I am very fortunate to be part of the delegation
going to World Youth Day this coming July. Young adults from around the Diocese
of Scranton will be journeying together on this pilgrimage to Krakow, Poland led
by Bishop Bambera.
I never attended a World Youth Day before so I’m
really excited. Those who had the opportunity to attend in the past told me how
wonderful and life-changing it is. In addition to all the great sites we are
going to visit, I’m really looking forward to praising God and growing in my
faith with young adults from our Diocese and all over the world. How cool is it
that at any given time I could be right next to young Catholics from Iraq,
Australia, France and Mexico? And how great is it that over a million people
attend?
During the actual days of World Youth Day, there
will be catechesis each morning followed by evening cultural events. There will
be opportunities for confession and Eucharistic Adoration. While Pope Francis
is at World Youth Day, he will lead us in the Stations of the Cross and
celebrate the Closing Mass. To be in the presence of the Holy Father is awesome
in itself, but to attend his Mass is even more exciting.
I am amazed at how alive the Roman Catholic Church
is in Poland. Based on the information I gathered, almost ninety percent of the
population identifies themselves as Roman Catholic. The great thing is a
majority of them are practicing as well! On any given day, the churches are
filled to capacity. On any Sunday, the churches are overflowing. It will be
great to witness this level of faith, and also learn about the Polish culture
since many of the individuals who are in my ministries are of polish ancestry.
In addition to
the World Youth Day schedule, we will have the opportunity to see and
experience some of the most moving religious sites in the world, such as the
origins of Saint Faustina, Saint John Paul II, and Saint Maximillian Kolbe in
Niepokalanow. Mass will be also be celebrated in Czestochowa in front of the
Black Madonna icon.
My hope and prayer is that we will all have a
life-changing pilgrimage as we continue to grow as disciples of our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ. When we come back to the Diocese of Scranton, I hope we
can bring back the energy of the global church and continue to grow and develop
young adult ministry.
It’s not too late to join the delegation! For more
information, check out the webinar or CTV interview below.
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Dominick Costantino is the vocation program coordinator for the Diocese of Scranton. He is a graduate of Wilkes University with a bachelor's degree in Communication Studies. He is the Director of Music and Youth Ministry at Exaltation of the Holy Cross Parish in Hanover Township.