Gillian Girodat

I am a World Youth Day groupie. It’s true!

My first WYD was in Rome in 2000. Before then, I had never heard of the grand-scale Catholic event that brought together youth from around the world for a weeklong celebration. But from the moment I saw Pope John Paul II drive by in his popemobile and heard one million young people scream, I was addicted. When WYD came to Toronto, I wanted to help pilgrims have the same emotional, spiritual, fantastical experience I had in Rome. I joined the national organizing staff and delved into welcoming 400,000 young people in Toronto. Then came a smaller-scale WYD among Italian pilgrims in 2004 and I prayed outside the Vatican.

After that – off to Cologne! By 2005, I was working as a producer with Salt + Light Television, and I jumped on the opportunity to experience WYD again, this time with a camera crew and the mission to bring the event home for Canadians to enjoy on their television screens.

The experience was amazing (as always). Pope Benedict XVI was host in Germany, bringing together two big events – his first return visit to his home country since beginning his papacy, and the first WYD without its founder, Pope John Paul II. But young pilgrims responded in the same way – with enthusiasm, with renewed vigour for their faith, with commitment to the church, and, always, with loud cheers.

It Rocks brings that same experience into your living room. By following four young Canadians to Cologne – meet Jeremy, Tal, Ben, and Danielle – the documentary captures the loudness, brightness, and richness of the week among thousands of young Catholics.

And by the end, you, too, will be a WYD groupie.

Gillian Girodat

GILLIAN GIRODAT’S BIOGRAPHY

Gillian, a proud native of Shaunavon, Saskatchewan, has produced a variety of television programs in the two years she has been part of the Salt + Light Television team, including Youth Speak News: Made for TV and Catholic Focus. Formerly a reporter with The Catholic Register newspaper, Gillian animates her television productions with creativity and insight.

In August 2005, Gillian coordinated Salt + Light Television’s overseas coverage of World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany, capturing the power and enthusiasm of this magnificent global youth event for Canadians back home. Along with the S+L crew, she followed four young Canadians as they experienced World Youth Day in their own unique way. The resulting production will open the eyes of young people to the truth and excitement of faith. Rock on.

GILLIAN GIRODAT’S FILMOGRAPHY

Salt+Light TV Series
• Reporter, Salt and Light Magazine (2004)
• Reporter, Salt and Light Catholic News (2005)
• Producer, Youth Speak News: Made for TV (2004-2005)
• Segment Producer, Catholic Focus (2005)

Salt+Light TV Documentaries
• Producer, The Church and Young People (2004)
• Producer, Messages of the Holy Father to the Youth of the World (2004)
• Director, It Rocks (2005)