Perseverance, inspiring, joyful, eye-opening, providential, friendship, glorious, spiritual, exhilarating. These are a few words myself and the group would use to describe our World Youth Day experience in Portugal.
Ten days felt like ten years especially when you’ve walked a total of 80+ miles, live and walk the experience with the same people, and have the ability to focus on one thing — which for me was rediscovering my love for prayer and God. Reconnecting with old faces, meeting new ones, building the friendships that will transcend lifetimes, it’s a good time and I told myself walking into this it would be good for me. I wasn’t ecstatic that the trip would practically wipe away most of my PTO, but things always fall together and I knew I’d be okay with only four more months left of 2023.
I traveled with a group of 60+ to Portugal for World Youth Day: a worldwide gathering of individuals and a pilgrimage reflecting the road that young people continue to travel throughout their whole lives. In short, it’s a global conference with opportunities to meet new people, dig deeper into the church, and encounter God. The original date was delayed because of Covid. Fast forward to registration, my friend who is also my church’s youth minister asked if I wanted to go and I casually said yeah/maybe. That maybe turned into a non-refundable ticket and registration and by the time I thought about backing out the answer was no. The last time I did a huge pilgrimage or mission trip like this was to Mexico 2019 in college so I was little rusty at this.
Everything happens for a reason and throughout the whole trip I kept praying “Lord what you want for me— if you want it, I want it too. And I pray that when I say these words I mean them.” I couldn’t thank my pastor, Father Rafael and Delanie for bringing me and pushing me to do this. Father Rafael even told me “I wouldn’t have let you miss this. I would have dragged you out the door if I had to.”
There’s many stories to share. So much to reflect on. Moments and memories that will stay deep in my heart. But there are three biggest takeaways that happened during this trip. And here it goes:
1. Authentic friendships
There were people I knew prior to this trip kicking off that I met way back when. My old college roommate and her family were there, UNF folks, friends of friends. There were families from my church I never really knew until this trip. There were people I never would have crossed paths with had it not been for this trip. I am so incredibly blessed and thankful for the short and long chats, the group dinners, the random run-ins, the all nighters, awkward icebreakers, Father Rafael doing card tricks, bus rides, random room reassignments with Robin and Jen, and more. After not spending time with Delanie and Father Rafael for a very long time, it was amazing having the chance to catch up and reflect on the last couple of months. Career conversations with the St. John parents was a breath of fresh air. What even touched my heart more was meeting and spending more time two other individuals — Matthew and Nicole. Who I kept telling I would not be offended if they needed a break from hanging with us because Fr. Rafael and I together are a tornado. They kept coming around, so I guess we’re alright. Reconnecting with Matt (I knew him in college through Catholic Ospreys) and meeting Nicole, was God’s way of telling me He’s with me. Matt— who carried 6 big bottles of water for us to camp out for the Pope 3 hours ahead of his arrival. Nicole— who made me feel unapologetic for who I am.. I was reminded not just by them but by the entire group that there is a light in each one of us.
2. Encountering
People, places, things. Oh how these huge events are always a reunion season. A reunion for prayer and friends. Church hopping, showing up to an event 3 hours prior to take a chance on seeing the Pope up close and personal, fighting through crowds to listen to talks, asking the person behind you where they’re from, trading souvenirs and memories.
During middle/high school I was active with a global ministry called Youth for Christ (YFC). I got to see some friends from New Jersey, Florida and and California.
But there was one encounter that struck me the most. We were sitting in a field preparing for the USA Kick Off Gathering (Bishop Barron/Adoration time). Again, due to there being 1.5 million people in attendance, we showed up 3 hours earlier to save some spots. There was a group behind me wearing “Jesuit” shirts. There’s a Jesuits high school in Tampa where I knew some YFC friends had attended. I asked the group if they’re from Florida and they said they weren’t but their youth minister was. It was so loud, I could barely hear them telling me this. I stood up to use the restroom and when I looked up, my long time friend, former leader, and fellow Floridian was standing before me — Seminarian Jeff Miraflor. I hadn’t bothered to message anyone from YFC I was going to Portugal because the odds of us all running into each other was slim to none — or I thought it was. The man who was called to the priesthood and left Florida to pursue his calling. The man I hadn’t seen since 2019. I’m near to tears as anyone who knows me well, knows the prominent role YFC had played in my life. And a piece of home was right in front of me.
3. Equipped
I had been struggling with my mental health for almost a year. I struggled to heal, forgive, and trust. If you asked me a year or two ago if I could imagine myself doing Portugal you would have heard me laugh and say that’s impossible. Father Rafael celebrated our last Sunday mass before going back home. And he said something that hit my heart, “In a world full of darkness, we are called to be a light. We have to go through suffering. Because it makes us stronger. It makes us who we are called to be. And it only makes us better.” And everyone on this trip can attest that the 8 mile walk we did to go to mass — was a test of patience, trust, suffering and perseverance. There was a light at the end. We showed ourselves that we were capable of enduring such a challenging day. Our body pain might have ached but our hearts grew bigger — for we experienced something greater than we could have ever imagined. One of the dads said, “I will forever have empathy for war refugees we see on the news. The journey sucked, but it made me a better man by going through it.” Because we realized how much we take for granted a car, a place to sleep, instant access to drinking water, toilet paper, warm clothes, and a hot meal. It’s not just about being prepared with the tangible items but the intangible things we cannot physically hold — kindness, empathy, teamwork, and selflessness.
Just a few months ago, legitimately in May, I was scared to see what the summer held for me. I was scared to face the upcoming months. I didn’t know how I would be, where I would be, or who would be in my life. And now that World Youth Day is over, I can’t imagine not attending it. This pilgrimage revamped the part of my heart that loved campus ministry, the part in me that wanted to be better than the person I was yesterday, and the part that desired to love God more everyday. To Robin Shipley who spearheaded this whole thing, the Sisters and CCM, the DOSA DUVAAAL crew who brought so much joy to my life, Arelis for picking me back up during the 8 mile walk, Nicole for giving me AC and a smile on my face, Matt for being my running buddy, Delanie for being my dear friend and cheerleader, for all those who prayed and remembered us on our journey, and for Father Rafael, who has always been my biggest advocate and never gave up on me even when I thought he did — the organ that pumps my blood is eternally grateful. Obrigada.
Jamie Vergara 