Maria
Service Project
The summer before my Senior year, I volunteered at the World Youth Day in Lisbon. The World Youth Day (WYD) is the gathering of young people from all over the world with the Pope. It is also a pilgrimage, a celebration of youth, an expression of the universal Church, and an intense moment of evangelization for the youth world. It is celebrated at the diocesan level on Palm Sunday, and every two, three or four years as an international gathering in a city chosen by the Pope, with the presence of the Holy Father. It brings together millions of young people to celebrate their faith and sense of belonging to the Church.
This was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. I helped organize accommodation, assisted pilgrims, and organized events and celebrations. It was 3 months of volunteer training and two weeks of hosting almost 2 million people. There were countless sleepless nights doing almost 24-hour shifts, but I would not have traded for the world. I felt joy as pilgrims shared their stories, smiles, and prayers with me, for being able to share my faith with people from all over the world. They inspired me to pursue this topic as many faced persecution in their home countries, but not even that made them part ways with their faith. It is amazing how faith can bring people together no matter what.
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