#Kracow2016: Blog 1

#Kracow2016: Blog 1

WYD was an incredible experience and one I will not soon forget. In the next few weeks I will be blogging about my experience and covering different angles. Today I have focussed on why Aid to the Church in Need attended #Kracow2016.

WYD

I’ve heard people criticise WYD in the past on the basis that the young pilgrims are there for merely a party. That may be true in some cases, but what I experienced was quite the opposite. Every pilgrim group I met, I found real and personal encounters with Christ at the hearts of all the activities undertaken.

For me WYD provided the most incredible Christian witness I've ever seen, especially the enthusiasm, faith and passion of the French Youth!  Despite the past few months and most recently the new French Martyr (Father Jacques Hamel) just one week ago, they still rang out the joy of Christ all week!  #‎LoveWins ‪#‎GodWins.  

Crowd at Blonia Field 

WYD is not just the single biggest gathering of young Catholics but of youth in general. 

Though the 2.6 million pilgrims present may have come from 180 different countries, we are one Church.  

During the week the Pope invited us to abandon the sofa in favour of “a pair of walking shoes”, to choose “new and uncharted paths,” to “leave a mark” on the world. 

Indeed, this echoes Aid to the Church in Need’s #BeGodsMercy Campaign. This campaign calls on all Catholics to stand in solidarity with suffering Christians and to help spread God’s mercy to our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world.

Michael with Sr Stacey from Scotland 

Michael with Lyn from Germany 

Aid to the Church in Need

Prayer, information and action for the suffering Church is the focus of a campaign that was launched by ACN at World Youth Day in Poland.

ACN “Let’s be One” campaign was an opportunity for all young people at WYD to connect with others who share their faith in the presence of the Pope.

ACN collaborated with the production studio Catholic Radio and Television Network (CRTN) to produce several short videos reflecting a day in the life of young Catholics in such countries as Israel, Papua New Guinea, Iraq, Cuba, Kenya and Poland.

Over the course of the week ACN asked pilgrims to send postcards to those who could not attend WYD, whether through poverty or persecution, and stand in solidarity with them.

When a pilgrim wrote a card the card would be sent to a country of their choosing and in return someone from that country would pray for the person who sent the note.

In essence, ACN at WYD was trying to build a bridge of prayer. 

The response we received from pilgrims was incredible, with many pilgrims eager to return home and find out more about the suffering Church and how they can support them further.

More Information

Stay tuned for my next blog where I will describe my experience taking part in The Way of the Cross with The Holy Father, Pope Francis.

To find out more about ACN or the #BeGodsMercy Campaign

Call: 01698 337 472

Tweet: @ACN_Scotland