By Katie Vasquez
Pilgrims from across the Diocese of Brooklyn spent nine days in the Eternal City, joining together in prayer and fellowship with more than 1 million other young people.
“It was very uplifting to see the praise and the worship throughout the streets of Rome, and it’s my first time seeing this magnitude,” Luis Sanchez, a pilgrim from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Queens told Currents News.
For fellow Queens pilgrim Amy Vu, walking through the Holy Doors of St. Peter’s Basilica was an experience she will never forget.
“It felt like spiritually nurturing, but it’s also like I sometimes felt emotional from it,” said Vu.
JP Marasigan said his life-changing moment came before the Body of Christ, when thousands upon thousands of other Jubilee pilgrims went silent.
“It’s a testament to everyone that says that young people aren’t falling in love with Catholicism. To show them that yes, we are,” said Marasigan, a pilgrim from St. Mary Gate of Heaven Church in Queens.
Being so close to the first American Holy Father was a highlight for many.
“I couldn’t believe that I was looking at the pope, that was like 50 feet away from me,” Felicity Morel, a young pilgrim from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, told Currents News. “It was honestly amazing.”
“We were like, front row to see the pope. And then we celebrated Mass with the pope,” said Vu. “And that was like maybe a once or twice in a lifetime opportunity. So I’m really grateful to have experienced that.”
Morel said she was influenced by her time with Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan.
“Knowing that he was there, interacting with not only the other priests, but also all the young people. It was very comforting,” she said.
Now these young people hope to share what they have learned with other faithful.
“I think going to Mass every day and going to adoration that was led by the pope at the vigil was amazing,” added Morel. “And I really did feel like I did strengthen my love for the Eucharist.”
“One of the things that I don’t want to dwindle or lose is my faith. So I want to try to really, give back to the community and college and work on my faith,” said Vu.