The Youth Pasch 2003 (YP2003)

The first thing that comes to anyone's mind when you tell them that you went for Youth Pasch 2003,during the Easter Weekend they give you a look as if to say something is wrong with you, leaving your parents alone on Easter.  But hey, we came back on Easter Sunday morning!!!

So what is so special about the Youth Pasch, that it makes you leave everything and follow Jesus for at least those three days? At the very beginning let me say it is NOT a retreat but a wonderful weekend with The Lord Himself to whom those three main days (i.e. Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday) belong at Lonavla away from the hustle and bustle of city life. This experience not only changed the whole meaning of those three days for me but also made me feel that I was present when it happened. As I would like to put it extremely realistic. Today when I look back I feel it did make a difference to my life and a host of other youth who came there. I met people who were complete strangers and who were ready to hear me and be heard provided I opened my heart and mind to them. Sometimes even strangers see things in you that your close friends or relatives or even you haven't seen.

A few glimpses into what YP2003 is all about. Besides the serious group discussions we were involved in everything for the mass preparation right from liturgy to decoration to which hymns (the Don Bosco Trademark i.e. action songs) to be sung.

On Maundy Thursday we had an experience of the way the Jews used to prepare for the Passover by having a taste of the kind of bitter herbs and the unleavened bread they had. We even watched a movie based on the Exodus. Following the mass,
the night vigil on Maundy Thursday was very unique and meaningful.

On Good Friday we woke up to the very live news bulletin that Jesus of Nazareth was arrested and all the details and speculation till his crucifiction..During the day we watched Jesus of Nazareth a film by Zefferelli. Later in the afternoon we had a very unique Way of the Cross-.  And after the service in the night we all went through the sacrament of reconciliation followed by a lovely ceremony on Holy Saturday early morning.

On Holy Saturday we had a very tight schedule since we had to make the Easter mass preparations and hey even though I was exhausted I made it through the day and the next to come back to Mumbai, the city of noise and tension. Strangely enough it no longer affects me.

One must wonder why I keep using adjectives to describe the Youth Pasch 2003. But the more I say the less it is. You have to live it to believe it and no matter how descriptive I get you will never and I say never experience and understand what I say unless you go for it yourself. Preferable if you go alone i.e. without friends since it is a soul-searching process that begins with Youth Pasch and lasts for a lifetime.

Last but not the least thanks to the many friends who've made a difference to my life. Not forgetting Fr. Monty, Fr. Steve,
Brothers Bastin and Jacinto and Sr. Philo without whom Youth Pasch 2003 wouldn't be what it was, an AWESOME EXPERIENCE!!!! CHEERS!!!!



THE PICNIC-11/5/03

Well the picnic was a lot of fun with everybody looking forward to one more day of fun and relaxation i must thank fr. monty for the wonderful place like boscowadi very peaceful and quiet of course with us picnickers it was noise all the way.

For me it was one hell of a picnic since it was the first time i actually got completely wet in sea water yuck ;(    it may sound strange to some of u since i live near the sea, but i guess that's the real put off. But it still was fun. i only missed the high tide in the evening, too bad.

The lady who cooked for the her and us entire family were very kind may God bless them always. I bet the boys had more fun playing football with the rules than the girls did playing throwball without the rules but i must tell all the guys that shirley and velma are fun to play throwball with. real good fun ;)

really missed the guys who couldnt make it especially macoy and kleegan. Hope u two will be there for our next outing whenever that happens.
Take care

love
Sarika