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Vocations Guide to Priesthood
WYD has become a powerful seedbed for vocations to the priesthood and religious life as illustrated by the many young priests and seminarians who testify that they felt called whilst attending a World Youth Day event. WYD changed their lives. Early in 2008 when a “World Youth Day information night” was held for seminarians at Corpus Christi College, the regional seminary for Victoria and Tasmania about 30% of the students confirmed that their involvement in WYD had influenced their decision to enter the seminary.
Each individual has his own particular story; it might be the challenge of the Holy Father to live out the Gospel in a radical way. ”If any of you, dear young men and women, hear the Lord's inner call to give yourselves completely to Him in order to love Him with an undivided heart" (cf. I Cor 7:34), do not be held back by doubts or fears. Say 'yes'
World Youth Day.
with courage and without reserve, trusting Him who is faithful to His promises. Did He not assure those who had left everything for His sake that they would have a hundredfold in this life and eternal life hereafter?" (cf. Mk I0:29-30). - Pope John Paul II, Homily at the Closing of World Youth Day 2000
Some young adults were influenced at WYD by meeting a particular priest or by the catechesis workshops during which the Church’s teachers, namely, bishops and Cardinals explain the faith to those present. Other lives were changed after participating in the Sacraments. Eucharistic Adoration is made available in numerous churches. The Sacrament of Penance is probably the most surprising aspect of WYD; this sacrament largely abandoned by their elders has been attended by literally tens of thousands of young people while attending WYD.
Greater emphasis is now being placed on promoting vocations as testified by the Vocations Exposition held in Sydney during WYD. Some young people don’t know what precisely inspired them to dedicate themselves to God as a priest or religious; they simply say that as a result of WYD they felt the urge to do more with their lives whilst others affirmed that God was not only calling them to conversion but also to lead others as priests and religious. “Anyone who has discovered Christ must lead others to Him”. (Pope Benedict WYD Cologne 21st August 2005).
The Holy Father has declared that “Go and make disciples of all nations” is to be the theme of the next World Youth Day celebrations which will take place in RKrakow, Poland, in 2016.