WYD showing positive effects among Hong Kong pilgrims

Rome, Italy, Sep 22, 2008 / 23:24 pm

The Diocese of Hong Kong continues to benefit from its World Youth Day 2008 pilgrims, observing increased participation, strengthened faith and more vocations among the youth, a report in the diocesan bulletin says.

Father S. Kalisz, OMI described the benefits of World Youth Day (WYD) to the readers of diocesan bulletin.

“After WYD, we saw the greatest level of youth participation in parish life. Many youth are maturing in their decision to enter religious life and the spirit of WYD lives on, helping the youth to live their faith more deeply.”

The priest said that the Oblates of Mary Immaculate youth group, which was begun after WYD, shows some of the spiritual fruits of the event.

For the youth group, “a dozen young people get together to pray often and participate together in the Mass. They have even shared their experiences with the other parishioners. They do social service work, especially with the poor. I am glad that through Saint Eugene de Mazenod, our founder, the youth are becoming more aware of the value of faith and charity. I have seen how the youth are more willing to leave behind a life of commodities to take up consecrated life.”

Sister Sania Ho of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary also described the aftereffects, Fides news agency reports. “I am happy that the youth have become more open to the life of the Church after WYD, but they need good spiritual guides, because spiritual formation is fundamental,” Sister Ho said.

“I can say that from experience. My vocation arose from WYD 1997 in Paris. I began thinking about my vocation, thanks to some Spiritual Exercises I did in France, thanks to prayer, and above all, my encounter with the Lord. So, I try to help the youth today, because spiritual life and prayer are what help in discerning a vocation. As a parish and community, we should help them in this sense, in the wake of WYD.”