FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. SHOULD I REGISTER AS A VOLUNTEER OR A PARTICIPANT? WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?
Participant: Ages 16 - 30 years old. Will participate in all weekend activities.
Volunteer: Anyone younger (less than 16) or older (over 30). Will help with designated tasks assigned by planning committee.
2. WILL THERE BE A DANCE AT MLADIFEST?
There won't be a dance in the sense that you may be used to at other Croatian festivals and gatherings. But, there will surely be a lot of fun, fellowship and opportunities for dancing.
PS. There was plenty of dancing and socializing at the inaugural “Mladifest 2013”
3. CAN MY FRIEND COME WHO IS NOT CROATIAN?
If you have a friend who wants to come along with you who is not Croatian they are more than welcome to join us. The speakers will be making their addresses primarily in English, while the liturgy will be mostly in Croatian. Have your friend register in the same way and through the same parish as you!
4. CAN MY FRIEND COME WHO IS NOT CATHOLIC?
Remember, this is a Catholic gathering but, if someone has interest in the Catholic faith they will not be turned away. Please make sure that they are aware that this is a Catholic gathering, and that they must be prepared to take part in activities and discussions just like everyone else.
5. CAN I PARTICIPATE IF I AM YOUNGER THAN 16 OR OLDER THAN 30?
If you are younger than 16 or older than 30, you can register as a volunteer. A volunteer can be anyone younger (less than 16) or older (over 30). Please note that the Mladifest host may have a limited amount of volunteer positions. If the Mladifest host decides to close volunteer registrations they will contact you.
Your time will come if you are not yet 16! If you are over 30, be sure to speak to your Parish and/or Priest to organize something for you!
By registering as a volunteer, you will be given tasks to help make the weekend run smoothly.
6. DO I HAVE TO BE THERE DURING THE ENTIRE WEEKEND?
Although nobody is forcing you to stay the entire weekend, we highly encourage you to stay. In this condensed time the participants will bond and experience a lot of things together and while nobody can stop you, you might feel kind of silly just parachuting in the middle of it.
7. CAN I STAY AT A HOTEL RATHER THAN WITH A HOST FAMILY?
One of the purposes of this event is to build bridges within our Croatian community across the continent. This is accomplished a lot better by getting to know and spend a little time with another family which is probably very similar to yours. The weekend’s activities will take place from morning till night, so all that is left to do at the host family is pretty much sleep. It might seem awkward at first but by the end of the weekend you will go back home feeling like you have another aunt, uncle and cousins. Everyone coming from outside of the host's areas, will be assigned to host families, if you insist on going to a hotel anyway; no one can really stop you. You’ll just be leaving your host family hanging and wondering why their home was not good enough.
If you do not wish to stay with a host family, please be sure to contact mladifestchicago@gmail.com and let them know!
8. WHAT IS THE PARTICIPANT FEE FOR?
The participant fee helps cover any expenses the host might incur. Each participant will also receive a Mladifest package including but not limited to, a bag, a t-shirt, program book and other Catholic goodies (like a guide to confession).
9. WILL THERE BE ALCOHOL?
This is a faith based event that seeks to gather young people around Jesus Christ. If you know someone who has taken part in similar international gatherings of Catholic youth such as World Youth Day or Međugorje’s Mladifest, they can confirm how that in itself is an amazing and exhilarating experience where chugging beers would be kind of out of place. With that being said, alcohol will not be served throughout the Mladifest weekend.
10. WHAT WILL WE DO THERE?
The weekend is full of activities ranging from icebreakers, group activities and games, Holy Mass, confession, adoration, guest speakers and more!
11. WHAT DO I HAVE TO BRING?
Food and lodging will be provided for you which leaves you to bring your personal belongings ( a change of clothes), a positive attitude, and an open heart.
There is no formal banquet, so no need bring your skimpy shirts or skimpy skirts.
12. WILL WE GO SIGHTSEEING?
The weekend program goes from Friday evening until Sunday afternoon. If you wish to go sightseeing, please make sure to make arrangements to come a few days early or leave a few days later. We will try to provide you with accommodations for those extra days but we can confirm that until about a month before the event.
If you are staying a few extra days please be sure to contact mladifestchicago@gmail.com to figure out an arrangement for you stay.
13. WHAT IF I CAN’T COMMIT BY THE EARLY-BIRD DEADLINE?
We urge you to register for the early bird deadline. By registering early, you help us better prepare for the weekend and are guaranteed a host family, Mladifest materials and goodies!
14. I’M OUTSIDE OF THE 16-30 AGE RANGE BUT I’M ACCOMPANYING A GROUP OF YOUTH COMING FROM AFAR. HOW SHOULD I REGISTER?
You should register as a volunteer. Send your volunteer registration form and $20 deposit* by mail to the specified address.
Make sure to let us know that you also require accommodation so that we may place you in a host family.
Please make sure that you keep a reasonable ratio of “chaperones” to participants.
If you are accompanying a group, please make sure
Participant: Ages 16 - 30 years old. Will participate in all weekend activities.
Volunteer: Anyone younger (less than 16) or older (over 30). Will help with designated tasks assigned by planning committee.
2. WILL THERE BE A DANCE AT MLADIFEST?
There won't be a dance in the sense that you may be used to at other Croatian festivals and gatherings. But, there will surely be a lot of fun, fellowship and opportunities for dancing.
PS. There was plenty of dancing and socializing at the inaugural “Mladifest 2013”
3. CAN MY FRIEND COME WHO IS NOT CROATIAN?
If you have a friend who wants to come along with you who is not Croatian they are more than welcome to join us. The speakers will be making their addresses primarily in English, while the liturgy will be mostly in Croatian. Have your friend register in the same way and through the same parish as you!
4. CAN MY FRIEND COME WHO IS NOT CATHOLIC?
Remember, this is a Catholic gathering but, if someone has interest in the Catholic faith they will not be turned away. Please make sure that they are aware that this is a Catholic gathering, and that they must be prepared to take part in activities and discussions just like everyone else.
5. CAN I PARTICIPATE IF I AM YOUNGER THAN 16 OR OLDER THAN 30?
If you are younger than 16 or older than 30, you can register as a volunteer. A volunteer can be anyone younger (less than 16) or older (over 30). Please note that the Mladifest host may have a limited amount of volunteer positions. If the Mladifest host decides to close volunteer registrations they will contact you.
Your time will come if you are not yet 16! If you are over 30, be sure to speak to your Parish and/or Priest to organize something for you!
By registering as a volunteer, you will be given tasks to help make the weekend run smoothly.
6. DO I HAVE TO BE THERE DURING THE ENTIRE WEEKEND?
Although nobody is forcing you to stay the entire weekend, we highly encourage you to stay. In this condensed time the participants will bond and experience a lot of things together and while nobody can stop you, you might feel kind of silly just parachuting in the middle of it.
7. CAN I STAY AT A HOTEL RATHER THAN WITH A HOST FAMILY?
One of the purposes of this event is to build bridges within our Croatian community across the continent. This is accomplished a lot better by getting to know and spend a little time with another family which is probably very similar to yours. The weekend’s activities will take place from morning till night, so all that is left to do at the host family is pretty much sleep. It might seem awkward at first but by the end of the weekend you will go back home feeling like you have another aunt, uncle and cousins. Everyone coming from outside of the host's areas, will be assigned to host families, if you insist on going to a hotel anyway; no one can really stop you. You’ll just be leaving your host family hanging and wondering why their home was not good enough.
If you do not wish to stay with a host family, please be sure to contact mladifestchicago@gmail.com and let them know!
8. WHAT IS THE PARTICIPANT FEE FOR?
The participant fee helps cover any expenses the host might incur. Each participant will also receive a Mladifest package including but not limited to, a bag, a t-shirt, program book and other Catholic goodies (like a guide to confession).
9. WILL THERE BE ALCOHOL?
This is a faith based event that seeks to gather young people around Jesus Christ. If you know someone who has taken part in similar international gatherings of Catholic youth such as World Youth Day or Međugorje’s Mladifest, they can confirm how that in itself is an amazing and exhilarating experience where chugging beers would be kind of out of place. With that being said, alcohol will not be served throughout the Mladifest weekend.
10. WHAT WILL WE DO THERE?
The weekend is full of activities ranging from icebreakers, group activities and games, Holy Mass, confession, adoration, guest speakers and more!
11. WHAT DO I HAVE TO BRING?
Food and lodging will be provided for you which leaves you to bring your personal belongings ( a change of clothes), a positive attitude, and an open heart.
There is no formal banquet, so no need bring your skimpy shirts or skimpy skirts.
12. WILL WE GO SIGHTSEEING?
The weekend program goes from Friday evening until Sunday afternoon. If you wish to go sightseeing, please make sure to make arrangements to come a few days early or leave a few days later. We will try to provide you with accommodations for those extra days but we can confirm that until about a month before the event.
If you are staying a few extra days please be sure to contact mladifestchicago@gmail.com to figure out an arrangement for you stay.
13. WHAT IF I CAN’T COMMIT BY THE EARLY-BIRD DEADLINE?
We urge you to register for the early bird deadline. By registering early, you help us better prepare for the weekend and are guaranteed a host family, Mladifest materials and goodies!
14. I’M OUTSIDE OF THE 16-30 AGE RANGE BUT I’M ACCOMPANYING A GROUP OF YOUTH COMING FROM AFAR. HOW SHOULD I REGISTER?
You should register as a volunteer. Send your volunteer registration form and $20 deposit* by mail to the specified address.
Make sure to let us know that you also require accommodation so that we may place you in a host family.
Please make sure that you keep a reasonable ratio of “chaperones” to participants.
If you are accompanying a group, please make sure