Scottish Catholic Observer

Greg Harrison and Fiona Devlin will be part of the Motherwell diocesan group that is travelling to Madrid next month to join in the special celebrations with Pope Benedict XVI.

While Fiona, parishioner of St Augustine’s Church in Coatbridge, is, at 22 years old, a seasoned veteran, Greg, who attends Coatbridge’s St Patrick’s Church, is a first timer, encouraged to go by stories of the youth event from pilgrims such as Fiona’s. Madrid will be her third experience of World Youth Day—having attended those in Cologne (2005) and Sydney (2008)—and she is only too happy to spread the word, although she finds it hard to do it justice.

“People who are going to WYD ask you how it is and I find it so hard to describe as it is an unbelievable experience,” Fiona said. “Just wait until you are there, I normally tell them.

“When they announced in Cologne that the next WYD would be in Australia, I immediately thought ‘I’m going’ and in Sydney we heard rumours the Pope was going to announce the next WYD would be in Madrid.

“When he announced that Madrid had been chosen we were all dancing about with Spanish flags, it was a great atmosphere.”

Inspired

This special atmosphere is something Greg is looking forward to experiencing next month. This time last year, however, he would not have imagined he would be preparing to attend such an event.

By his own admission, Greg felt that, being in his mid 20s, he had begun to drift away from the Church, a feeling that changed last September when Pope Benedict XVI visited the UK.

“I turned down the chance to go to Mass when the Pope came to Scotland, but when I got home from work and watched the Mass at Bellahouston Park on television I realised that I was missing out on something and felt that I should have been there among the pilgrims,” he said.

“I was almost glued to the television for the rest of the weekend and my Faith was re-ignited when I heard the Holy Father’s messages to the young people in the UK.”

Spurred on by September’s events, Greg spoke to his parish priest, Fr Eamonn Sweeney, and made enquiries about ways in which he could strengthen his Faith.

“I wanted to try to do something worthwhile every day as I feel that sometimes I don’t challenge myself enough and can often look back and think ‘what have I actually done today?’”

In addition to helping out at a local soup kitchen, the idea of attending WYD was mentioned to Greg by Fr Sweeney and he quickly decided it was an opportunity he didn’t want to miss.

“I am looking forward to meeting like-minded young people, sharing experiences and finding out more about my Faith,” he said.

Unity

That meeting of minds and feeling of unity is something Fiona is especially looking forward in Madrid.

“You get to meet so many people from different countries, dancing and singing in the streets,” she said. “You swap things with each other and I have started to collect all the flags I have gathered from all around the world. I have flags from places I have never even heard of! We bring Scottish items with us to share… there are so many great memories to be enjoyed.”

Another highlight for football fan Fiona was the somewhat surreal experience of joining the celebration of Mass at a stadium in Cologne. She hopes to find a spare moment in her Madrid schedule to enjoy a visit to the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, home to one of the world’s most famous and successful football clubs, Real Madrid.

“In Cologne, we had Cathechism and Mass celebrations in a couple of stadiums and it was an amazing experience,” she said. “We were sitting celebrating Mass in a seat where you would normally be watching a football match and we then went on to the park for Confession.”

Highlights

Fiona is in little doubt of what part of this year’s WYD programme she is most looking forward to.

“The Vigil Mass and Stations of the Cross are the parts I am looking forward to most,” she said.

“This will also be the third time I have seen the Pope in a year, and the sixth country. My Mum says that I’m stalking him.

“I think young people have responded very well to Pope Benedict and I’m sure it will be the same again in Madrid.”

Both of these young Motherwell pilgrims are hopeful the attendance in Madrid next month will reach the predicted two million mark.

“So many Catholics gathering together will be a strong statement to make,” Greg said.

“It’s great to see that the Church is alive,” Fiona added.

Although both Greg and Fiona agreed that Madrid would provide a fantastic WYD venue, their responses differed greatly when quizzed about where they hope the next WYD will be held.

“I have been saying Brazil for a few years now and I hope it will be somewhere in South America,” Fiona said.

Greg, however, hopes for somewhere a bit closer to home. “I would like it to be held in Scotland or Ireland,” he said.

Excitement builds for a first-time WYD pilgrim

Is this your first time attending WYD?

Yes.

When did you first decide WYD was something you wanted to be involved in?

I know two people who went to WYD-08 and they both said they had a great time, so when I got the news I could go this year I made my mind up there and then. However, one of my best friends is also attending, which helped.

What have your preparations for WYD involved?

I made up a wee quiz and sold it for £1 around my school and after Mass to help with my costs. The quiz raised more than £150 so it went a long way. I have also attended meetings in Motherwell along with everyone else going to WYD.

What are your hopes/expectations for the event?

I am just hoping to have fun with other young people and for us to share and build on our Faith together.

What parts of the WYD programme are you most looking forward to?

I am really looking forward to the Mass with Pope Benedict XVI and just to meet lots of other young people.

How important do you think it is for young Catholics to be involved with WYD?

I think it is something that if any young people get the chance to go to then they should. You could have a great time and it could make you see your Faith in a different manner or it could just make you become more aware of yourself… but you will never know unless you go.

Laura Stewart

St Cadoc’s, HALFWAY