This past summer, Spiritual Director Fr. Augustine and Kolbe students Benedicte Kabongo ('17), Travis Sanders ('17), Maria Marin ('16), Le'Asia Gaskin ('17), Larry Alfaro ('17), Rene Alfaro ('18), Kevin Suscal ('19), Karla Nunez ('16) attended World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland!

WYD is a worldwide encounter with the Pope which is typically celebrated every three years in a different country. The most recent WYD was celebrated in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from July 23rd to 28th, 2013 and this past World Youth Day was held in Krakow, Poland.

WYD is open to all young people who want to take part in a festive encounter with their contemporaries centered on Jesus Christ. This event is an opportunity to experience in first person the universality of the Church; to share with the whole world the hope of many young people who want to commit themselves to Christ and others. World Youth Day is a unique way to deepen your faith and grow closer to Christ, by means of prayer and the sacraments, together with thousands of other young people who share your interests and ambitions.

In speaking with both Travis Sanders and Le'Asia Gaskin, both commented on how awesome it was to be with thousands of young people celebrating Mass together, praying together and realizing we are linked through our worship. Both said the most moving moment was when they visited the cell in which St. Maximilian Kolbe was held and executed, feeling both a sense of the evil that had been there and the grace brought to Kolbe through God. There were hundreds of teens at the site and there was silence from the emotions felt.