Dear friends and all of you who will join me in Krakow for World Youth Day, especially those of you who will remain in your respective homes and countries. I cannot wait to bring you the experience of World Youth Day; this year it is taking place in my homeland: Poland. I was born here in Canada, and my parents raised me to speak Polish and to appreciate my heritage and the wealth of faith that has passed on in our ancestry. So already, being a part of this World Youth Day is very special to me. I also cannot wait to experience Pope Francis' joy of meeting us at the momentous occasion – his papacy is a message of mercy, and I believe the message Mercy desperately need to be heard in our culture.
During World Youth Day, I am Salt + Light's Marketing presence in the middle of the action. I will be photographing, videographing, sending content for posting directly for social media, filming stand ups, and I will even put together a few stories of some of the major attractions and sites. In particular, the site where the remains of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati will be present for veneration, the energy of the English speaking gathering, and The Spirit of the Streets with the youth of the world in the heart of Krakow, Poland.
This would be my third time attending a World Youth Day. My first was WYD 2002 in Toronto, Canada, from which was born Salt + Light Catholic Media Foundation. A story I carry that I always share with beaming pride is that my father was the carpenter who built the little podium that sat on the arm rests of John Paul II chair and held his homily while address the great crowds in Downsview park.
I then attended WYD 2005 in Cologne, Germany. Cologne was beautiful and I was little older by this time to absorb more of the meaning of what it meant to be part of the greater Catholic community of youth in the world, and the mission I have in the Church. A memorable moment for me was when I saw Pope Benedict way off in the distance on the stage of the closing mass with my own eyes. I was reminded of a short article I read: "Where there is Peter, there is the Church". I felt that powerfully and closely, even though I would have needed binoculars to see the Holy Father.
My friends, please tune in to our coverage, we will be there on the ground working and praying very hard that you experience World Youth Day as intensely as we will be experiencing it. The best place to know what is happening, what to read, what to watch, and immediate access to the everything World Youth Day, is Salt + Light's very own:
World Youth Day Central. Don't go more then a few hours without checking in on this page for the last of whats happening:
saltandlighttv.org/wydcentral
Make sure you follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to follow all our coverage as it happens!
Blessings to you, and I can't wait to see you there!
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Photo: Salt + Light