OLA Sisters Prepare for World Youth Day
Srs. Patience Ezimigbo and Mary Crowley share their thoughts ahead of Polish pilgrimage. Daily updates direct from Krakow will be posted on Facebook and Twitter during World Youth Day.
Srs. Patience Ezimigbo (Left) and Mary Crowley
SMA-OLA collaboration will be in evidence once again at World Youth Day (WYD) 2016 in Poland. Two OLA Sisters from the French, Irish and Argentinian Provinces along with three OLAs from the Italian Province respectively will travel to the Polish city of Krakow in advance of the opening mass on July 26th. The Polish SMA Fathers will host the OLA delegation, along with other SMA groups from across the world. The OLAs and SMAs will jointly engage in animation in the lead-up to the Papal Mass – the highlight of the week – on July 31st. The animation will involve working among the young people and sharing their missionary spirituality with those present.
Sr. Patience Ezimigbo, OLA from Nigeria and currently studying at Maynooth University is very thankful for the opportunity and has enjoyed the build-up so far: “I am very thankful to the OLAs who organized the trip and made this possible. Also, I am grateful to the SMA Fathers in Poland who will look after us during our time in Krakow. It has been a great experience preparing for the World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland. I have enjoyed meeting with some of the co-ordinators and World Youth Day participants in at St. Paul’s Church, Arran Quay in Dublin.”
It is estimated that three hundred young people will travel from the Dublin Archdiocese. Overall, sixteen hundred young people will make the journey from Ireland to Krakow.
Meeting people from different countries, cultures along with seeing the Pope in real life are parts of the experience that Sr. Patience is most excited about: “I am looking forward to seeing people from a different continent. The longing for a new experience, new environment or rather atmosphere, and other things that will come with this gathering is giving me a kind of joy. I am excited about seeing Pope Francis. I have never seen any Pope in person.”
In the Year of Mercy, Sr. Mary Crowley feels that Krakow is a very appropriate location for World Youth Day.
“The theme of the 31st World Youth Day in Krakow 2016 is: ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy’ (Mt 5:7). Pope Francis has chosen this Beatitude, to show God’s love towards all people and the necessity of being merciful to each other. The choice of Krakow and World Youth Day’s motto lead us to be merciful. Since the appearance of Jesus to St. Sister Faustina, Mercy has been radiating from Krakow to the whole world. Sister Faustina’s tomb is here and also a shrine – the place where St. John Paul II entrusted the world to God’s Mercy.”
Sr. Mary, who was recently appointed as OLA Vocations Director, outlines what those travelling can expect: “WYD will take over the entire city of Krakow. There are events at every stadium, exhibition hall and church in the city. The main events are taking place will be the Opening Mass, Catechesis, vocation promotion, youth festival, and the closing Mass.”
Like Sr. Patience, Sr. Mary also is very grateful for the chance to be part of World Youth Day: “I appreciate the opportunity given to me to participate in the WYD. I feel very enthusiastic about being present and collaborating with the OLAs from France, Italy and Argentina and also being present among over two million young people all over the world.”
Updates from Srs. Patience and Mary will be posted on www.olaireland.ie and on social media over the course of the event.
