Mary’s Meals at Mladifest
Martha MacFarlane-Barrow
For me, the annual Mladifest youth festival in Medjugorje is a glimpse into Heaven. To be surrounded by tens of thousands of young adults from around the world, all gathered in response to Our Blessed Mother’s invitation, brings a unique joy that I have not experienced elsewhere.
When we are gathered in this way, I feel I have a greater appreciation of the words ‘dear children’; the words that our loving Mother uses so fondly to greet us.
As Christians, we are called to love God with all of our hearts, and then when we are filled with His love, we may spread it to our brothers and sisters both near and far.
The Mary’s Meals Youth Ambassador Gathering – which takes place every year at the beginning of Mladifest in Medjugorje – is a place where you will meet many individuals who are authentically living out their faith in this way: surrendering themselves to God to be filled with His love and seeking opportunities to bless others in keeping with His will.
This year the Youth Ambassador Gathering will be held on Monday 4 August, with young adults who volunteer for Mary’s Meals coming together from around the world for an incredible day of listening to inspirational speakers, making friends, learning from each other and brainstorming exciting ways to reach the next hungry child. It is truly a joy-filled day. In the past we have heard from our founder Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, and last year we were blessed to be joined by Sr Medhin from Mary’s Meals’ partner in Ethiopia, Daughters of Charity Tigray.
Sr Medhin shared with us the incredible difficulties she and her team faced during and after the brutal regional conflict that raged in and around Tigray between November 2020 and November 2022. She spoke passionately about how Mary’s Meals was able to help in a time of devastation, supporting her team to provide essential meals for displaced families at a time when other organisations had no way of getting aid into the region. She continually mentioned how encouraging it was during that dark time to know that so many in the Mary’s Meals family were praying for her team and the people they were working hard to support. Now that schools have reopened, Mary’s Meals continues to work with Sr Medhin and her team to provide much-needed school meals to hundreds of thousands of children in areas of great need across Tigray. To listen to her story was a privilege for each one of us in the room.
This gathering marks the beginning of what always promises to be an exciting and hope-filled week for our Youth Ambassadors. Throughout Mladifest, volunteers raise awareness of our mission by running a stall where they greet hundreds of pilgrims every day. Many who come by the stall are perhaps hearing of Mary’s Meals for the first time and so it is an incredible opportunity to share our work. As well as the stall, we continue to welcome pilgrims at the permanent Information Centre in the centre of Medjugorje, as well as helping the street team to collect social media content. Our team is made up of a mix of those who have been coming to Mladifest for years and those who are there for the first time. Every year I am excited to be reunited with the friends I have already made, but also to make many new ones!
The word ‘simplicity’ has a place at the heart of Mary’s Meals, in its aim to provide a simple solution to world hunger – and of course this is made possible by making it simple for each one of us to get involved. In Medjugorje, I meet so many incredible young adults who were perhaps only exposed to the story of Mary’s Meals for a short period of time – maybe they read about it in a leaflet or watched a five-minute film – and this was enough for them to decide to get involved. They see that there are people in need and that there is a way for them to help, and so they say yes. To be around such individuals inspires me greatly and always leaves me feeling filled with hope.
Last year during Mladifest, I was able to interview Sr Medhin about both Mary’s Meals and her faith. She told us that “it is very difficult for me to be thinking of a Christian without action.” She then spoke of how Our Blessed Mother is the perfect example of one who chooses God above all and is able to love others so fully because of this choice.
Mary’s Meals gives us the opportunity to live out our faith in a very practical way. When you see the volunteers and youth ambassadors in Medjugorje, you see the Gospel in action.
By volunteering with Mary’s Meals and helping to spread the news of this work, you are sure to receive much more than you give. While sharing your time and your gifts you will in return receive opportunities to make a difference in the lives of others, enjoy fellowship and lifelong memories. And, most of all, a heart filled with hope.
Martha MacFarlane-Barrow is a 23 year old Youth Ambassador from Scotland. She works for the charity Generation Hope, an organisation born from the works of Mary’s Meals. Martha is currently volunteering at the Mary’s Meals Information Centre in Medjugorje.