Ouzo Darlington Obinna

I joined the World Youth Day to have a one-of-a- kind opportunity to interact with young people from all over the world and to meet Pope Francis. I believe that God works powerfully through pilgrimages so I hope it will open my heart and inspire me, motivate the Japanese Catholic community, and give encouragement to many Catholic organizations in Africa. After returning, I hope to share my experience and become an instrument in spreading the Gospel.

Saki Kuwata (Leader)

Hanako Iwasaki

I thank God for his guidance and the love of everyone helping us prepare for WYD. With Christ as our center, I am looking forward to having cultural exchanges with people from different backgrounds and especially to building relationships with them. As I am a Sunday School leader and aspire to become a teacher in the future, I would like to make use of this series of experiences not only as a source of nourishment to deepen my own faith but also to pass them on to the next generation.

Yukino Hikita (Public Relations)

Valerie Aurelia (Public Relations)

Hello! I am from Indonesia. I am currently a fourth-year student doing the typical Japanese Job Hunting. Thanks to your prayers and support, I got the chance to participate in the WYD in spite of being in my final year. At school, I aspire to be a UI/UX Designer, but at church, I like to contribute my passion and hobbies in many areas. I help in the English Center doing the layout of the English Bulletin, singing in the Masses, etc. I am looking forward to building connections with many Catholics from all around the world. When I come back, I will try my best to share the things I learned and will try to encourage more international and intercultural exchanges in our church.

Waka Murayama (Vice President)

Aiko Oka

I am a third-year university student and a Sunday school leader. I am very grateful for this precious opportunity. I have attended Sunday school since I was a child. It is an important place for me. It has always warmly welcomed me. Recently, the number of children in churches has been declining, and the number who come to the church school has been decreasing. I hope that in this WYD, I will be able to gain a broader perspective than one can get just by attending a church in Japan. Through exchanges with many friends, I will have an opportunity to think about my own faith and what kind of person I should strive to be. I want to make the most of these experiences and contribute even in a little way to the Sunday school that has helped me so much in the past. I want to create an environment where children can say “I want to come back to Sunday School again!”
 

Masato Uruno (Treasurer)

Ayano Yamazawa

Nguyen Chi Lin (Public Relations)

Kiyoto Kaya

I am very honored to represent St. Ignatius Church in the WYD. I have been longing to join it since I was in Junior High School, and I am very happy now that I am finally able to go. On this pilgrimage, I am grateful for your support. I hope to grow in my faith and do my best to bring to all of you the “souvenirs” of blessings and realizations I will receive. Also, Lisbon, the venue where the event will take place, is the port from which St. Francis Xavier set out on his mission to bring Christianity to many places like Japan. I think that place is deeply connected to us Japanese people. I am looking forward to knowing how it feels to stand there.
 

Haruno Yamazawa

I want to reflect about Christianity itself and my own faith. In the past few years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I have had fewer opportunities to go to church and I have more questions about my faith. I hope that by interacting with people from different countries who share the same faith will lead me to answer my questions. I am very anxious but also hopeful, since I believe there will be many new and unexpected experiences. I want to accept each one as a grace and use it in my future life of faith.

Rei Villarosa

I’ve been a member of the SIIYM since I came to Tokyo three years ago. Serving in the church for almost my entire life—from elementary to university graduation— attending the WYD has always been one of my dreams and aspirations. This time, through MAGIS, I feel even more blessed to deepen my relationship with God through Ignatian Spirituality. Being with fellow youth who come from different backgrounds and cultures, and sharing stories with other people, will make me appreciate life even more. I strongly believe that the various sessions and spiritual events will significantly strengthen my spiritual life and will ignite that zeal to serve God more in the Church and through the various people I encounter wherever I may be.
 

Lyn Tomagan

“Hi!” I’m from the Philippines. Throughout I my childhood and teens, my mother has always inspired me to attend church, serve and do volunteer work in various ministries. Now that I am in Japan and a member of SIIYM, I continue to explore the possibilities of serving Christ even more in various capacities. Why did I join the WYD? It has always been my dream to explore other places, meet my brothers and sisters in the faith, share my story with them, and pray with them back-to- back. Furthermore, I want to know better my mission in life and how I can serve God with all that I have and all that I can do. “Muito Obrigada!” and God bless us all!