MARY could have thought twice about making such a journey, but she did not – she went in haste to visit her cousin (Elizabeth), aware that God was bringing immense surprises and joy into their lives.
In the same way hundreds of young people from the Neocatechumenal Way all over Australia journeyed to Lisbon for World Youth Day and a meeting with Pope Francis, reflected Fr Tony Trafford, a catechist who accompanied the Australian pilgrims.
In the post-COVID world the cost of tickets this time was a nasty shock for all, but perhaps in the new reality of international travel came to their help – arrangements were finalised late, and hence payment could be late as well.
Relations and people in the parishes were very generous, and everything finally came together so that our plans were fulfilled.
Many large families managed to send several of their children on the pilgrimage and God provided to settle all the bills.
They flew from all the major cities of Australia and landed in Madrid, Barcelona and Malaga, where each of nine buses became a natural community for almost two weeks.
Each bus was led by a team of catechists – couples, presbyters and seminarians.
All met together for the first time in the Redemptoris Mater Seminary of Madrid in order to pray at the tomb of Carmen Hernández, one of the initiators of the Neocatechumenal Way.
From there they went via Avila, Segovia, Zamora or Salamanca to Santiago de Compostela, which was another opportunity to be all together – we celebrated the Eucharist in the church of St Francis of Assisi.
The long distances gave the possibility to pray on the buses, and to share their hopes and their personal experience of Jesus Christ.
The stops were an opportunity for street missions in order to announce the Gospel as witnesses.
On the buses there was ample time to receive catechesis – on the call of God, on marriage, on sexuality and celibacy, on the origins of the Neocatechumenal Way, on the saints we encountered like St John of the Cross, St Teresa, and St James.
There was also time to listen to the young people, their experience of life, their hopes and fears, and whether they had really met with Jesus Christ.
Many spoke of their slaveries, of the struggle to be chaste, of their idolatry of money, and addictions such as pornography, which bring such destruction – and of Christ’s victories too.
Without Him the descent into despising oneself is inevitable and very painful. With him, on the other hand, we can rise from the dead.
All this was before reaching the land of Fernando, the great preacher, St Anthony.
From Santiago all the buses headed south, visiting either Tui (the birthplace of the great Benedictines Salvado and Serra who evangelised Western Australia), Porto, Coimbra or Braga before reaching accommodation generously offered by parishes in the Lisbon area.
From there it was easy to visit Fatima and to appreciate the message of the three little shepherds and their meeting with the Virgin Mary which has been so important for Portugal and for all Europe.
Moreover, not far away is Nazaré, now famous among surfers, but a much more ancient shrine deeply loved by the Portuguese.
There too all aboard the nine buses met together to celebrate the Eucharist prior to meeting with Pope Francis.
The heat and the excitement were building up as the time for the Vigil and Papal Mass approached.
The walk from the buses was long and very hot, but all survived and reached a spot where they made their ‘camp’ for the 24 hours with Pope Francis.
The big screens were intended to let us see what was going on more than a kilometre away, but trees had been strategically planted to block the view.
The English translators struggled to cope with Pope Francis’ discourse as he chose to speak off the cuff. He was speaking in Portugal in Spanish.
But when 1.5 million people knelt down in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, there was no doubt that Christ was in our midst, and that the young people wanted a meeting with him.
After little sleep and plenty of discomfort all were ready for the celebration of Mass, on the Feast of the Transfiguration.
The promise was clear – we too can/will be transfigured – the glory of God himself is to dwell with us through our baptism lived to the full.
The distribution of Holy Communion was achieved with surprising efficiency and speed, given the numbers and extent of the congregation, and most survived the soaring temperatures unscathed.
On the following day, Kiko Argüello had invited all to come and reap the fruits of the meetings with the Holy Father and of the whole pilgrimage.
Some 100,000 from the Neocatechumenal Way with several Cardinals and many bishops, gathered by the River Tagus under a merciless sun to hear the ‘foolishness of the preaching’ which brings salvation to its hearers.
Kiko, Fr Mario and Ascensión, the international responsible team of the Neocatechumenal Way, announced the kerygma and words of great encouragement to all.
The call to conversion was strong and was followed by the vocational call – 2000 boys stood up to offer themselves for the seminary and about 1500 girls made themselves available for the convent or for mission.
In both cases, their catechists will help them to discern what is the will of God for their life, what is the path he seems to be indicating for each one.
Once again it was striking how many young people had been touched by a call from the Lord and were effectively saying to him: ‘Here I am, Lord! Send me!’
We have witnessed with great gratitude the kindness and welcome of a small country which has been a special instrument of God for all of us.
There is every reason not to be afraid, as Pope Francis told us.
The young have so many fears – of failure, of being a loser, of being ‘left out’, of what studies to choose and where, of real relationships… the list goes on.
But Christ, who walked on the water towards the apostles during a storm, comes to meet us in our storms and assures us we can step out towards him and not be overwhelmed: today too, to us in our fear and confusion, he says ‘I am!’
This is the unconditional assurance that overcomes fear, creates communion, and gives both hope and joy.
Fr Tony Trafford, is a Neocatechumenal Way catechist in Australia and a member of the national leadership team. The Neocatechumenal Way is one of the numerous new ways or movements in the Church. It focuses on giving Catholics an adult – as opposed to a merely nominal – faith. It forms communities in parishes focused on Scripture, prayer and praise of God and engages in a long-term program of catechesis in the Christian faith.
