YOUTH VOICES • WYD LISBON 2023

Shining Your Light with Gladness

BY Jill Williams | Candidate Landscape Architect, Pretoria

IN THE midst of so much business and tragedy in this world, have you ever just sat alone in silence? The gravity of the stillness around and possibly within you might have been one of the things you most dearly experienced. Now imagine that feeling being multiplied to about two million people around you. That must be a silence so profound that the world appears to bow down in honour of that moment; in honour of God. This happened at the World Youth Day (WYD) Vigil, one of the many once-in a lifetime experience that Ms Lobina Gladness Mashubuka experienced at the 2023 World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal.

This was a time for broadening one’s perspective to what is happening in the local community

Gladness describes herself as an energetic young adult who loves Youth Ministry. She hails from a place called Makometsane under St Francis of Assisi outstation in Kwandebele, Mpumalanga. It also falls under the parish of St Anthony of Egypt that is in Siyabuswa. Here, she was an altar server before serving on a va­riety of platforms within Youth ministry, including the role of Inter-Diocese Youth Chairperson of the South African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC). She is the current Youth Commission Chairperson in the Archdiocese of Pretoria.

A dream fulfilled

She first heard about the WYD phenomena at the time of its edition in Brazil, in 2013, and even though she has not been able to go herself, she has always tried to encourage the youth to attend it. Ten years later, however, she would get to experience it. WYD 2023, Lisbon, took place from 1st to 6th August 2023. This was comprised of a variety of activities and experiences from parish, deanery, diocesan and inter-diocesan level, to visiting many of the beautiful touristic features of Portugal. Then, of course, seeing the Pope in person and receiving a blessing from him. This was a time for broadening one’s perspective to what is happening in the local community, thus many initiatives focused on building and caring for the local community.

The theme for this event was “Mary arose and went with haste,” (Lk 1:39) and much like the theme suggests, Gladness’ experience of reaching Portugal was not a smooth or easy process. As many pilgrims do, she had to dig into her savings in order to secure her place among the pilgrims that would be representing the SACBC. It came at a time when a great job opportunity appeared on the horizon and this made her hesitant to go. She had even asked for her name to be removed from the list of attendees, after having paid the price in full. Through prayer and reflection, she knew what she had to do: go to World Youth Day. As God would have it, her place was still secured and she could go. “I was not ready [spiritually] when I was going to World Youth Day, but when I got there, I just told myself: ‘Ready or not, just make sure that you pour yourself in the WYD experience and enjoy it’”.

She goes on to share: “I went to Portugal in October 2022 for the WYD preparatory meeting as I was still the Inter-Diocese Youth Chairperson of the SACBC. The Bishops Conference sent me, thus all expenses were paid. From that experience I wanted to attend the actual event; it was so incredible.” She looked forward to the deep spiritual moments she would encounter in Portugal, and connecting with the local families there. “I had a list of people that I promised to pray for. I decided that for each church I would visit in Portugal, I would pray for somebody.”

Her travel itinerary was packed: “From South Africa, we flew to Abu Dhabi then from there we went to Madrid. We spent two days there, before going to Portugal. When we arrived in Portugal, we first went to Braga, as we were hosted in the Archdiocese of Braga. We went to the diocesan families and then after a week we proceeded to Lisbon for the main event.”

Being welcomed in the Dioceses

She recalls how warm and welcoming the people in Braga were. She felt the spirit of Ubuntu. “The parish that hosted us was Vale de São Cosme. When we arrived there, the whole parish was waiting for us and welcomed us with the drum majorettes. The singing was so beautiful. They went to fetch us at the bus station and then we went to the parish. They gave us a tour of their parish. European churches are so beautiful architecturally and artistically.” She was humbled how the elderly in the community served them at the occasion and throughout their stay. “We didn’t come back home with dirty laundry, because every day they would come to fetch and wash it for us.”

They were one group from Southern Africa, with some other groups being present from the Archdioceses of Johannesburg, Cape Town, Marianhill, Bloemfontein and many others. “We seemed to be famous because wherever we went, we would hear “South Africa! South Africa!” We were the loudest! In the train, bus or whatever public transport system that we were using, we would sing.” There were certain practises between groups from various countries that Gladness and her group only discovered during the event such as the exchange of souvenirs. “We didn’t bring any along, so we ended up saying “Oh sorry! We’ve given them all away.”

We can shine by welcoming Jesus into our hearts and learning to love as he does

Although language was a barrier in many instances, each person, no matter their age, race or title in the church or community, treated one another with respect and dignity. Culture and traditions were shared and communicated. “I brought my own culture. Somebody also came with their own culture and together we created a culture. So we’ve built bridges between nations. We have made friends from South Korea, Vietnam and all over the world.”

Transport in Portugal consisted of the train, bus and Ubers for locations that the other public transport could not reach. “The people of Portugal were still using the same public transport that we were using, and pilgrims would dominate all their public transport, but I saw young people offering their seats to the locals.”

Getting ready

The transition from the Days in the Diocese to the Main event portion of WYD, was a challenge. “We travelled the whole day from Braga to Lisbon, arriving at around midnight. The following day, we had to struggle with Ubers. We had only eaten properly the previous day at Braga during breakfast. We took a train to a centre and queued there to buy food. The sun was hot, as it was summer. As we waited, we spoke to other pilgrims in front of us in the queue who were from Italy. We spoke of our experiences. Without hesitation, they went to their bags, reached for energy bars, biscuits and whatever they could find. I’ve never been so shocked. They said, “Grab something. You can take my spot. I’ll get food after you.” Those were some of the things that really touched me. It’s so healing to experience that.”

As many pilgrims do, Gladness had to dig into her savings in order to secure her place among the pilgrims that would be representing the SACBC

Some accommodation issues were encountered, which lead Gladness and her group to travel very long distances to get to each event or activity. Eventually, however, they changed accommodations and lived in a very beautiful place in the city, with local families. Thankfully so, because the entire city was alight with the activities of WYD, with the Opening ceremony in the Lisbon CBD, and a Fun Park and Consolation Park on the other side of the city, where one could go for confessions and see the stalls of different congregations.

Light for the world

“When we were going to the Consolation Park for confession, it was also the day of the Stations of the Cross in the CBD. So we went to the park. The trains were so packed and air-conditioning was hardly felt. The weather was so hot. So, when we got to the park and we could see that we wouldn’t make it to the Stations of the Cross in time, we decided to make a circle, be relaxed and make our prayers there. Out of that hectic day with all the traveling, that prayer was the most impactful. I think it was my first time feeling so close to God since I got to Portugal. I wanted to go to the Stations of the Cross, but this moment really meant something more.”

The catechetical sessions held were also very nourishing. Cardinal Antonio Tagle, a jovial man from the Philippines lead one session. He said “We are not the saviour. Jesus Christ is. When you feel overburdened, you should remember that you need to take those burdens to him. If you are tired, you need to rest.” The morning mass of the last day was presided over by the Pope. “He told us that we need to shine, to listen and to be unafraid. We are to be light; we should not put ourselves in the spotlight, because that kind of light is blinding. We can shine by welcoming Jesus into our hearts and learning to love as he does, because whenever you do works of love, you become light”.

The next WYD takes place in South Korea in 2027. Gladness hopes to attend this too. “I have seen who God is through young people, through what young people have been doing in Portugal. I thought to myself, when I leave this place and go home, I’m going to go with haste to tell about the WYD experience—to tell about how great God is.”