At World Youth Day Reunion, Students Say They’ve Changed

By Marie Elena Giossi

Joshua McKenzie is praying the rosary every day. Rosemarie De La Cruz feels closer to the Holy Spirit. Clarisse Quirit is leading a happier life.

Four months after returning from Sydney, Australia, McKenzie, De La Cruz and Quirit reunited Nov. 28 with several dozen of their fellow World Youth Day pilgrims to reflect on their experiences, share Mass with Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio and celebrate their faith at St. Patrick’s Church, Bay Ridge.

Father John Maduri, associate pastor at St. Patrick’s, organized the gathering, which drew nearly 100 high schoolers and college students home for Thanksgiving weekend into the parish’s warmly lit worship space last Friday afternoon.

Marie Elena Giossi Photos 

Youngsters quickly recognized each other’s faces, exchanged greetings and began joshing each other as old friends do. Familiar music they last heard in Australia flowed from the left alcove near the altar. The parish arranged for In The Walk, formerly known as My Drive Home, a West Palm Beach, Fla.-based Christian worship band that performed at the diocesan catechesis sessions during World Youth Day, to provide praise and worship music for the event.

“We welcome you here to a reunion to remember our World Youth Day,” Bishop DiMarzio said as he welcomed youth and adult chaperones to the 4 p.m. Mass, opening the celebration. The bishop, who led the 126-person diocesan delegation to Australia, invited pilgrims to reflect on their time in Sydney and make sense of their personal journeys.

Joining him on the altar were several priests who had accompanied young people to World Youth Day – Fathers Maduri and Mark Simmons, St. Patrick’s associate pastors; Father Kevin Sweeney, diocesan vocation director; and Father Gerard Sauer, diocesan pilgrimage director; as well as Msgr. Joseph Nagle, pastor; Father Anthony Banye, associate pastor; and Father James Kuroly, parochial vicar of Our Lady of Sorrows, Corona.

Recalling the theme of World Youth Day, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses.” (Acts 1:8), the bishop’s homily focused on the role of the Holy Spirit in each person’s life.

“We are here to relive our experience of the Holy Spirit, who is called the Paraclete, the Consoler.… The Holy Spirit truly is our consoler and advocate,” he said. The bishop explained that the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from God the Father and Jesus the Son, is the “ultimate consoler” in life and “lifts hearts from affliction.”

During World Youth Day, he noted that pilgrims had an opportunity to get to know the Third Person of the Trinity through catechesis sessions, which he presented for the Brooklyn Diocese along with Auxiliary Bishop Frank J. Caggiano and Bishop William Morris of the Diocese of Toowoomba, Australia.

All three bishops endeavored to “bring out how the Holy Spirit is a Person in our lives.” He added, “We recognize we are not perfect … but we seek God’s forgiveness and consolation.”

“Temporary consolations,” namely drugs, alcohol and sex, can sideline youth in today’s world, the bishop cautioned. He noted how “important the gift of the Spirit is in the face of these difficulties and challenges.”
As they received the Eucharist, he asked those gathered before him to take stock of their experiences, their personal “encounters with God in the Spirit,” to find deeper meaning in their journey to Sydney, which he reminded them was not just a trip, but a pilgrimage of faith.

“Whenever we seek to encounter God, we do not always find Him where we think we will,” he said, adding his wish that every person adopts the Holy Spirit as his/her “constant companion and guide.”

Personal Testimonies

In the Walk guitarist Derek Simke, drummer Jamie Clemens and band leader, D.J. Hom, who was born in St. Gregory the Great parish, Bellerose, offered personal testimonies of faith after Mass.

Wearing a sweatshirt and jeans, Simke spoke of his fall to drugs and promiscuity during his late teens and the day he felt God’s grace in his life again.

“Anything other than Jesus is what Satan would like for you,” he told teens, emphasizing what the bishop said in his homily regarding temporary consolations. “You can’t just have faith in Jesus Christ and put it in your back pocket.”

He told teens that everyone struggles with sin. “I want to hate my sins as much as God hates my sins. I struggle with who I am each day. I struggle to live a life that is honoring and pleasing to my Lord and Savior.”
Father Maduri, who organized the event, thanked the bishop for being there and the band members, who “give us great witness by their presence here tonight not only by their music but by sharing their love of the Lord.”

Youth had an opportunity to greet Bishop DiMarzio and the band over pizza in the parish hall before returning to church for more music and a presentation on the lay ecclesial movement Communion and Liberation.
Before getting a slice of pizza, Joshua McKenzie from St. Gregory the Great, Crown Heights, stood back and looked at the people with whom he had breakfast, shared Mass and prayed the rosary.

“Since I left Sydney, I’m saying my rosary every day, either before I go to bed or when I’m traveling on the train,” he said.

The 23-year-old credited Marilyn Santos, diocesan coordinator of adolescent faith formation, with motivating him to return to the practice of praying the rosary as they walked to Barangaroo for the opening Mass of World Youth Day.

McKenzie was also pleased to report that in addition to his prayer life, other parts of his life are falling into place as well. He’s “taking more of a leadership role in our youth and young adult council at St. Gregory’s,” and has a new job as a data quality specialist at a book publishing company in New Jersey.

Pilgrim Clarisse Quirit from Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Astoria, beamed as she said, “I’ve been 110% more happy,” since returning from World Youth Day. “It’s been a bumpy few months learning more about God.” In Australia, she found two companions for her journey, David Rella, who traveled with SS. Peter and Paul, Williamsburg, and his buddy, seminarian Matthew Zinser, both of whom were present for Mass.

Life has also changed for Rosemarie De La Cruz, 18, who attended World Youth Day with Our Lady of Mt. Carmel as well. “Before I wasn’t that religious and ever since World Youth Day, I feel close to the Holy Spirit. I really didn’t believe in it before. I didn’t care about church. I was distancing myself from church. My mom was nagging me to go. Now, I drag my brother and sister every week.

“Before I used to be so negative, now I feel so positive,” she said.

Nine high school and college students from Our Lady of Sorrows are anxious to follow in De La Cruz’s footsteps and attend World Youth Day 2011.

“We’re really hoping to have a group for Madrid,” said Father Kuroly, who attended World Youth Day 2000 in Rome. He brought young adults active in parish ministry to Mass so they could get a feel for what World Youth Day is all about.

“When you’re Catholic, you feel like you’re the only one who’s young and Catholic. It would be a great experience to see a bazillion young Catholics,” said Eliana Perez, 22.

Julissa Espinal, 20, enjoyed the rock music at Mass. Praise songs like “Take It All,” made Landy DeFamilia, 15, feel like he was “rooting for a superstar.”

Witness talks from the band members had an impact on Rosa Marte, 15. “They’ve been through high school and they know it’s not easy but they said with God they made it through,” she said.

Massgoers Markus Caruso, 15, and Terence O’Reilly, 15, parishioners at Holy Family, Flushing, were too young to go to World Youth Day this time around, but said they can’t wait for Madrid.

Leadership Retreat

In the meantime, young adults are invited to attend a leadership and spirituality retreat, co-sponsored by the Faith Formation Office and the SS. Peter and Paul Spirituality Center, in the spring. For more details, call Marilyn Santos, 718-281-9584.

back to top