World Youth Day 2011: Part 2

Have you ever been in a tent filled with energetic and joyful young people from all over the world, praying, singing and raising their hands in praise?   All over Madrid, during the World Youth Day celebrations last August 16 to 21, there were events like this going on!  Being with these young people during this special time was truly a faith building experience for my whole family.

My two children (21 and 17 years old) helped host Soul Food Café, "a space where young people could gather at any time during the Youth Festival.  They had a continuous programme of music, interviews, panel discussions, breaks, comedy, theatre, dance, art exhibitions, and more."

"The Soul Food Café was a meeting point where young disciples could connect with a global network of other young Catholics.  It was a center of international meetings, a chance for youth from different nations to get to know each other in a positive, relaxed faith filled environment."

"The three main goals of the events within the Soul Food Café were
- to stir faith (through prayer, exposition of Christian culture in art and music)
- awaken hope (through seeing and hearing stories of Christians from all over the World)
- grow in love (through meeting others, networking, relationships and tasting the universal church community)"

Indeed, our faith was stirred as we prayed with and for one another, as we listened to the performers...

and as we admired the art made by different artists and would be artists.  

Indeed our hope was awakened as we heard stories like the one shared by a young man who was told by the doctor that he would have to have his leg in a cast for months.  He shared that after only a few days, his leg was totally healed after his friends prayed over him.  Yes, even today, even among the young, miracles do happen!

And indeed, our love grew as we got to meet many different people, young and young once, of different races and speaking different languages, but amazingly, brothers and sisters, part of one body.

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6

Linking up with Brag on God Friday, Spiritual Sundays and Hear it on Sunday, Use it on Monday.