Fruits of the harvest

Here are some testimonies from some of the Ottawa pilgrims:

"The WYD pilgrimage has shown me that there is purpose in suffering; sometimes we suffer to love our neighbours, love God, or learn to better love ourselves. During these two weeks, we have given up food, sleep, shelter and our comfortable routines for the sake of the Kingdom of God."
-Alicia Cameron

"I expected the climax of our pilgrimage to be the closing vigil and Mass. Being denied entrance and later hearing stories from pilgrims who made it to these events was difficult until Archbishop Prendergast pointed out how the Lord allowed each of us to experience it in our own way for a reason. I realized that God wove our experiences
together into a common quilt so that we could learn things from one another that we couldn't on our own."
-Matthew Bisson

"As a Catholic, it is important for me to receive the eucharist. However, due to health reasons, I was unable to during the pilgrimage. I was deeply frustrated, but that frustration turned into prayer, which turned into a hunger and burning desire to receive Christ into my life and experience Him in a new way. It has given me a new appreciation for the Holy Sacrament."
-Serena Williamson

"The experience of WYD 2011 in Madrid gives me great hope for vocations to the priesthood. I have seen thousands of young men from around the world willing to give their lives for Christ by serving His Church. Many other young men have expressed interest in knowing more about the priesthood. I think that WYD really helps to encourage vocations. In fact, that is part of my journey to the priesthood. After WYD 2005 in Germany, I returned home excited about learning what steps I had to take to respond to God's call to be a priest in the Archdiocese of Ottawa."
-Matthew Keshwa, seminarian

"Pour moi, les JMJ ont été une occasion de rencontrer le visage joyeux, enthousiaste et plein d'espérance de l'Église à travers de beaux jeunes!"
-Dominique Nahas

"J'ai beaucoup aimé mon expérience des JMJ 2011, particulièrement les catéchèses données par les évêques à Madrid. Ils nous parlaient de l'amour du Christ étroitement lié à l'amour de l'Église et l'importance de vivre et de partager notre foi ensemble entre amis et avec ceux qui nous entourent, pour pour être affermis dans la foi. Je retourne au Canada avec une soif de témoignage et de partager avec d'autres cet amour que Dieu nous porte."
-Olga Andrianarijaona