(Aug 22, 2023)
Daisy Dominguez is a “youth activist” who grew up in Long Beach, where she enjoys family activities with her parents and 2 sisters and a brother. She works as a care associate at a cancer center in Long Beach, and helps to educate poor families in the community on how to save money. She has weekly church Bible study, teaches teens on Confirmation studies, and sings at 5:30 PM Mass on Sundays.
 
Daisy attended World Youth Day (WYD), an inspiring Catholic religious retreat Aug 1-6 in Lisbon, Portugal. She could never afford to go to big religious retreats previously, but this year she managed to raise $500 in March for her registration by selling cookies and coffee (in the rain!). She showed us many photos of her experiences there.
 
World Youth Day is a week-long Catholic gathering of young people from all over the world to promote ethical values and charity. It was founded by Pope John Paul II in Rome in 1986, and is repeated every several years in different host countries. The last one was in Panama in 2019, and the next one is planned for South Korea in 2027. Before each gathering begins, these young people are integrated into nearby dioceses in the host country to become better acquainted with the region’s culture, some of them staying in local family homes.
 
World Youth Day is organized to challenge the youth to reflect on the themes of Integral Ecology, Social Friendship, and Mercy. Events were organized in the areas of Music, Cinema, Exhibitions, Theatre, Dance, Conferences and Religious Events. An outdoor Mass was celebrated by Pope Francis to end the gathering.