church of St. Anne (Bukit Mertajam), Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Kulim), Church of the Holy Name of Mary (Permatang Tinggi),  Church of Christ the King (Sungai Petani) and Church of St. Michael (Alor Setar) came by buses as early as 8 o´clock  in the morning  and enjoyed a day of fun, prayer, songs and various inputs given during the sessions.

Rev. Fr. Dominic Santhiyagu officially launched the celebration after the Enthronement of the Bible.  The participants, led by the Northern Region Music Band, sang the PDYD 2 themesong, “Come People of the Risen King”. The Getting-to-Know-You was done through the Baton Game facilitated by the young people from the Church of St. Anne.  As the baton was passed around, participants introduced themselves and shared their hobbies. The game ended with participants laughing and feeling comfortable with one another. 

The culmination of the morning session was celebrated with the mass at the Church of Christ the King.  Fr. Dominic, in his homily, invited the young people to “walk the talk”.  He explained that words do not really describe what we want.  Rather, our actions will make people understand what we really want.  He challenged those present to proclaim the Gospel by words and most importantly, by their actions.  Most of the time, leaders are capable of saying wise things but their actions speak otherwise.

The invitation to “Walk the Talk” was further explained during the session on the topic, Go and Tell.  The participants were divided into three language groups namely: English, Mandarin and Tamil with Martin Wong, Michael Peter Foo and P. Kevin Eruthayanathan as facilitators, respectively. 

The one-day Northern Region youth celebration ended with a “Talent Time“.  Representatives from each parish put up a show for everyone to enjoy and, at the same time, learn something from it. The St. Anne youth group performed a skit about Lazarus and his sisters entitled, “CSI:Operation Lazarus”.  The youth from the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus related the Bible story in a skit that left the participants silent yet inspired by the message that was conveyed by the presentation. The Church of the Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary performed a skit with a message that without God, Satan takes control of us and makes us lost in his world of benefits. The youth from the rest of the parishes entertained the participants with their well-applauded dance moves.

After having tea, the participants got on their buses and left with a smile on their faces, a sign that they are really looking forward to the big celebration that will be held at Penang Island on 16^th -19^th November 2012.

For more information on PDYD 2,  

VISIT: (PDYN Blog)           http://www.pdyn10.blogspot.com                  

LIKE:  (PDYD2 FB Page)   http://www.facebook.com/PDYD2

JOIN:  (PDYN FB Group)   Penang Diocesan Youth Network [PDYN] 

 -DARRIEN BRYAN DANKER

Church of the Divine Mercy Welcomes PDYD 2 Cross and Icon

On the 26^th August, 2012 the parish of the Church of Divine Mercy, Penang, welcomed two symbols of our faith that was currently being carried by Catholic Youth all around the Penang Diocese. Six youth of the parish carried five parts of a wooden cross and an icon of Our Lady up to the altar. They then assembled the cross and placed it and the icon beside the altar in full view of the congregation.

The cross was the symbol chosen at the end of the Holy Year of Redemption, in 1994 and entrusted to the youth to be carried out into the world. The Icon of Our Lady, ‘Salus Populi Romani’, is a copy of the sacred and ancient icon found in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. This icon was given to the youth by Blessed Pope John Paul II to accompany the world youth cross in 2003. Both these symbols were presented to the youth of the world not just to carry them for a few moments but in example of their daily lives. Thus, the Penang Diocese have adopted this concept where the cross and icon had been travelling all around the parishes in preparation for the PDYD2 which will be held from 16 – 19 November 2012.

The ceremony had begun at the end of the 9 am mass when a video clip was screened to introduce the activities of the Penang Diocese Youth Day 2 (PDYD2). The PDYD2 theme song entitled, Come People of the Risen King, was sung during the assembly of the wooden cross on the altar. The celebrant, Fr. Martin Arlando then invited all youth to come forward for a prayer and special blessing.

As an added joy to the celebration, there was a presentation of a basket of fruits to Fr. Martin to celebrate the first year anniversary of his sacerdotal ordination.

By

Dr. Ivan Filmer

29^th August, 2012