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8/7/23: Hello again! I am currently writing this last reflection on my flight home. I am sincerely honored to have been given this generous gift from the Eparchy of Parma. Thank you, once again, for your generosity, kindness, and love! I am forever grateful and humbled to have been your 2023 WYD Scholarship Recipient! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I wanted to share a few more things from this experience (one last time):
- I was reminded that community is of the utmost importance on our journey to heaven. Support from others is absolutely necessary for us to reach our ultimate goal. These World Youth Days were perfect examples of that, along with showing how many of us there truly are! There are SO MANY Catholics seeking connection, and fulfilment of our need for human interaction can only be given when it’s founded upon Christ!
- I was reminded that crosses aren’t meant to be carried alone! God provides what we need to get through difficulties if we allow Him to, along with all of our necessities for life on Earth! It’s so wonderful! We have a very good God!
- I later realized that there were necessary reasons I was unable to partake in some of the major events - I was able to connect with those I had travelled with in ways that genuinely encouraged our faith - I would have not been able to do so if I was at full health. This time allowed for us to have a safe space to be vulnerable with each other, while giving the advice and support that was needed. It ultimately rang true to the message of the World Youth Days - loving those presently around you and being Christ for them! Making haste and finding Christ in every moment! I encourage you to do the same, when things may not go the way you would like them to. Ask Christ to show you why, and He will!
All of these reiterations, consolations, confirmations, lessons, etc. are wonderful gifts that I am grateful to have been able to share with you! Thank you for eagerly and graciously accompanying me on my Pilgrimage through these posts, and although I travelled so far to be with Christ, I am reminded through this experience that He is present in all places, at all times, in everyone that surrounds us. Let us make haste to find Him and love Him in those around us!
God bless you all! Until soon! - Gina
