Witnesses of faith on a Jubilee pilgrimage of hope
By Linda BordoniIn the warmth of the setting Roman sun, hundreds of thousands of young pilgrims of hope awaited the arrival of Pope Leo XIV in Rome's Tor Vergata space, giving life to an evening of prayer, music, remembrance and sharing on the eve of the culmination of their Jubilee on Sunday morning.
From different countries, cultures and in different idioms, they all spoke the language of faith and fraternity; and joined in their love for Christ, they effortlessly reached out to their peers from all over the world with the passion of youth and the joy of belonging.
Antoine: 'I met Christ and everything changed'
Antoine Saint-Claire, 18, from France, began his story by painting the image of a happy childhood in a loving Christian family. Faith, he said, was always present, yet somewhat routine: Mass on Sundays, catechism, the sacraments shared with friends. It was during his teenage years, he added, that a deeper yearning began to stir in him.
'I looked at other young people and saw something more,' he said. 'They wept during adoration, they had favourite Bible verses, they spoke to God like a friend, and I wondered why I didn't feel that way.'
With these questions within, Antoine attended the FRAT pilgrimage to Lourdes in 2023. There, he said, during a moment of adoration after confession, something shifted: 'I knelt before the Blessed Sacrament, and in my heart I heard the Lord say: 'One day, you will see my love.'' A few months later, in the silence of his home, he continued, he had a profound spiritual encounter with Jesus, a moment of peace, love, and deep joy.
'That encounter gave meaning to my life,' Antoine affirmed. 'I now know I am loved, and I want to love in return, with all I am.'
'Let us open our hearts,' Antoine urged at the end of his testimony, 'each one different, but all capable of receiving love and spreading it. By God's grace, we will succeed. Amen.'
Gustavo: "I want to sing the praises of the Lord"
Gustavo Eterno, a Brazilian member of the Shalom Catholic Community, spoke about how, for the past 22 years, he has been consecrated in the Shalom Community.
'Fifteen of those years I lived as a celibate. Today, I walk the path of a seminarian, and with God's grace, I hope to one day be ordained to the priesthood,' he said, introducing himself.
Gustavo described how music played a significant role in his spiritual and personal journey. In his youth, he said, music was a private refuge, a way to express emotions and find solace amid personal struggles. Over time, he added, this interior world began to lose meaning for him, explaining that as he sought love and freedom in secular experiences, ultimately he felt disoriented and distant from God.
'I came to the point of no longer believing in the possibility of true love,' he recalled. 'The songs that once spoke of life and friendship began to speak of death.'
His turning point came during a moment of Eucharistic adoration. 'My eyes were opened, like the disciples on the road to Emmaus,' he said. 'There, I encountered the love I had been seeking.'Eterno concluded by expressing his desire to share this experience through music and witness: 'Every second of my life that God allows me to live on this earth, I want to sing the praises of the Lord and help others encounter the same joy that He poured into my life.'
Olimpia: 'Chosen to love'
Olimpia Iacono, a physician from Ischia, Italy, offered a deeply personal witness of her vocation to love, not only as a doctor, but as a Christian woman called to serve with her heart.
After completing her medical degree, Olimpia's life seemed on track, but she added that a sudden breakup and an unexpected move left her disoriented. A mission trip to Argentina became a turning point. During a moment of prayer, inspired by the Gospel of the blind man of Jericho, she said she heard a message whispered to her: 'The Lord has chosen you to love.'
'I had always thought my vocation was to be a good doctor or a good wife,' she noted, 'But I had never considered the universal vocation of every baptised person: the call to love.'
This call took concrete form when Olimpia met Francesco, a terminally ill patient in her hospital. Through simple gestures, she narrated how she accompanied him through his final weeks.
'His hospital room became a small church,' she recalled. On his birthday, Francesco entered eternal life, she said: 'That day, I understood that what seemed like useless suffering had become a time of grace.'--Vatican News
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
7 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Iban Methodist community celebrates opening of new church in Samarahan
Distinguished guest and church officials cutting the ribbon to officially open the church. KOTA SAMARAHAN (Aug 5): The Iban Methodist Church community celebrated a historic moment with the official opening and dedication of Gereja Methodist Iban Kota Samarahan, signifying a new chapter in its mission to expand ministry and outreach. Held on Saturday afternoon, the ceremony began at 3pm with a ribbon-cutting and signing ceremony, marking the formal establishment of the new preaching point under the care of Gereja Methodist Iban Bandaraya Kuching and this was followed by a dedication service that prayerfully committed the new building and its ministry to God. 'The ceremony marked a new chapter in the church's mission to expand its reach and ministry. The occasion brought together a total of 99 attendees, including church leaders, congregants, and special guests,' according to a press statement issued by the church dated Aug 2. Among the guests present were Bishop of The Methodist Church in Malaysia Reverend Dr T Jeyakumar, Director of the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) Dato Georgina Apphia Ngau, President of the Sarawak Iban Annual Conference Reverend Bonnie Sedau, District Superintendent Reverend Olyver Broken, as well as Pastors-in-Charge Reverend Steward Damat and Reverend Lau Lee Lam. In his sermon, Bishop Jeyakumar referred to the biblical passage Nehemiah 1 verses 1 to 11, emphasising the importance of prayer, conviction, and action in responding to brokenness. 'This is not just a building. It is a mission field, a beacon of hope for students, families, and the wider community in Kota Samarahan. Let us rise in faith, filled with vision, compassion, and courage,' he said. As part of the dedication, Bishop Jeyakumar presented a special memento to Georgina in appreciation of Unifor's support in which the gift was a copy of As God Wills, a book commemorating the 140th anniversary of the Methodist mission and ministry in Malaysia. A congratulatory gift was also presented by Reverend Ezra Kong of Grace Methodist Church Kota Samarahan, who handed over a commemorative frame to mark the occasion. Meanwhile, Local Church Executive Committee chairman Wallace Paul highlighted the new church's importance for the local Iban Methodist community. 'With the establishment of Gereja Methodist Iban Kota Samarahan, our Iban Methodist students and youth, especially those from other divisions studying or residing here, now have a church they can conveniently attend. 'Before this, they had to travel nearly an hour to reach our only Iban Methodist Church located at Jalan Pisang in Kuching. This new preaching point brings the church much closer to them, making it easier to stay connected in worship and fellowship,' he said. The church added that the occasion marked not just the opening of a new facility, but the beginning of a renewed commitment to mission, ministry, and community service in Kota Samarahan. The statement also expressed heartfelt appreciation to sponsors, donors, and volunteers whose contributions made the project possible, easing the financial burden and helping turn a long-held vision into reality. The ceremony concluded with prayers and thanksgiving, marking what church leaders hope will be the beginning of a lasting spiritual presence in the local community. Gereja Methodist Iban Kota Samarahan Methodist Iban Church religion
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Pope Leo exhorts crowd of million Catholic youth to spread their faith
Pope Leo XIV leads Mass for Jubilee of Youth in Tor Vergata, in Rome, Italy, August 3, 2025. REUTERS/Yara Nardi ROME (Reuters) -Pope Leo celebrated the largest event yet of his nearly three-month tenure on Sunday, encouraging a crowd of more than a million Catholic young people gathered in a field on the outskirts of Rome to spread their faith. Amid shouts of "Viva il Papa" (Long live the Pope) from young people dressed in colourful t-shirts and waving national flags at the Tor Vergata field, Leo led a Mass that capped a special week of events meant to energise Catholic youth. "Dear young people ... spread your enthusiasm and the witness of your faith to everyone you meet," the pope said during his sermon for the event, which also urged them not to focus on gaining material possessions but on helping those in need. "Buying, hoarding and consuming are not enough," said Leo. "We need ... to realise that everything in the world has meaning only insofar as it serves to unite us to God and to our brothers and sisters." Many of the youths attending the event spent the night outside in the field, to be ready for the pope's arrival at 7:45 a.m. (0545 GMT) in advance of heat expected to reach 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) later on Sunday. "It's amazing to see just how big the world church is, and how many people are here ... and (are) on fire to see the pope," said Rita Piendl, 19, who came from Germany. "We want to truly spread hope and love to the world and we really want to make a difference for the better." The Catholic Church, which numbers more than 1.4 billion members globally, has grown slightly in recent years but has experienced sliding adherence in Europe. Sunday's Mass was part of a week-long series of events in Rome for Catholic youth, tied to the ongoing Catholic Holy Year. Leo, the first U.S.-born pope, was elected on May 8 by the world's cardinals to replace the late Pope Francis. (Reporting by Joshua McElwee; Additional reporting by Veronica Altimari and Roberto Mignucci;Editing by Helen Popper)
Herald Malaysia
2 days ago
- Herald Malaysia
Witnesses of faith on a Jubilee pilgrimage of hope
Three young pilgrims of hope offer powerful testimonies of faith, rediscovery, and love at the pre-vigil of the Jubilee of Youth in Tor Vergata, Rome. Their stories, different in language and life experience, converge in a shared desire to respond to God's love with their own lives. Aug 03, 2025 By Linda BordoniIn the warmth of the setting Roman sun, hundreds of thousands of young pilgrims of hope awaited the arrival of Pope Leo XIV in Rome's Tor Vergata space, giving life to an evening of prayer, music, remembrance and sharing on the eve of the culmination of their Jubilee on Sunday morning. From different countries, cultures and in different idioms, they all spoke the language of faith and fraternity; and joined in their love for Christ, they effortlessly reached out to their peers from all over the world with the passion of youth and the joy of belonging. Antoine: 'I met Christ and everything changed' Antoine Saint-Claire, 18, from France, began his story by painting the image of a happy childhood in a loving Christian family. Faith, he said, was always present, yet somewhat routine: Mass on Sundays, catechism, the sacraments shared with friends. It was during his teenage years, he added, that a deeper yearning began to stir in him. 'I looked at other young people and saw something more,' he said. 'They wept during adoration, they had favourite Bible verses, they spoke to God like a friend, and I wondered why I didn't feel that way.' With these questions within, Antoine attended the FRAT pilgrimage to Lourdes in 2023. There, he said, during a moment of adoration after confession, something shifted: 'I knelt before the Blessed Sacrament, and in my heart I heard the Lord say: 'One day, you will see my love.'' A few months later, in the silence of his home, he continued, he had a profound spiritual encounter with Jesus, a moment of peace, love, and deep joy. 'That encounter gave meaning to my life,' Antoine affirmed. 'I now know I am loved, and I want to love in return, with all I am.' 'Let us open our hearts,' Antoine urged at the end of his testimony, 'each one different, but all capable of receiving love and spreading it. By God's grace, we will succeed. Amen.' Gustavo: "I want to sing the praises of the Lord" Gustavo Eterno, a Brazilian member of the Shalom Catholic Community, spoke about how, for the past 22 years, he has been consecrated in the Shalom Community. 'Fifteen of those years I lived as a celibate. Today, I walk the path of a seminarian, and with God's grace, I hope to one day be ordained to the priesthood,' he said, introducing himself. Gustavo described how music played a significant role in his spiritual and personal journey. In his youth, he said, music was a private refuge, a way to express emotions and find solace amid personal struggles. Over time, he added, this interior world began to lose meaning for him, explaining that as he sought love and freedom in secular experiences, ultimately he felt disoriented and distant from God. 'I came to the point of no longer believing in the possibility of true love,' he recalled. 'The songs that once spoke of life and friendship began to speak of death.' His turning point came during a moment of Eucharistic adoration. 'My eyes were opened, like the disciples on the road to Emmaus,' he said. 'There, I encountered the love I had been seeking.'Eterno concluded by expressing his desire to share this experience through music and witness: 'Every second of my life that God allows me to live on this earth, I want to sing the praises of the Lord and help others encounter the same joy that He poured into my life.' Olimpia: 'Chosen to love' Olimpia Iacono, a physician from Ischia, Italy, offered a deeply personal witness of her vocation to love, not only as a doctor, but as a Christian woman called to serve with her heart. After completing her medical degree, Olimpia's life seemed on track, but she added that a sudden breakup and an unexpected move left her disoriented. A mission trip to Argentina became a turning point. During a moment of prayer, inspired by the Gospel of the blind man of Jericho, she said she heard a message whispered to her: 'The Lord has chosen you to love.' 'I had always thought my vocation was to be a good doctor or a good wife,' she noted, 'But I had never considered the universal vocation of every baptised person: the call to love.' This call took concrete form when Olimpia met Francesco, a terminally ill patient in her hospital. Through simple gestures, she narrated how she accompanied him through his final weeks. 'His hospital room became a small church,' she recalled. On his birthday, Francesco entered eternal life, she said: 'That day, I understood that what seemed like useless suffering had become a time of grace.'--Vatican News
