It’s not every day you can get a group of youngsters between the ages of 14 and 17 together for a prayerful, powerful experience in a church. Let alone, a group of 9 students, 6 parents and the Faith Formation Director to travel together halfway around the world. Well, St. Anastasia Parish in Teaneck did exactly that. The St. Anastasia Youth Group fundraised all year to get the funds to travel to Lisbon Portugal for World Youth Day.

They were joined by approximately 1.5 million other students from around the world. Initially the number of youths was supposed to be around 400,000. By the end of the week, there were close to 2 million students, young adults and clergy people camping out to see Pope Francis.

The city of Lisbon welcomed the enormous crowds with love and affection. The roads were closed, the weather was extremely hot, and everyone spoke a different language. However, when everyone came together, the Pope led the crowds in song, praise, and holy Mass. A beautiful peaceful event.

The St. Anastasia Youth had an opportunity to tour Spain and the wonderful basilicas and churches in that country before departing for Lisbon. Part of the breathtaking highlights in Lisbon and surrounding areas included the City of Joy where our pilgrims encountered our living God and His unyielding mercy. Rise Up Meetings are a form of Catholic catechesis that is especially for World Youth Day. It challenges young people to reflect on major themes launched by the pontificate of Pope Francis: Integral Ecology, Social Friendship, and mercy. Bishops from around the world presided over these events.

Fatima in Portugal held a significant appeal for the young people and the adults. It was in Fatima where the three children saw a vision of the Blessed Mother Mary in 1917. The group participated in the rosary, a prayer service and the most beautiful candlelight vigil with a statue of the Blessed Mother leading the procession through the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima.

The week ended with the Way of the Cross, a powerful depiction of Christ’s final steps to Calvary. On Saturday, pilgrims marched in an evening vigil before camping out. They arose to the Pope’s Missioning Mass exclaiming our young people are our future. Our youth must share the mission with everyone. Pope Francis proclamation asks more than words; he wants actions of love. “Ask Jesus where he wants you to go. Get up and go in haste.”