This is a recollection of the journey that many of us JY took over the past 2 weeks to World Youth Day 2002 in Ottawa & Toronto, Canada. The first segment was comprised of the Youth Arise International Festival in Ottawa from Thursday, July 18th through Monday, July 22th. The second part was World Youth Day (WYD) in Toronto from Tuesday, July 23nd through Sunday, July 28th. Since many of us were separated in Toronto, it will be hard to reconstruct the wonderful memories that we had, so I ask your assistance in helping put the story together. I can, however, attempt to accurately share the story of our time in Ottawa where we spent the days together in one venue.
On Thursday, July 18th, Jesus Youth of America (JYA) from the East Coast of the U.S. arrived at Lansdowne Park, the venue for the Youth Arise International Festival in Ottawa. We had left our respected local areas in 3 vans from 2 different locations around 10:30 pm on the 17th and met on the highway on the way there. After caravanning through the night, we arrived around 9 or 10 am. We had our lunch, then settled into our sleeping quarters to unpack. The girls and guys were placed in gymnasium quarters respectively with the nice hard concrete as our bed for the following 4 nights. The showers provided a wonderful inner healing experience for many of our JY, including the elders!! (haha). Despite the living conditions, all seemed to be content at the end of the 4 days in Ottawa since the closed quarters created a personal bond between one another. The Rex Band and JY from India & UAE were able to join us on the afternoon of the 18th. During our m�lange, of our JY was unexpectedly interviewed by an anchorwoman from the local Ottawa news station, and was able to proudly represent our Jesus Youth movement around the world, and our reason for being at the Youth Arise International Festival. The last batch to arrive in the wee hours of the night was the Chicago group. The joined us for the festivities in the following days. Over the next few days, we celebrated what it meant to be young, Catholic, and especially Indian. One would find it hard to ignore the crazy bunch of Indians jumping around, dancing their hearts out with complete freedom in the Spirit while attending the concerts and praise & worship sessions. Even our dear priests and elders joined in! It was a sight to see with all of us waving white balloons, and strips of orange, white, green, red, and blue cloth (representing India & the U.S.). We also managed to obtain a HUGE Indian flag that easily hid a good number of us when in full form! One of our Chicago boys managed to break his leg playing ball and had to spend the majority of the trip sitting around. But due to his persistence, he was able to stay in Canada instead of immediately going back to the States for surgery. The other activities included Mass, Reconciliation, seminars, small groups, and lots of �armathikyal� sessions. ;) Unfortunately, all good things had to come to an end, and we had to part ways to depart to Toronto. We were shifted partly by school buses and vans. Despite numerous problems with transportation, food and accommodation, the Lord provided for us at all times. Our arrival in Toronto came with a bang � literally. We were greeted by downpours of showers and thunderbolts from the skies. This occurred as we attempted to get our registration packets from the pick-up center. After going in circles, getting drenched, and getting lost, we managed to work out a way to transport all of our JYA to our place of accommodation � the Iona Catholic School in Mississauga. It was a new school with nice classrooms, and clean showers� a blessing for those who �suffered� in Ottawa. ;) Due to all the delays, we were forced to miss the first session of our International Jesus Youth Gathering. Instead, we were invited to a local parish�s barbeque for dinner (again, God�s providence!). During the next 3 days, there were MANY problems with registration, food, and accommodations that not many knew about. But by the grace of God, things worked out in one way or another. Also, through the assistance of everyone there, and through teamwork, all things were possible. We dealt with the problems that came our way with prayer and an attitude of servitude and patience. Praise God for that. On July 23rd, we had the World Malayalee Youth Gathering in the morning at Holy Cross Parish. Sony Thevalakara and Julie Thomas served as MCs and guided the program through �til its close. People from all corners of the world, including non-Indians, came to participate. Even some of the Sisters of Charity showed up! It began with a short prayer, some praise & worship time led by the Rex Band, two action songs by the Jesus Youth of America Music Ministry, followed by introductions of regional representatives. This was followed by a talk on Indian roots and spirituality by Fr. Jose Kuriadath (sp?) one of the local priests in Toronto. After the gathering, we crammed into the vans and left for Exhibition Place to grab our lunches� such long lines and long walks! We were also blessed to have one of our own JY, Dr. Manoj, to officially be invited to, and participate in the Welcoming Ceremony for the Pope held by the Prime Minister of Canada. This was followed by the Opening Mass. That evening, the Rex Band was asked to do a 20-minute segment with LifeVision, a group who performed at the Youth Arise International Festival. The crowd, though not that large, loved it. Tony Melendez, the disabled musician, entertained the crowd right afterwards by playing the guitar with his feet, as is his trademark performance. We all finished off the day with a late dinner together and parted ways once again. On the 24th, we were able to get some rest for once. Though we arrived a little late, we were able to partake in our catechesis session, and some were also able to go for confession. Afterwards, we had lunch and then took the train to Holy Cross Parish for our first official International Jesus Youth Gathering. We did lots of dancing, singing, and talking. Overall, it was a landmark in the history of the JY movement. After the IJYG, we hopped back on the streetcars & trains to Exhibition Place for the Rex Band show on the Main Stage�. it was great! God really did wonders that evening. We once again had a late dinner, and afterwards, some of our kids went to see Fr. Stan Fortuna, the Cappuchin Monk who performs rap music. On our way back to our vans in the parking lots, we lost one of the aunties in our group. I don�t think anyone dared to drift away after that. :) On the 25th, the trains were only running up until Union Station, and so we had to walk from there to Exhibition Place for over an hour. Our arrival at the catechesis site was late, but we had lunch, and then participated in the WYD Papal Welcoming Mass. We said our goodbyes to the first batch of the Rex Band that were going back to their respective homes�it was a long trip home afterwards after all the tears and broken hearts. Words can�t really express all the emotion that everyone felt that day. The 26th served as an intense day of travel for us. We woke up early to reach our catechesis site. After participating in that, we had lunch, then merged our IJYG with a fellowship time. Another one of our JY was blessed with the privilege of having lunch with the Pope�who was that lucky girl? Sangeeta Joseph! She was able to sit at the left hand of the Holy Father during the meal and exchanged a good amount of dialogue with him. Likewise, on that day, the first International Jesus Youth Service Team was established with representatives from each country, and we quickly had to say more goodbyes to the remainder of the Rex Band. From there, we took the buses and trains to get to the site for the Way of the Cross. Unfortunately, we got the wrong directions and ended up walking about 6 blocks in the rain. We lost more of our group. Though tiring, it was blessed. The 27th was the day of the long-awaited vigil service with the Pope. To get there, we had to do our walking pilgrimage. Since we were late, we opted to take the trains into Downsview Lands, but some of our youth were adamant about participating in the walk. God�s grace. It took them about 2-3 hours to get to the site. While Dr. Sindhu & Lisa were dropped in the Disabled Section (since one was with a baby and the other, an injured knee), the rest of the group was separated in trying to find a spot to lay out their possessions. The naval base that was no longer in use was rather muddy and hard to travel, but it did have inhabitants that greeted everyone in due time � frogs. Much to the pilgrims� surprise, frogs greeted them left and right, especially as they were settling in to sleep. In addition to the excitement caused by the frogs, our Jesus Youth were also blessed to have 4 of our group invited as Eastern Rite Church members to be on stage with the Pope during the Vigil Service. They were Fr. Jose Thyparambil, Biju Davies, Dr. Manoj, and Leese (Lisa). There was high security, and it took them over an hour to get backstage. Dr. Manoj and Leese were seen on TV in the audience via ETWN (Global Catholic Network) around the world during the coverage of the service. After the vigil, there was a shortage of food, so we had to stand in long lines for dinner at some food tents at the end of the airstrip. We eventually found our group and tried to settle in. A Vocations Concert began at 12:30 am and lasted through the morning until around 5 am. The morning of the 28th on which the Closing Ceremony was to take place, began with a heavy shower of rain, at 6 AM much to everyone�s dismay. After it stopped, it began once again before the mass, and after pouring for a long time, it eventually ceased leaving all pilgrims and their belongings soaked to the skin. The sun came out, dried us off to some extent, and we were able to appreciate the beauty of the ceremony without any interruptions. Tired, worn, and weary, we left Downsview Lands and walked back to the train station in the heat. At the station, we waited for the doors to open to let us in. After taking the trains (that were packed to capacity as it usually is in Bombay), we made our way back to our school of accommodation, showered off the grime and dirt, cleaned, and packed up. From there, we made our way to Niagara Falls for a short break and dinner. There, each regional van parted ways for home. The Philadelphia group reached home at 6:30 am and we slept for the rest of the day �til 6 pm. I think we caught up on all that sleep we lost over 2 weeks. :) Some were brave enough to go back to work that very morning itself. Many were left tired, but filled with wonderful memories that they will cherish forever. The true meaning of the universality and oneness of the Church was instilled in the hearts of all, and it is something they will share with others in the months to come. Now, Cologne, Germany awaits the youth of the world in the year 2005� we hope to see all of you there! Thank you for your numerous prayers that made this one a great success. In Service of Jesus Youth & the Church, Leese (Lisa Jose, Philadelphia/PA/USA) Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better http://health.yahoo.com **************************************************************** This mail is generated from JOYnet, a Jesus Youth mailing list. To unsubscribe, send a mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe to this mailing list, visit http://www.jesusyouth.org/joynet For automatic help, send a mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In case of any issue related to the mailing list contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] ****************************************************************
