Learning how to be open and completely vulnerable with oneself is a strong test of faith. Two Cabrini students, Mariel Delacruz and Jennifer Persia, discovered this summer the true depths of their faith during their participation with World Youth Day.
“Father Carl approached me and said we really want to send someone,” Persia said. “He said we have the opportunity to go so why not.” World Youth Day is an opportunity to bring youth from all over the world to encounter their faith with the pope. It is celebration that welcomes all young people interested in developing a relationship with Jesus.
Delacruz and Persia went to Mexico for two days where they visited the shrine of Guadalupe and shrine of our lady of sorrow for faith development and a preparation for what they needed before going to Rio Dejinero, Brazil. “We also met with a priest who talked about the youth of Mexico city,” Delacruz said. “And how they come to him and the church to keep themselves from bad vibes and crime.”
“Mariel and I were the only ones outside of our diocese participating however we were welcomed with opened arms” Persia said. Amongst those in the group 32 of them participated and represented the diocese of Harrisburg. Together Persia explains that there were about 3 million youth from all over the world.
World Youth Day is something that happens every three years. This years theme was “Go and make disciples of all nations.” Persia explains that it was originally for the pope to speak and fellowship with the youth in the Catholic faith.
Being of the Catholic faith this trip meant a lot to Persia. “Hearing from the highest power of the church and having experienced mass with him was utterly amazing” Persia said.
This trip gave her a lot of perspective and insight as she enters her senior year. “For me it is just putting everything together,” Persia said.
The trip was definitely an eye-opener for Persia in deepening her spirituality and relationship with Jesus. “I want to figure out how to incorporate this experience in my life,” Persia said.
“Spiritually, I have grown deeper in my faith and seeing others and how they practice makes me want a deeper relationship with God” Persia said.
Although both ladies experienced the same trip, their inner experiences were different. For sophomore Mariel Delacruz, it was about discovering her faith.
“My mom practiced the religion,” Delacruz said. “But she doesn’t really practice it anymore.” For Delacruz this trip was about finding, identifying and accepting faith. Something Delacruz would discover once she isolated herself from her daily distractions: family, friends, electronics and social media.
“We were at the beach staying overnight and I remember just sitting on the sand for four hours not speaking to anyone” Delacruz said. She recalls the very moment that she identified her passion for her faith was during that four hour reflection on the beach. “I didn’t think about the church or the church as a unit,” Delacruz said. “You have to find faith in you before you find it in a group of people.”
It was during this moment that Delacruz realized that her faith was not strong and she doubted her faith and where she stood with God. “I felt like a completely new person after that experience,” Delacruz said. “I believe God and I want to consult with myself and be fully aware of my faith.”
Overwhelmed with a sense of joy and acceptance Delacruz brightens up about what that moment felt like. “I would describe that moment as solidarity,” Delacruz said. “The experience is not easy to describe it’s something that you have to live to really know.”
World Youth Day really allowed both Delacruz and Persia to understand the depths of their faith. Persia explains that everyone who participates in World Youth Day were on different levels spiritually. “Examining faith for yourself and growing deeper in your beliefs and understanding how that connect with your life,” Persia said.
Faith was about more than trusting in God for these ladies. It was about taking that inner trust and the trust they have in God and discovering their place and roles in society. It was about reconsidering who they are and what they wanted to be. As Persia describes it “the key step in identifying faith is understanding where you are and where you want to be in your faith.”
