By Theodore Deluhery
“Go in haste! Go in haste! Go in haste!”
This message rang in my heart as the Holy Father encouraged the young people of the world to go and be bearers of the Good News of Christ. It was a surreal experience that God called me, along with thousands of other young people, to share in such a moment of unity and Catholicism. I took the pilgrimage to Lisbon, Portugal, for World Youth Day as an invitation to experience my vocation to the priesthood with the whole Body of Christ. So often do I read about the early Church and how popes and bishops addressed and urged their flocks to also live out the Gospel; and there in the darkness of night in a dirt field with people around the world tired from their journeys I heard in my heart His voice. In the context of my vocation, I want to share a couple of experiences I had at World Youth Day 2023.
On one of our first days in Lisbon, our group was able to visit the City of Joy – a place where pilgrims could meet each other, learn about past World Youth Days, meet different religious orders and enjoy learning about the faith from Catholic vendors and companies. My brother seminarians and I met people from different parts of the world. My favorite was a group of Germans who asked to hear our vocation stories. I never expected this to happen! Also, we sang a Marian hymn with them in German, or at least I tried to. It gave me joy to be with Catholics from different countries, not all speaking the same language but all sharing the same faith. The language of Love for God translated what we could not communicate in words.
At the end of the week, we slept overnight to see the Holy Father make his address to the young people of the Church. It was not until this day that being a pilgrim sank in. I felt like one of the members of the crowds who followed Jesus in the Gospels. I traveled and was tired. I felt as though Jesus invited me to rest with him at that night’s vigil.
Later that night during Adoration, I looked around and saw thousands of people behind and in front of me. This made me realize that God chose me for this vocation, His priesthood. Then Pope Francis told thousands of young people to “go in haste.” And in that moment, I felt singled out, selected, chosen for this vocation. Only God could make the plan for this vocation of mine to end up in Lisbon, Portugal, amongst 1.6 million people, and allow me to feel Him, just He and I.
Occasionally, I think about my experiences during World Youth Day and the joy it gave me. Knowing my heart better than I, Our Lord delivers opportunities to meet new people, speak and learn languages I do not know, and welcome fellow sisters and brothers to share in the same faith I love. I will continue to keep World Youth Day in my heart and pray for and think about those who touched my life at World Youth Day 2023.
Theodore Deluhery is fourth college at the College Seminary of the Immaculate Conception at Saint Andrew’s Hall, Seton Hall University, South Orange.
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