I will be attending the Madrid WYD as a Catholic and a Malaysian. I realized that I will be a representative of Malaysia to all the Catholics in the world. More significantly is that I am coming from a country where we Catholics are a minority, similar to our brothers and sisters in Indonesia, Brunei, Vietnam, Middle East and many other countries.
Unlike Spain or Italy, or other western countries where Christianity is widely practiced, we come from countries where Christianity is often a small minority, facing oppression, discrimination and prosecution of various forms.
I have been blessed to join our fellow Catholics in worship in many countries, and it not only awes me to see how the Catholic minorities are able to practice their faith, but how much they cherish their faith. Despite being a minority, the strength and fervor of their faith is amazing. I've witness the beauty of worship in countries like Indonesia where faith transcends culture, tribes, race and language. It is truly the miracle of Christ at work.
We may be minorities in our own country, but we are all united in Christ, as One Body. And in Madrid, we will be a witness of our faith and the unity we have with each other as Catholics and as followers of Jesus.
Despite the challenges we may face in our home countries, we will share together with our brothers and sisters - not the challenges of being a Catholic, but the Joy and beauty of being a Catholic. That is what being a Catholic is all about, we are all part of the Universal Church, United in Christ regardless of color, race, religion, ethnicity, language, gender, political beliefs and orientation.
We are just His beloved children, whom He has called to him.
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