World Youth Day  

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! More


8/6/23: I began this morning feeling at full health, with immense gratitude for Christ’s guidance. I felt like my true self again after much needed rest! I made my way throughout the city, as a true and lone pilgrim, finding the nearest Mass I could. I began walking to a church that was 5 minutes away, in extreme heat, only to find it closed! I searched the closest one to the one I initially tried, and it was a 15 minute walk. Beginning to feel my physical limitations from the very intense heat, I (providentially) stumbled upon an Uber Scooter!! I grabbed it as fast as I could, and zoomed through the streets on Lisbon. More

8/5/23: This day, our group went on a 2.5 hr pilgrimage (walking) to the place where the Vigil Mass with the Pope was held. I am in awe of their strength and courage, because they weathered an intense heat wave that caused hundreds of people to have heat exhaustion (and some had heat stroke)! In order to rest my body and gain strength for the long travel days ahead, I made the decision with the approval of our group to stay back. This was very painful for me, and the last thing I wanted to do was let the Eparchy down. I was very frustrated with myself and my limitations, but ultimately accepted the fact that God had placed me where I was and given me the cross I had been given for a reason. More

8/4/23: This day gave an insight as to how beautifully united our Catholic Church is. It began with our regular group breakfast time, Slovak Catechesis, and then one of the most beautiful Liturgies I’ve ever attended happened. It’s a once in a lifetime gift to witness a Divine Liturgy celebrated with an Eastern & Western Priest, let alone with 3 Bishops and MANY priests, both East and West! This was the true highlight of the day. It spurred a kind of excitement and recognition that the Christian East and West are truly the two needed lungs of our Church. More


8/3/23: Today was a full day with plenty to see. The Pope arrived for the opening ceremony, and though I could not attend fully due to my health, I was able to head into the lively chaos for 20-30 minutes to take pictures and videos of the crowds! A very kind group from Spain allowed me to get close to the gate to capture moments posted below. (Please note that I am almost at full health! I am doing my best to take it easy to prevent any further complications.) More

8/1/23 & 8/2/23: Glory to Jesus Christ! I decided to combine the entries for these two days, because on the 1st we spent most of the day traveling & arrived to Portugal late at night. We all were beyond thrilled to finally be able to shower after 4 days (even though only cold water is available) and sleep on the floor instead of bus seats! It was and continues to be a GLORIOUS experience! I was grateful for Bishop Milan reminding us throughout our trip that we are pilgrims and comfort is not guaranteed. His words planted seeds of encouragement, and they bloomed (and still continue to) in times of exhaustion and desperation. More

7/31/23: Glory to Jesus Christ! We happily arrived in Lourdes, France around 6:00 PM after a long day of traveling by bus. Upon arrival, we quickly shuttled out as our Priests & Bishop made themselves available for confession outside of a beautiful (French) Greek Catholic Church. Divine Liturgy followed confessions, and afterwards we found ourselves exploring an extremely holy place! More

7/30/23: Beginning in Italy, around 4:30 AM, we woke up to pouring rain, thunder, and lightning. A gas station with a coffee bar stood before our empty stomachs and tired bodies. No one wanted to leave the bus due to the severe weather, but because of bodily necessity, I remembered the ponchos we were given, put it on, and ran straight to the bathroom! A few soon followed, and grabbed coffee. Thankfully, the weather cleared up shortly after and we got back on the bus. We headed to a little town just 30 minutes from Venice, hopped on a train, and shortly arrived to a beautiful scene of colorful buildings, water canals, & gondolas! Bishop Milan showed us the way, due to his knowledge of the city, and we all walked along with immense gratitude for the incredible views and guidance we were given. We were able to stop in one of the most beautiful churches I’ve ever seen, and though I was not allowed to take pictures inside, I managed to capture photos what looks like a mosaic icon that was located before entering, along with photos of the exterior. More

7/29/23: Today began with a small group of Americans and Slovaks, initially having no connection or idea of who was who or what was what. With a big adventure ahead, we grabbed our bags and readily took a seat on the bus that is now our mobile home for the next few days while we journey through Venice, Lourdes, and Lisbon for the World Youth Days. As we took our seats and exchanged names, the views that followed every word we spoke aided in the wonder and excitement we are still holding close to our hearts. Strangers have quickly become friends, and the different languages we speak remind us that no barrier truly exists when Christ remains in the center of our lives. More

The Eparchy of Parma is pleased to announce Gina DeFilippo as this year’s World Youth Day Scholarship Recipient.  

Gina has attended St. Nicholas Byzantine Parish in Barberton, Ohio for almost 3 years. She has over eight years of experience as a professional artist, skilled in music production, singing, songwriting, music, photography, videography, and graphic design. Gina has been taking pictures of the Divine Liturgy at St. Nick’s, especially on different feast days, capturing the beauty of the Byzantine Catholic faith. Click here to keep reading.