Young Life’s commitment to unity in diversity and bridge-building just reached new heights. In some parts of the world, bridges need to be built between socio-economic groups. In other places, the need is to bring healing to issues of racial tension. On the continent of Europe, the biggest need for unity is between Catholics and Protestants.
In late May, the staff and spouses from YL Europe joined with Mission Leaders and guests representing a group of over 200 pilgrims. For a week, people from nearly 20 European countries toured the Holy Land, following in the footsteps of Jesus, His family and His apostles. The journey began in the tightly-wound ancient city of old Jerusalem. The group descended the Mount of Olives and ascended the Via Dolorosa – trodding the very paths that Jesus took, carrying His cross to Calvary. We floated in the Dead Sea and looked into the Caves at Qumran. We sailed across the Sea of Galilee and traced Christ’s miraculous works through ancient Capernaum. With every turn and every detail, the mercy and grace of God was extended through the landscape, the history, the recollection of the stories, and the vividness of the setting.
Then, in a powerful movement of God’s grace, another element emerged. At YL “Club” each night, we heard from one of two European ministers. Rev Dr. Keith McCrory, a Protestant pastor from Northern Ireland, and Father Lukasz Szymanski, a Roman Catholic priest from Poland, took turns preparing us for the next day’s sites and leading us into deeper communion with Christ. Two men from two Christian traditions, overcoming centuries of division and strife to lead Young Life hand in hand through the Holy Land, was a living testament to Young Life’s priority of unity within the Body of Christ. Along with the shared teaching, the corporate prayer of the Stations of the Cross, walking Christ’s steps to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher brought more reflection and deeper unity among us.
But the biggest movement of the Holy Spirit was experienced in Nazareth. Together, with one voice, all two hundred-strong sang worship songs and prayed together as Fr. Lucasz celebrated Catholic Mass at the Basilica of the Annunciation. Not only was the setting dramatic, but the movement of God’s Spirit as Catholics and Protestants basked together in the Presence of God was awe-inspiring. For many, this was their first experience of the Mass. For others, this was their first experience of Mass in such a powerful Catholic setting. During small groups that night, pilgrim after pilgrim shared that the Mass was the highlight of their day, if not their trip. While the Mission Leadership set the direction and put the players in place, it was the Holy Spirit that took over and sparked the unity that Christ prayed for in John 17.
As the pilgrimage ended, conversations continued. There are about a dozen meaningful entry points for cooperation between YL and the Catholic Church that are ready for immediate follow-up. Beyond those venues, there are dozens more YL staff who are hungry and eager to learn more. Plans for partnership are being crafted, trying to keep pace with the unity that the Spirit is forging. The groundswell of unity is happening. The tsunami of partnership is coming. And at the center of it all are two elements that YL has always held most sacred – the love of Christ for every kid and every kid’s need to hear of His love for them.
*post written by Deacon Nathan Gunn, a 20-year veteran of Young Life who serves as Associate Director of YL-Catholic Relations for the Eastern States, and is a permanent deacon in the Roman Catholic Church.
