WYD Day Three Guest Bloggers: Youth roundtable

(Below) Youth from the Diocese of Colorado Springs pose with their group translators on the bank of the Chonggyechon River (top photo) in downtown Seoul, South Korea, on July 11. The river had been paved over in the early 1960s during the Korean War and was restored three years ago. (Herald photos by Bill Howard)

I passed around the laptop to our pilgrim group as we wrapped up our three-day immersion experience in Seoul, South Korea. Here are some folks who want to say hello and paint a picture of Seoul for you:


Adam Bull (age 11), St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish, Colorado Springs
I am on my first pilgrimage and I discovered Seoul was hot!

Carin Kusman, Our Lady of the Pines Parish, Colorado Springs
Seoul, Korea may have been hot and humid as we walked about the city and visited many shops, but it is a place where the Catholic Koreans are very proud of their faith. Today we had the chance to visit the Andrew Kim Shrine where we learned about the persecution of the Catholic Church and how important the Catholic faith is to the Korean people. It was amazing to see the amount of pilgrims who visit the Shrine and see the relics of the maryters. What an amazing and once in a life time event.

Alena Laput, Ss. Cyril and Methodius College Catholic Community (Univ. of Colorado-Colorado Springs)
Although the weather was uncomfortable, the young tour guides gave us energy, and an amazing look into the city in which they live.

Lauren Jones, Corpus Christi Parish, Colorado Springs
Seoul was pretty nifty. The tour guides were amazingly amazing!!! It was humid and hot but totally worth it!!! It was a great addition to the whole world youth day experance. YAY SEOUL!!!!

Hannah Heckman Ss. Cyril and Methodius College Catholic Community
Seoul was a wonderful chance to experience a culture very different from our own, but in a way that made it comfortable and fun. We walked around the city with 4 teenagers from Seoul who talked to us about their favorite movies, favorite foods and even their religions. One of the teenagers, Ashely, was Catholic—she came to an English Mass over which Bishop Sheridan presided and it was interesting to talk to her and find out what was different between the American order and the Korean order. When we went to the Shrine of the Holy Martyrs of Korea, it was especially poignant for me having made friends with Ashley and realizing that she was Catholic because of these brave men and women who suffered to allow Catholicism to survive in Korea.

Ana Carriedo, Ss. Cyril and Methodius College Catholic Community
Seoul was a fantastic opportunity to learn about Korean culture, both in Catholicism and Koreans in general. They were all so welcoming! I think the best part was going to Mass and sharing the Eucharist with people of another culture, but who shared the same faith. It was so wonderful to praise God together!

Viktoria Klassen, Ss Cyril and Methodius College Catholic Community
Being in Seoul was a fascinating experience. It was wonderful to see the Catholic faith alive and well, even across the world. The Korean people were very hospitable to us and I pray to visit them all again… even through all the heat and humidity!