WYD journey in Sydney only the beginning

It has been one year since those glorious Australian sun-filled days when the streets of Sydney overflowed with faithful pilgrims from around the world. Thousands of pilgrims, Canadians included, arrived with hearts full of joy for World Youth Day 2008, one of the largest events  Australia has ever hosted.

WYD08 has had a deep and special impact on me. For two years, I had the privilege of working on the preparations for WYD08 and this exposed me to the beauty of the Universal Church. During my time at WYD I also learned the great importance of evangelization within the media and when used positively, the tremendous impact that it has on people’s faith journey.

Four months after WYD, I was sitting at a dinner in Sydney listening to an awe-inspiring speech given by Fr. Tom Rosica to a group of about 300 Australian youth ministry leaders on media and evangelization. Fr. Rosica, who ran Toronto’s World Youth Day in 2002, told us, “World Youth Days offer a new framework and new lenses through which we look at the church and the world, and build our common future. July 2002 was not an end or accomplishment of some fete; it was rather the beginning of a new adventure of faith and hope for the entire Canadian church. Youth and young adult ministry will never be the same and should never be the same after WYD has visited a country.”

As I sat there and heard about the extraordinary impact that Canada still experiences from WYD, I reflected on what a wonderful example Salt + Light TV is of hope, of the life-giving treasures that can emerge from WYD. Salt + Light is one of the fruits from Toronto hosting the event. Fr. Rosica’s words allowed us to begin imagining the possibilities and potential that can be born in our nation after such an extraordinary event has taken place.

Through my work at WYD08 and an invitation from Fr. Rosica I now have the privilege to work at Salt + Light TV. It is such a joy for me to see some of the fruits of the Toronto WYD come to life through Salt + Light. Even though this five-day event took place seven years ago, not only the memory but the effects on young hearts still radiates strongly. WYD is a platform, the beginning of many great initiatives for the host country. Many Australians are inspired and full of much hope in watching the journey of Salt + Light TV unfold as a result of WYD and believe that the Canadian church has provided much inspiration to Australia for the post-WYD journey.

Witnessing the treasures that the WYD phenomenon has brought to the world has once again re-affirmed that this event is nothing but the work of God for our time. It is a precious jewel that the Holy Spirit has gifted to the world to nourish love and build faith in a world that so desperately craves hope and thirsts for noble, heroic role models of virtue. We thank Pope John Paul II for bringing this to life with his yes, and for Pope Benedict XVI, who humbly and courageously continues the work of the Holy Spirit in WYD.

(Nichols, 27, is an intern at Salt + Light Television in Toronto.)