Recovery & Processing

No, I'm not going to start a dissertation on the Marshall Plan. The title does sum up how I am attempting to get through the 10th Youth Forum hosted by the Pontifical Council for the Laity and Holy Week.

I understand why the Council chose the week prior to Holy Week, Palm Sunday is World Youth Day. However, as a person employed in a parish, that is a rough time to be gone.

Despite it all, the forum was an incredible experience. I will be breaking it apart in the next several days. Here are a few snippets of information:

• 230 delegates
• 92 countries
• 33 international movements
• Some countries represented: Moldova, Croatia, Russia, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Israel, Uzbekistan, India, Indonesia, Palestinian Territories, Myanmar, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Madagascar, Zambia, Congo Brazzaville, Sudan, Rwanda, Australia, Ireland, Chad, Uruguay, El Salvador, and more.
• Our days began by 8 am and continued strong at least until dinner at 8 pm
• Cappuccino from machines in Italy will beat out 97% of US coffee house coffees, hands down
• Bran flakes no longer cut it, I want a croissant with that chocolate filling!

Tomorrow I'll start in on sharing some thoughts from the various sessions.