A Young Seminarian Travels to World Youth Day

This past Sunday kicked off the start of the Diocese of Harrisburg's WYD pilgrimage to Madrid, Spain!  After the beautiful Mass with our bishop and a rosary walk to the New Cumberland Borough Park, we pilgrims and our families enjoyed a refreshing lunch together and had a chance to meet our fellow pilgrims.  I was able to meet and chat with a mother and son duo who are eagerly waiting for the events of WYD to begin.
Bennett Smith and his mom Noelle Smith are parishioners of Good Shepherd parish in Camphill.  Also I was happy to hear that Bennett is studying to be a priest for our diocese and will enter his second year in college seminary this Fall.  I learned that this will be Bennett's first time traveling out of the country as well as his first WYD pilgrimage.  Surely this is going to be a new experience for him and many of us pilgrims, so I was wondering what made him decide to attend this World Youth Day.  He'd heard about it before and that it was always an exciting event.  But Bennett told me "I think it was something that I just said 'I'm gonna do it' and felt it was time."
Noelle won't be traveling to WYD but is still very happy for her son.  "The opportunity to visit all of those places is just as exciting for me as it is for him."  Bennett's mom told me she followed the blog for the last WYD in Australia and will be doing the same this year.  She not only wants to check up on what Bennett is doing each day but also hopes to see the places he's visiting with the group.
I found it beautiful when Noelle shared with me that it will be very special to Bennett's grandfather, who has a strong devotion to the Blessed Mother, when his grandson visits the Grotto of Lourdes.  I could see that Bennett's family is greatly supporting him on this pilgrimage.
I shared the Smith's excitement when I heard Bennett will have the opportunity to attend a special Mass with the pope when in Spain.  He will join many other seminarians from all over the world during this Mass.  What a blessing!  Bennett explained that he usually only gets to see a handful of seminarians in the diocese and seminary, and it's sometimes difficult to realize that there are many seminarians around the world.  So he's hoping this Mass will help him to see how much support he has from the Church and his brother seminarians.  He's also excited to meet up with his seminarian friends from other dioceses.
I was so glad to have talked with Bennett and his mom and to see their perspective on this pilgrimage.  Bennett realizes that traveling to another country with thousands of youth is going to be an eye-opening experience.  In answer to what he hopes to gain from this WYD, Bennett said "I really hope it will help me grow in my prayer and my relationship with God once I'm there."  Let us pray for Bennett, his family, and all seminarians, especially those attending World Youth Day that they will follow the vocation God has for them!