Participants at a youth gathering in Dublin to celebrate the Year of Mercy describe their experience
Last week Dublin’s RDS hosted a gathering of more than 500 Transition Year students from all over the island of Ireland, along with teachers, chaplains, priests, religious and volunteers, who came together to celebrate the Year of Mercy.
This is the third annual gathering of its kind, the last two years being held at Knock Shrine. Schools were invited to send 12 students, accompanied by two members of staff, who were encouraged to return home as agents of evangelisation. Fr John Harris OP was Master of Ceremonies and Missionaries of Charity were in a room adjacent to the main hall in continuous Adoration.
There were two speakers in the morning: Méabh Carlin and Richard Moore. After lunch, students were given a short address by Fr Dan Baragry CSsR about the icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown celebrated Mass in the afternoon, joined by Bishop Francis Duffy and seven priests. At the end of the day, each school was presented with YOUCATs, a candle, prayer books, miraculous medals, Confession leaflets, rosary beads and sweets for the journey home.
Coláiste Bríde, Clondalkin, Dublin
Emma: “The part I found most interesting about today was when Méabh Carlin got up to tell her story. I found her very inspirational because she went through such difficulties in her young life but overcame the obstacles when she found the true love of God.”
Laura: “Today, for me, was about looking for the forgiveness of God. It was about being true to yourself and to God. You have to want forgiveness in order to move on from the mistakes you’ve made. Today was also about learning to forgive others for their mistakes.”
Niamh: “The youth gathering has given me such a different outlook on life. The guest speakers today were so inspirational and have made me realise how blessed and lucky I really am. I always know God is with me and he will always be with me because I know he will always be in my heart.”
Megan: “I thought today was a real eye opener as to how God touches people’s lives. I never realised how much people depend on the belief of God to get them through hard times in their life.”
Eoghan, Gonzaga College SJ, Dublin
“The message of the two speakers who overcame so much, turning weakness to strength and being able to forgive unconditionally, will stay with us long after this event finished.
“Méabh Carlin described how she found God after suffering a tragic car accident during the World Youth Day in Madrid in 2012 … Although the doctors believed she might not live and certainly never walk again, Méabh’s new found inspiration in God gave her the strength and determination to never give up and she walked proudly up to the stage to tell her story.
“Richard Moore was blinded at the age of 10 in his school playground by a rubber bullet fired by a British soldier during the Troubles. However, he never let his supposed weakness stop him; instead he turned it into strength.
“Richard would later meet the soldier who blinded him and he told us that being able to forgive the man who shot him and accept his situation was the reason that he spoke to us today as a husband, proud father of two, and the founder of a global charity called Children in Crossfire.
“I think this message really stuck with all of us and was certainly something that motivated us to overcome whatever obstacles we encounter and do more for the less fortunate in our communities.”
Brenda Bannon, teacher, Loreto Grammar School, Omagh, Co. Tyrone
“It was wonderful to be present at the youth gathering in the RDS. It brought the Year of Mercy alive for the young people in a vibrant way. The testimonies from Méabh Carlin and Richard Moore were very moving and created a new way to encounter the mercy of God.
“The students were captured by Fr Dan Baragry’s reading of the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and they have already put the icon in our school prayer room! It really was a highlight for the students to listen to the papal nuncio. His homily was the subject of conversation all the way home. It was a spirit filled day.”
Stephen O’ Hara, chaplain, Coláiste Choilm, Cork
“Students who attended the RDS Youth Gathering really enjoyed the day. As their chaplain I thought the day was a resounding success for a number of reasons.
“The students were exposed to a rich and varied group of speakers who all shared their faith story and I include in that the archbishop who delivered a powerful homily. The celebration of the Holy Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith and must always be central to a ‘Faith Day’, we should never hide our identity under a bushel but rather proclaim what we are about and I am glad this was so.
“The gift of faith is such that it must be shared with others and I am convinced that the integrity of the sharing that took place in the RDS made an impact and will bear fruit in the future.”