By Tim Harfmann
After months of anticipation, pilgrims from the Diocese of Brooklyn were up early, flying to Panama for World Youth Day.
It was not your typical scene At New York’s JFK airport, but before sunrise, the terminal was fairly quiet. The young people were waiting to board their planes for the week-long celebration that’s ahead.
“I feel excited. I’m really tired, but I’m really excited to experience a new country,” said Lisset Astudillo.
Young Catholics like this group from Saint Bartholomew Church in East Elmhurst, Queens were packed up and ready to go.
“It was really, like, complicated knowing what to bring because it’s a new experience. But, we tried our best and we have it here now,” said Artudillo.
They’re on their way to join hundreds of thousands of other young Catholics at the international gathering, with Pope Francis leading the festivities.
Those activities include stations of the cross Friday, praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament at Saturday’s vigil, and celebrating Sunday’s closing Mass.
But even with so much to see and do at World Youth Day, pilgrim Carlos Cajamarca is focused on his education.
“I actually brought homework to do for my physics class and AP classes, which is really tough; but I think there’s still going to be time to do my homework, still enjoy Panama and increase my religious experience,” said Cajamarca.
And he hopes to have an experience at World Youth Day he’ll never forget.
“I’ve heard many stories about going to these places, and people always come back with miracle stories about how it changed them. So, hopefully, that can happen to me, too, and I can pray for my family and friends that really need it,” said Cajamarca.
After a short layover in Miami, it was off to Panama. And after landing, pilgrims from Brooklyn and Queens got right into the World Youth Day festivities, boarding buses with their luggage and heading straight to the opening Mass.