The Journey After the Journey
Editor’s Note: DC Service Corps alumna Cecilia Gillis shares this reflection following her pilgrimage to Rome for the Jubilee of Youth.
My year with FMS may have concluded, but my adventures with the Franciscans have only just begun. Just after finishing my year of service, I went on a pilgrimage with my brothers to Italy for the Jubilee of Youth in Rome and to visit Assisi. Roughly a million young people also gathered to see Pope Leo XIV.
The main event we attended was a prayer vigil at Tor Vergata, a field in the outskirts of Rome that was originally used by Pope John Paul II for events with youth. Because so many people were going, taking a bus to our destination was not a reasonable option. Yet, the field was four miles away from the last metro stop. So, we had no choice but to walk there with our fellow pilgrims. We had to pass along highways and under bridges, with police and volunteers all along the way. The sun was beating down, but we had lots of water and everyone was in good spirits. We heard songs from all over the world, in Spanish, Polish, Korean, and more. We saw many flags that we did recognize, and some that we did not.
It was a very moving experience to be with such a huge group of young people, all joyfully present because of their faith. The Church truly felt “universal” to me.
After we settled in at the field, we waited for the Pope. Everyone was desperate to see him. Eventually, we could see on screen that a helicopter was descending: Pope Leo had arrived. The crowd went wild – people were running to see him, shouting and waving. We were at least a mile away from the Pope, because there were so many of us – we watched his journey through the crowd on screen.
Throughout the evening, Pope Leo, kept gently directing our attention to Christ. He presided over a vigil that included testimonies, adoration, questions from young people which he answered. Here is one answer, in response to a question from a young American man about encountering Christ in times of uncertainty:
“Do you truly want to encounter the Risen Lord?” the Holy Father asked. “Listen to His word, which is the Gospel of salvation! Seek justice, renewing your way of life, to build a more humane world! Serve the poor, bearing witness to the good we always desire to receive from our neighbor! Remain united with Jesus in the Eucharist. Adore the Eucharist, the source of eternal life! Study, work, and love in the manner of Jesus, the good Teacher who always walks beside us.”
After our time in Rome, my brothers and I made our way to Assisi. I visited the tombs of both St. Clare and St. Francis, and walked the streets where they spent their lives dedicated to God. I reflected on the good, generous, Christlike people I encountered during this year of service, from my housemates to my coworkers to the FMS staff and more.
Although a trip to Italy is a very lovely and lucky thing to do, I only feel more sure that you do not have to be in a specific location to serve God. St. Francis and St. Clare spent most of their lives in the same place that they were born. Some are called to serve in specific places, like FMS’ lay missioners, but this is just one way to begin a life of mission. Jesus walks alongside us in all ways of life, always redirecting us to Him. I would like to thank the FMS staff for their kind example to me, and especially I would like to thank my fellow DCSC volunteers for showing me love in action throughout this year.
Reflection questions, posed by young people to the Pope:
How can we find sincere friendship and genuine love that leads us to true hope?
Where do we find the courage to choose?
How can we truly encounter the risen Lord in our lives and be certain of his presence even in times of trial and uncertainty?
Cecilia Gillis’ photos from the Jubilee of Youth
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