Pilgrims refreshed after World Youth Day

THIRTY young people from the Archdiocese of Tuam made the journey to Madrid to take part in World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid. They joined over 1.5 million young people from all over the world who travelled to the Spanish capital to be with Pope Benedict XVI in a celebration of faith through music, dance, liturgies and conversations with the other young pilgrims from the five continents. [private] The group from parishes in Galway and Mayo began their pilgrimage with a mass in the Cathedral in Tuam on Monday August 15. Stephen Bushell, an Architecture graduate from Abbeyknockmoy, spoke to the congregation about World Youth Day and invited people to keep the group in their prayers over the course of their pilgrimage. The party travelled to Spain that afternoon but their journey did not begin there as the young people had met on a number of occasions over the last year in preparation for this journey. Among the activities they took part in were a walk along the Tochar Phadraig from Ballintubber to Croagh Patrick and a trek along the Famine Road at Killary harbour. The energy, music, colour and dance in Madrid came as a surprise people who had expected a pilgrimage to be a more solemn event. 'It was an inspiring event, leaving me amazed and with a new outlook on the Catholic Church. I would recommend it to all,' said Enda Greaney from Annaghdown Parish who is a student at Sligo IT. For Kilian O'Neill from Brierfield, World Youth Day 'was a completely different experience of Church; it was truly inspirational.' The week was eventful in more ways than one for Kilian because along with three other members of the group he received his Leaving Cert results while in Madrid. But it wasn't just the events organised in Madrid that impressed Nicola Flaherty from Killererin. Nicola, who works as part of the Youth Ministry Team in Knock, was impressed by the 'conversations that took place among the Irish Pilgrims in Madrid. WYD gave an opening to the young people from Ireland to speak about faith and church in a way we would never do at home and maybe we can learn from this experience.' World Youth Day 2011 was attended by the largest number of young people when compared to other recent World Youth Days held in Sydney and Cologne. The Tuam pilgrims were guests of the Santa Cristina Parish in Madrid. Local parishioners made the group very welcome and tried to make their accommodation in the class halls of their primary school as comfortable as possible. On Saturday morning August 20 the Irish pilgrims at Santa Cristina Parish joined the parishioners and volunteers for a bilingual mass in Spanish and English. The Tuam group conveyed their appreciation to their host parish and Caroline Cullen from Athenry Parish presented the parish priest of Santa Cristina, Fr Juan Ignacio, with a copy of Fr Kieran Waldron's book Archdiocese of Tuam; an Illustrated History. Those attending the Mass were treated to a beautiful rendition of Lady of Knock by the Quinn sisters, Ciara and Fiona, along with Yvonne McHugh and Orla Walsh, all from Tuam Parish. The group was led by Fr Tod Nolan PP Killererin, Fr Sean Cunningham, Tuam and Fr Pat Farragher, Castlebar. The pilgrims arrived back at the Cathedral in Tuam on Monday night of last week, exhausted from their travels but renewed in their faith and happy to have made the journey. [/private]