The Less-Emotional Version of my World Youth Day Rio 2013 Journey - Part 2: Aparecida to Rio
After a week filled with love, fun and faith, the Delegation left Vinhedo city for the World Youth Day proper in Rio de Janeiro. The delegation took a 6-hour bus drive and had a 4-hour stopover at the Shrine of the Lady of Aparecida in Sao Paulo where we had our Sunday mass. The bishop as well as the four Filipino priests concelebrated in the Mass along with other priests from Spain, Peru, etc.
On July 22, 2013 the delegation reached Rio de Janeiro and stayed in Paroquia Immaculada Conceciao for the World Youth Day proper. We got the chance to bond with people from other countries and go to the mall before the World Youth Day proper.
All of the main activities of the World Youth Day 2013 took place in Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. Everyday, we need to take long bus rides from our place to Copacabana and in those rides we get the chace to meet locals and other pilgrims.
The Actual World Youth Day Kicked-Off with a Concert and a Welcoming Mass presided by the Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, Orani João Tempesta.
Early morning the next day, the delegates headed to Corcovado to visit the world-renowned Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) statue where the delegates were greeted not only with a magnificent view of the Rio city lights but also with freezing cold. We stayed in Cristo Redentor for a few hours where we got the chance to reflect and pray and thank the Lord for all His blessings.
After that, we split into groups and headed to Copacabana to enjoy the rest of the day.
On July 25, 2013, the whole Copacabana beach was filled with the faithful as Brazil welcomed Pope Francis. The celebration started with a motorcade where people all over the world got a chance to see the Pope up close with his glass-less Pope Mobile. The faithful threw presents at him freely and some were even lucky enough to get close to the Holy Father. The Motorcade was followed by a welcome ceremony that was filled with music, dancing and festivities and was concluded with a Mass presided by the Pope himself.
The delegation also got the chance to visit the Vocations fair in Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro and see the Live Stations of the Cross in Copacabana.
On July 27, 2013, we, the pilgrims participated in the 9.5 kilometer (but other people say it was 13) Pilgrim walk from Central Rio to Copacabana beach and was followed by the Overnight Vigil where the pilgrims had to camp-out in Copacabana beach.
During the vigil, I was lucky enough to be interviewed by Globo TV, Brazil’s largest television network after seeing the portrait of the Pope that I had drawn.
The interview was shown over Brazil and friends from Vinhedo showered us with congratulations after seeing the interview on Brazilian TV.
We were reunited that same night with our friends from Vinhedo city who also attended the World Youth Day in Copacabana. The two delegations shared the same camping spot and enjoyed the rest of the night with music and prayer.
The week-long celebration of the World Youth Day ended the morning of July 28, 2013 with a huge Flash Mob that was participated by all the young people present in the event as well as the priests and the Bishops. Our very own Bishop Tobias was even shown dancing and grooving with the flash mob. The flash mob was followed by the Final Mass that was celebrated by the Holy Father, Pope Francis. In His Homily, the Pope challenged the young people to go forth and make disciples of all nations. He also said that God loves everyone - even those who go away from Him. He encouraged everyone to be firm with the Faith by making prayer and the Sacraments the foundation of every youth. He also asked the young people to “make a mess in the dioceses” and encourage more young people to go to Church and involve them in Church activities. He told the Pilgrims not to be afraid for God is always with us. Finally, he blessed everyone who attended the event.
It was a bittersweet moment for us as it was our last time to see their friends from Vinhedo city. Tears overflowed in the Camping spot where we stayed as we said our goodbyes to our friends from Vinhedo City. Some native Brazilians saw the love and friendship that blossomed between the two delegations that they also started crying when the Filipinos and Vinhedans were saying goodbye to each other before the the greetings of peace part of the mass.
The final mass ended with the announcement of the next host country of the World Youth Day in 2016 which is Poland.
On July 29, 2013 at 1am our delegation left Brazil for a 22-hour flight and returned to the Philippines on July 30, 2013 at 4PM bringing fun-filled memories and amazing stories of Love and Faith.
The WYD is an experience anyone shouldn't miss. It taught me a lot of lessons and I look forward to doing it all over again. Thank you Lord for the chance you gave me! Thank you! Thank you! :D