The following reflection on World Youth Day is by Jane Mellett

In 1985, the UN declared the International Year of Youth and Pope John Paul II followed suit by creating an event for young Christians to meet, to acknowledge their faith and to come together in peace and celebration: 'I want to meet with you, to listen to you and to hear about your life' (John Paul II).

Twenty-six years later this legacy lives on as this week one million young adults from around the world will descend on Madrid for the World Youth Day (WYD) events. Consider an intimate life-changing retreat combined with a crowded rock concert - at WYD the Church is alive and it is young! Hundreds of pilgrims will attend from Ireland and take part in this enormous festival of faith.
In a world where secularism and atheism are considered to be neutral stances this festival gives young people permission to celebrate their faith, to stand up and say, YES I am a Christian! Please remember these pilgrims in your prayers this week as they journey with one another: Lord, You have called our young people to make a journey of faith, and with the help of Your Spirit they have heard and answered the word You have spoken in their hearts. Teach them to choose life and to choose what is just. Help them to share with others the life You promise, especially in service of the poor. Lead our young pilgrims along the way Lord, and make safe their journey to Madrid, to You and the life You promise.