As a member of the Jakobsberg parish youth ministry, how did you become involved in youth ministry?
After confirmation, I stopped going to Mass often. I came back to the Church when I was 21 years old (2013). I found my community in the charismatic group. The parish priest of that time asked me if I could read the readings during Mass and a few months later, he asked me if I could prepare the first communion group with a religious Sister for two years. Now I have been a catechist since 2014. When I had the first communion group, I felt that I wanted to do more for the kids, and we started to organize activities for kids.
What makes you joyful and happy as the catechist to young people?
I love to see them grow in their faith, to ask questions, to see them have fun in the church and to see that they feel that the church is also their home.
Some memorable moments of your two years of commitment with the Sweden Catholic youth at the national level?
During this time, one of my goals was to introduce adoration with worship. I invited a lot of different priests during our camps so they could build a relationship with them and so they could feel comfortable going to confession.
One of my best memories is the Nordiska Ungdomsdagarna. We had a camp for youth from Sweden, Norway and Denmark (500 youths). The Holy Spirit touched so many youths! You can see a part of the camp here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4H0-GfkOYM&t=2105s
I invited Father Damir, SDB, and the music band from Croatia 'Božja pobjeda'. After this camp, I started the "Kom till mig" (Come to me) Adoration with worship once a month in different parishes in Stockholm. I asked the youth group from the parish to help me with games and snacks.
What do you treasure most from the encounters with Pope Francis during his visit in Sweden?
I never thought that I would meet him. And I had the blessing to meet him twice. It was a big blessing to meet him both times and represent the Swedish youth during his visit in 2016. We didn’t speak so much; I only had time to greet him.
What are the main challenges of the Sweden Catholic youth?
- Hmm….that the parents don´t pray with the kids at home and they think that it´s enough just leaving them to have catechism.
- We are few Catholics in this country (1%). Sometimes they are the only Catholics in their class and they don’t always have the courage to show their faith to their friends.
- In school, they teach them the contrary of what we teach them in church (sex, LGBT, you can do what you what and everything else doesn’t matter)
Your dreams about Salesians of Don Bosco in Sweden?
My biggest dream is to have an Oratory, to have a worship team with youth. That all the kids and youth feel at home in the church. To see how confirmands can remain in the Church by finding their place for example as a minister, senior lecturer, a choir member, a leader.
