‘Catholic Olympics’ beckons local tradesperson
WATERLOO REGION — After working all day, Paul Sabina, 24, goes to evening mass.
“It’s awesome,’’ said the Kitchener electrician.
“Growing up, I just did what everybody else did,’’ said the St. Mary’s High School graduate who went to church occasionally with his family. “I didn’t care too much for religion.’’
But for the past six months, Sabina has been on what he calls a journey that is leading him to God.
Sabina said he began to look closer at his faith when he was in a serious relationship with a woman of Protestant faith. In his attempt to learn more about her faith, he became enthralled with his own.
And this summer, his journey will take him to Madrid, Spain, for World Youth Day 2011. Joining him is Terese Miller of Cambridge.
“It’s like the Catholic Olympics,’’ said Sabina. “This is an invitation from the Pope and I will be with the successor of Peter.’’
World Youth Day started in 1986 by the late Pope John Paul. The first event was held in Rome and has since been held in at least 10 different countries about every three years.
This year, the seven-day event, which usually attracts youth from 18 to 24 years, will be held in Madrid, Spain, from Aug. 15 to 21.
For Miller, World Youth Day is a mission for Christ.
“I believe in divine providence and that everything happens for a reason,’’ she said.
When she heard the event was slated for Spain, she knew she had to go. Miller, who has lived in Spain working as an au pair, wanted to return.
“It’s not just a trip for me. What can I do for others, how can I help Spain change, how can I change me and them for the better,’’ she said.
Miller hopes to do missionary work in the future and work in an orphanage in the Ukraine.
Miller was born and raised as a Catholic in a family of 11 in Mitchell. She’s always been loyal to her faith and remains fervent about her religion.
“I get challenged every day because I’m surrounded by secular people,’’ said Miller, an early childhood educator.
“I show my religion and that I believe in God. I get told that that’s weird,’’ she said. “But that’s OK. Jesus died on the cross for me and I’m doing this for the one I love.’’
Rev. Paul Nicholson, a priest at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Kinkora near Stratford and another parish in Mitchell, will take about 80 youth, primarily from Ontario, to Spain this summer.
It’s his seventh World Youth Day. Nicholson was 22 on his first World Youth Day in 1993 in Denver, Colo. In 2002, World Youth Day was held in Toronto.
For Nicholson, who never attended Catholic school, World Youth Day was an opportunity to be with other youths who were enthusiastic about the Catholic faith.
“I never felt mistreated in public school, but I felt alone in my beliefs,’’ he said.
For the youth in his group, the day will begin with early morning mass at 7 a.m. by Nicholson, followed by teachings by bishops and cardinals. The afternoon will be free for youth to explore the historic city of Madrid and meet other youth from around the world.
When Pope Benedict XVI arrives, a massive rally will be held. The day before the final papal mass on Sunday, a live Stations of the Cross will be held on the streets of Madrid.
Nicholson said the massive event allows young people to network with other Catholic youth who have similar views as well as clarifying their vision of their roles in their faith.
The youths’ names are brought to Nicholson’s attention through parish priests or by friends.
For Nicholson, organizing a group of 80 youth is cumbersome, and involves organizing airline tickets, hotel accommodations and activities once there. Each youth must pay $4,000 for the trip.
Nicholson has known Miller since she was a child in a Mitchell parish. He met Sabina about six months ago at an Opus Dei dinner in Kitchener.
Nicholson said Miller and Sabina will likely grow in different ways by attending World Youth Day.
“This is going to be an opportunity to fill out the picture for him so that his ideas become clear,’’ said Nicholson of Sabina.
“Terese is strong in her faith already. This will give her an opportunity to share herself with others,’’ he said. “She is fluent in Spanish. She will be a great resource for us.’’
To help youth financially attend World Youth Day, a fundraising banquet is being held Saturday, March 19 at the Croatian Roman Catholic Holy Family Parish Hall on Schweitzer Street in Kitchener. Tickets are $50 each and $5 for a luxury raffle. Tickets for the event can be purchased by calling Nicholson at 519-504-0876 or frpauln@gmail.com
http://www.therecord.com/living/faith/article/500825--catholic-olympics-beckons-local-tradesperson
“It’s awesome,’’ said the Kitchener electrician.
“Growing up, I just did what everybody else did,’’ said the St. Mary’s High School graduate who went to church occasionally with his family. “I didn’t care too much for religion.’’
But for the past six months, Sabina has been on what he calls a journey that is leading him to God.
Sabina said he began to look closer at his faith when he was in a serious relationship with a woman of Protestant faith. In his attempt to learn more about her faith, he became enthralled with his own.
And this summer, his journey will take him to Madrid, Spain, for World Youth Day 2011. Joining him is Terese Miller of Cambridge.
“It’s like the Catholic Olympics,’’ said Sabina. “This is an invitation from the Pope and I will be with the successor of Peter.’’
World Youth Day started in 1986 by the late Pope John Paul. The first event was held in Rome and has since been held in at least 10 different countries about every three years.
This year, the seven-day event, which usually attracts youth from 18 to 24 years, will be held in Madrid, Spain, from Aug. 15 to 21.
For Miller, World Youth Day is a mission for Christ.
“I believe in divine providence and that everything happens for a reason,’’ she said.
When she heard the event was slated for Spain, she knew she had to go. Miller, who has lived in Spain working as an au pair, wanted to return.
“It’s not just a trip for me. What can I do for others, how can I help Spain change, how can I change me and them for the better,’’ she said.
Miller hopes to do missionary work in the future and work in an orphanage in the Ukraine.
Miller was born and raised as a Catholic in a family of 11 in Mitchell. She’s always been loyal to her faith and remains fervent about her religion.
“I get challenged every day because I’m surrounded by secular people,’’ said Miller, an early childhood educator.
“I show my religion and that I believe in God. I get told that that’s weird,’’ she said. “But that’s OK. Jesus died on the cross for me and I’m doing this for the one I love.’’
Rev. Paul Nicholson, a priest at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Kinkora near Stratford and another parish in Mitchell, will take about 80 youth, primarily from Ontario, to Spain this summer.
It’s his seventh World Youth Day. Nicholson was 22 on his first World Youth Day in 1993 in Denver, Colo. In 2002, World Youth Day was held in Toronto.
For Nicholson, who never attended Catholic school, World Youth Day was an opportunity to be with other youths who were enthusiastic about the Catholic faith.
“I never felt mistreated in public school, but I felt alone in my beliefs,’’ he said.
For the youth in his group, the day will begin with early morning mass at 7 a.m. by Nicholson, followed by teachings by bishops and cardinals. The afternoon will be free for youth to explore the historic city of Madrid and meet other youth from around the world.
When Pope Benedict XVI arrives, a massive rally will be held. The day before the final papal mass on Sunday, a live Stations of the Cross will be held on the streets of Madrid.
Nicholson said the massive event allows young people to network with other Catholic youth who have similar views as well as clarifying their vision of their roles in their faith.
The youths’ names are brought to Nicholson’s attention through parish priests or by friends.
For Nicholson, organizing a group of 80 youth is cumbersome, and involves organizing airline tickets, hotel accommodations and activities once there. Each youth must pay $4,000 for the trip.
Nicholson has known Miller since she was a child in a Mitchell parish. He met Sabina about six months ago at an Opus Dei dinner in Kitchener.
Nicholson said Miller and Sabina will likely grow in different ways by attending World Youth Day.
“This is going to be an opportunity to fill out the picture for him so that his ideas become clear,’’ said Nicholson of Sabina.
“Terese is strong in her faith already. This will give her an opportunity to share herself with others,’’ he said. “She is fluent in Spanish. She will be a great resource for us.’’
To help youth financially attend World Youth Day, a fundraising banquet is being held Saturday, March 19 at the Croatian Roman Catholic Holy Family Parish Hall on Schweitzer Street in Kitchener. Tickets are $50 each and $5 for a luxury raffle. Tickets for the event can be purchased by calling Nicholson at 519-504-0876 or frpauln@gmail.com
http://www.therecord.com/living/faith/article/500825--catholic-olympics-beckons-local-tradesperson
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