We are HOME!!!

The Majority of our Pilgrims arrived home safely around 6pm on Wednesday night. The exceptions were those who made arrangements to stay in Europe for a few extra days and Fr. Jimmy Drennan and Albert Sanchez. Fr. Jimmy and Albert volunteered to stay a little longer in Cincinnati because our flight exceeded a weight limitation. Thank you both for volunteering so that the rest of us could get home to see our families. I know everyone greatly appreciates the sacrifice you made.

We would also like to thank everyone who supported us here at home. Whether your support was through prayer or a monetary donation, we would not have had this opportunity without you.

Another very special thank you must be given to the Offices of Archdiocese of San Antonio, Catholic Television of San Antonio (CTSA) and San Antonio Today’s Catholic. Without their assistance we could never have been able to share our Pilgrimage (through a Call In program on CTSA, configuration of the BLOG, and through pictures) with our families and friends back home. It is my understanding that Today’s Catholic will print more of the pictures we took in an upcoming issue and we are also working with CTSA on a program with some of our pilgrims to allow them to tell their stories.

Thank You All!

More pictures have been posted and can be viewed at: http://www.wydsa.com/gallery

All of us have truly been blessed because of the support you freely gave us. A simple thank you seems so small in comparison to what we have received. Please remember that our prayers were and are with you.

Oh, by the way, Sidney, Australia will be hosting the next World Youth Day in 2008 and I know some of our pilgrims are already making plans to attend. Fundraisers will be coming.

Our hope is that through this BLOG, CTSA’s Coverage, the articles published in Today’s Catholic, the pictures posted on our website and the testimony of our pilgrims more young people (18 to 35 “ish”) will join us for the next International Celebration of Catholic Faith or World Youth Day.

I’ll be there… Will You?

Marienfeld - We are Here!

Well, there is a great press tent here, so I can blog over today and tomorrow!
We left our simple living quarters at Grundschule Scheidter Strasse at 8:30 or so this morning - by bus! (Thank God we didn't have to take the trains - this is due to a generous matching grant from Valeron Energy Foundation! Thank you, Valero!)

Our bus driver dropped us off at about 9:30 and our walk to the Vigil/Mass site was just a little over 4 miles. The gates were not supposed to be opened till 11:00 but we got right in. Security is not as tight as one would have thought - in Toronto in 2002, all 1/2 million people had to go through metal detectors. Here - nothing. The most we've seen is that security has walked through seating areas checking for WYD tags, making people take down tents and moving large groups of folks who are sitting in the wrong areas. We've adopted a philosophy student from UT who just came from the C.S. Lewis workshop in Oxford, and they did let him stay with us.

We will need that extra body to guard our 39 pilgrims who will be on stage tonight with Benedict XVI! Just a bunch of old pilgrims left to guard their things. They must report back stage at 2:00 and they cannot leave till the vigil is over at 11:00 p.m. They are allowed to take one little bag with them - no eating, no drinking, no chewing gum (during the Vigil), no flash cameras (during the vigil), etc. BUT they will get to SIT on chairs while we more experienced pilgrims will be on the cold, and, let me add, wet ground! Yes, horrible rain yesterday and last night. Cloudy and damp with threatening clouds above us - but no dampened spirits! They are expecting hail tonight though! So, pray that the weather is good - cold is all right ( 57 tonight) but no rain!

We've got a great spot right along the road along which we THINK the Pope will drive - we expect to be trampled!

After an Australian cardinal made a premature annoucement earlier in the week, Benedict XVI announced yesterday to a group of young people who dined with him that Sydney will be the site of the next WYD in 2008. We might need 3 years to raise that much money! It will be in July - their winter.

Check the official WYD site - http://www.wjt2005.de/index.php?id=5&si=0 and you may see the web cam go by us! Also, new pictures are up so don't forget to go to www.wydsa.com to see those pictures. Matt Van Winkle got the site set up on a great server, and Michael Stevens has been the administrator.

I am seeing a little bit of sun peeking through the press tent, perhaps there is hope! (In fact, here they are calling Benedict, "The Pope of Hope" for the great ecumenical strides made here this week.

I'll come back to night and maybe early tomorrow morning to write a few more things!
Peace and good and prayers!

Guess who's in town?

Hey! Guess who we saw today? Go to the following link to find out: http://www.wydsa.com/gallery/

I cannot describe to you the emotion that's pulsing through Cologne right now. It was pretty intense before the Pope's arrival but has increased ten fold since he made his way down the Rhine and through the city yesterday afternoon.

The pictures we are posting give only a very small glimpse at what is happening throughout Cologne.

It is UNBELIEVEABLE and very difficult to describe. Needless to say, everyone is enjoying and soaking in the "World Youth Day Spirit." It is contagious.

On a side note: ALL of the comments you make on this site are being taken (or given if personal) to our pilgrims. Everyone enjoys hearing them.

Thank you for continuing to support us during our pilgrimage.

Michael

p.s. More pictures coming soon.

Pilger-Pilgrims on a journey

Dear Friends,
We are so exhausted, but it is the exhaustion that comes with joy!

This morning our group had its pilgrimage to the Cologne Cathedral. Bishop Zurek met part of our group and they came down to the Rhine and met the rest of us.

Bishop Zurek began our pilgrimage by telling us the significance of Pope Benedict XVI's coming to his own pilgrimage to the cathedral by boat yesterday: Cologne has long been a site of pilgrimage, both for the relics of the Magi kept in the Cathedral and for the wonderful wooden Pieta that was housed at a monastery in Marienfeld where we will have our vigil and Mass on Saturday and Sunday. Up to the 1600's or so, ALL pilgrims came up the Rhine since it was the only way to enter the city. We did not come up the Rhine along our way, but we did walk along its banks.

Each group had 4 stations (of their own choosing) for prayer and reflection. We began with a wonderful round of Magnificat Anima Mea Dominum and a prayed a decade of the rosary as we walked. At each station there was a scripture reading, a reflection from the writings of John Paul II, and a prayer. We sang a hymn at each stop and then prayed another decade of the rosary along the way. We meditated on The Nativity, The Descent of the Holy Spirt, The Institution of the Eucharist, and the Resurrection. Three of the stations had Eucharistic themes and one had a Marian Theme.

The pace of the pilgrimage was comfortable, but there was a bottle neck as we reached the doors of the cathedral. We went single file, mostly, and hung on to each other. Bishop Zurek shared much of the history of the cathedral with us - gleaned from the private tours the Bishops had of the Reliquary Room and the Treasury. This added a lot to the experience. Because the volunteers kept us moving, we did not get to really pray, but I did see many of our pilgrims leave their petitions they had brought from friends and family at home on a side altar.

I know that sounds prosaic, but the experience was overwhelming. We had a real sense of being a "people on a journey" - in the words of Cardinal Napier from our first day, we were intent on seeking the deeper meaning in and of our lives.

The pilgrimage took most of the morning and, after exiting the cathedral, we said goodbye to Bishop Zurek. We were very proud and happy to have him join us.

Another journey of 2 miles or so and we picked up our lunch and dinner for tonight - we ate as a group and then I headed off to the USCCB office with the young people who were to be interviewd by John Allen of the NCR. Unfortunately, he never showed up, so we took a nap on the carpeted floor, arose and went to see a wonderful photo exhibit on Twenty-four Hours in the Life of Catholic Germany. Wonderful pictures!

We are headed home for an early night - We leave at 8:00 tomorrow a.m. for Marienfeld. Our bus will drop us off at a pre-determined spot and we will then walk to our entrance gates. The actual pilgrimage will be 5 to 7 miles (what's that to a pilgrm!) and then we will wait with thousands of others until the gates open at 11:00 at which time we will pour in to fill up this huge space awaiting the night's vigil and Sunday's mass with great expectation.

It RAINED today and looks dreary for tomorrow and worse for Sunday, so we would appreciate any prayers you have to offer for us and the rest of the pilgrims. After being drenched in Toronto and standing all day in the mud, we would like to stay dry tomorrow night.

On Sunday, the bus will meet us about 1:00 p.m.; we will go back to Solingen, pick up our luggage, and then head to Amsterdam - you can imagine a bus full of sleeping pilgrims! The next day will be at our leisure in Amsterdam - many of us are going to Ann Frank's house, and then it is home on Tuesday morning! See you at supper time!!

As always, your intentions and those Archbishop Gomez for the archdiocese will be in our hearts. We are so proud of Archbishop's being named as one of the 25 most influential Hispanics in the country!

This may be the last blog! We'll see what we can find in Amsterdam!

LOOK FOR OUR PILGRIMS ON STAGE OR CLOSE TO THE POPE SOMEWHERE DURING THE VIGIL - THEIR BACKSTAGE PASSES WERE DELIVERED YESTERDAY!

Peace and all good!

St. Helena Pilgrims

We are here and having a great, very spiritual time. We are very sleep deprived, but trying to take every opportunity to share faith with someone we do not know. Joe has been a wonderful help whenever we need him. Matt has been the navigator, getting us to the bus, train and subway. Tiffany, what a trooper! Brittney is soaking up as much as she can and Dawn and Regina are rediscovering their Catholic roots with great appreciation. Francisco has met many people from other countries, as you have seen his pictures on CTSA. I am having a good experience at my 4th WYD and realize that people each time are the same, so devout and in love with God and the church.

Thank you all for your prayers and know you are in ours. God Bless You!

St. Mary's @ World Youth Day

WOW! What an amazing spectacle! The opportunities for learning are amazing. Already we have had to Catechesis sessions with Cardinal Napier of South Africa and Cardinal Stafford (former Archbishop of Denver) Penitentary(?) at the Vatican. Napier was incredible on Wednesday. He challenged us all to consider who we are and what God is asking of us. The urging of our true vocation should be our main focus. How will we change the world. Stafford asked us to be quiet. We should allow ourselves the opportunity to be still and listen for God's call. Although their comments were directed to the Young(er) Adults, the messages came through very clear to all gathered.

As mentioned before, the educational opportunities are great. Social, cultural, historical.. the list could go on forever. Our director of International Education should consider a collaborative effort with the Office for University Ministry...I'm not volunteering, but if a bed would be invloved I might strongly consider...

Okay, so the gym floor IS hard, but the showers are relatively warm. Food is edible and nutritous but not so sure if the rest of me likes it. No more before its too late..

Peace for now, you are all in my prayers. Tomorrow night I head to the International gathering for the Marianists. Our small group decided to forego the Popes arrival in Cologne. The trains are "slightly" overcrowded. So we are taking a break and saving energy for our Pilgrimage to the Cathedral in the morning.

Rey

Late Breaking Update!

All roads, footpaths, bridges, trains, busses are shut down! Benedict XVI has arrived and from what I see on TV, it is marvelous. Bishop Zurek will have had a birds eye view from his little boat! It is 4:04 p.m. here, the Pope is get on the boat in about 30 minutes. HOWEVER, a mishap has occurred - the WYD cross that John Paul II began sending around the world for WYD '87, has fallen and broken (right arm of the cross). It was to be at the front of the boat that he will be riding in! (I hear a lot sitting with REAL reporters!)

This morning's WYD paper had a picture of a crowd of German youth with a huge banner that read in German: "Mother, if you want to find me, I'm with the Pope!"
And, of course, I've collected "Wir Sind Papst" butons from the German pilgrims - that, as you remember was the headline in Germany after the election - "We are Pope" - a mistake made in the exuberance of the moment - the editorial staff meant to say, "Wir haben Papst!" - We have a Pope - but this has stuck!

NOW - John Allen of NCR (National Catholic Reporter) will interview a group of our kids for the USCCB tomorrow afternoon! Now - to get a pilgrim per group and get them to the same place at the same time! John Allen will call me to arrange a time and place - OHHHHHHHHH! This telephone bill! (Donations accepted!)

Two young people from UTSA have joined up with us - they came to Toronto last time as part of the group - Nathan Hernandez and Candace ? If their friends or family are watching this blog, they are doing well!

A Busy day!

Dear Friends,
It has really been hectic since we've been here! No time at all yesterday to reflect with you about the experience.

Wednesday - our first day of Catechesis - (German keyboard - excuse mistakes!) Our catechist was Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, OFM, Archbishop of Durban , South Africa, and head of the SA Bishop's conference. I was the "animator" - read, "facilitator" - my musician was Greg Walton from OCP. (go to the picture gallery at www.wydsa.com and see pictures of our group with him.)
1200 pilgrims in the beautiful church of St. Clemens. The first hour was "animation" as Greg and I tried to wake up a tired crowd. We sang, shared some questions I had prepared, sang some more and ended the first hour with prayer before I introduced the Cardinal - a gracious, lovely, humble man, who admitted he was frightened of teens! He needn't have been! He led them through the theme "Searching for meaning in my life" - he shared from his own experience and guided them through a beautiful catechesis of discernment. When he was finished, I asked the group to share answers in small groups to two questions: "What is the most important question you are asking yourself now?" "What is the question you SHOULD be asking yourself?" (Our pilgrims brought the answers to our meeting with Bishop Zurek in the afternoon.) The "buzz" was amazing!
Following that, the cardinal took questions, responses, reflections, and witnessing from the pilgrims. Mindy Shearrer from Jourdanton asked him a question: "During these times when there is so much negative in the press about the Church, how do young people stay proud of being Catholic?" He answered her question by saying that they should continue to do and be what they are now - evangelists of their own and supporters of each other.
After this very fast hour, he concelebrated Mass with the priests present. Fr. Carlos has been sick, but Fr. Jimmy heard confessions during the animation and concelebrated.
After that marvelous experience, we were off to eat - however, there was not enough food, so many waited 3 hours in line and got nothing. So pilgrims of every ilk shared what they had and there was enough - loaves and fishes multiplied by faith and generosity!

By that time it was VERY late and we needed to get to Cologne (we were in Solongen) for our 4:30 meeting with Bishop Zurek. Fr. Carlos got out of the krankenhouse and got there before us - about 20 of us made it at 4:45 and the rest followed. We met till about 6:30 - sharing many things - Bishop shared his response to the intial question asked them, "What motivated you to come to Cologne?" and then gave his own reflection of his own experience here and in Guatemala for the conference on Evangelization. It was good! Mañanitas and a "Kodak Moment" and we were off. The pilgrims to places unknown!

I had the opportunity to run into Bishop Gerry Barnes from San Bernardino (750 pilgrims from his diocese!) and the newly-retired Bishop Strailing from Reno. Bishop Gerry had not gotten his luggage yet (having arrived Monday). He was among those who were stranded in London with the striking airport workers. - 24+ hours in the airport - no food (caterers on strike) and no restrooms (janitorial services on strike!) He looked really good for all of that and was smiling!

Bishop Zurek took Fr. Carlos and me to supper right on the square across from the Cathedral. What a sight! Thousands of young pilgrims, praising, singing, sharing, exchanging gifts! While there, Archbishop Levada came by and Bishop introduced us.

Fr. Carlos took a little turn for the worse so we heade back to our schule in Solingen so that he could take some medicine and get to rest early. We arrived at the train station at 9:20 and the 45 minute trip took 3+ hours! The transit system here is overwhelmed and the crush is horrible - and not a little frightening! Trains were late and packed but we elbowed our way on to one and that 1 hour ride to the station in Solingen was horrible. But - WE ARE PILGRIMS NOT TOURISTS!
Everyone got in very late because of the transportation issues so there was no meeting nor group reflection. We'll try again tonight!

Catecheis this morning at St. Clemens was animated by Cooper Ray of the Diocesan Youth Office of Baton Rouge and Cardinal Stafford (Denver - now, Congregation for the Laity) was the catechist. His reflections were on Eucharist and Mary. There was no time to dialogue with him as the train system for Cologne was to be shut down at 2:00 for the Pope's arrival. I left before Mass to get here to do this - am trusting our able leaders got everyone on board and here. The main station in Cologne was closed due to massive crowds so we had to exit early and walk a few extra miles - what is that to a pilgrim!

Benedict arrives today - boards a boat near the Archbishop's residence and sails down the Rhine stopping at several points so that the pilgrims can see and greet him. He will be followed by 5 boats - one for each continent and on each - the bishops from that continent.

Tomorrow morning we have our pilgrimage to the Cologne Cathedral and Bishop Zurek will join us. (I will pass on all birthday wishes!)

We were so saddened and shocked by the murder of Frére Roger of Taize - the Taize songs that we are singing have taken on special meaning. Even at 90 he was still inspiring young people around the world.

Off to the Rhine! (Like I'll find a spot!!!! Wish I were on one of those boats!)
We continue to pray for all!

Cologne - WE ARE HERE!

Dear Friends,
Well, we are here! We left Braunfels early the morning of the 15th for the Diocesan See in Limburg. Gathered there were 15,000 pilgrims from all over the world who had been hosted by the families of the diocese.
There was much joy and laughter and exchanging of gifts and addresses. I was able to give Bishop Kamphaus a stole from our archdiocesan pilgrims that we had gotten him before we left home. His homily at Mass was a passionate plea for young people to celebrate their diversity and unity. He decried war and violence and said they must leave the world in a better and holier place than this generation is doing.
The Cathedral of St. George is an amazingly beautiful place - their most sacred relic is one of the True Cross and it was brought to the outdoor Mass site and we were blessed with it at the end of Mass. Of course, it rained, but that did not dampen the spirits of our pilgrims.
Today we will be attending the opening ceremonies in Düsseldorf. The hospitality of the German people has been so open and warm. If we even look like we have a question, some - old and young- will come up to us and ask how they can help - mostly now we need help traversing the transit systems.
Four of our pilgrims celebrated their birthdays while we were here - Christina Tapia, Charles Samuel, Jose Menchaca, and Regina Carmona . They have created exceptional birthday memories.
Our simple living accommodations are in a primary school - we are all on the gym floor. BUT we have enough showers - a first for us!
Tomorrow, Wednesdy, we begin our day with catechesis and we end it with meeting with Bishop Zurek at his hotel.
Keep us in prayer as we do you!

Braunfels

The WYD pilgrims have had an amazing weekend!
After our service at the Ecumenical Cathedral in Wetzlar, we had a tour of this ancient town and saw first hand the power of tradition and roots.
After a picnic in the park with 160 pilgrims from Czech Republic, we went back to Braunfels for a historical tour of the town and the CASTLE.
Following that we gathered in the park for a barbecue sausage cooked by the fire department and potluck salads brought by our host families. The parish youth ministry had various stations set up where the pilgrims could make beaded bracelets, necklaces, etc.; a place where they could pain a canvass that sybolized their parish group; go off to a cornern for prayer or quiet; or play soccer, etc.
Today we made a pilgrimage (4 miles in the RAIN- glad we practiced!) to the Kloster Kirche (Abbey Church) for Mass outside, hot potato soup, food and dance and visiting, and then a pilgrimage to the church to visit the grave of St. Gertrude, followed by a short prayer service and a blessing.
Handicapped children in the Diocese of Limburg made 15,000 wooden crosses for the pilgrims that came to the diocese!
Tomorrow, we go to Limburg for Mass and send off with Bishop Kamphaus, and then on to Solingen, St. Engelbert's parish, where we will be staying for WYD.
We've done two interviews - radio and newspaper - and some of our pilgrims appeared on the front page of the newspaper!
Please continue to pray for us and we will keep you close in prayer and though!

Days in the Diocese

We continue our stay in the area of Braunfels. Today we went to the town of Wetzlar. We had a beautiful eccumenical service at Dom Wetzlar (cathedral). It is a wonderful place where the Catholics and Protestants (Unierte, Lutherans, & Reformist) worship together in the same church. This practice is not very common in Germany but seems to work in Wetzlar for many decades. The two communities have found common values and goals as a way to work and live together. We were joined by two groups from Czech Republic and we prayed together in five languages. We began with Cat Stevens' version of Morning has broken. The day was full of walking, tours of two towns, the cathedral, the Braunfels castle and a German dinner provided by the Braunfels Fire Department. The Eccumenical Service this attended by many German church and state officials. The evening BBQ started with a greeting from the Mayor of Braunfels, an honorary Texan via the town of New Braunfels. He made warm remarks of New Braunfels and San Antonio. The people are all wonderful and have treated us with amazing hospitality.

The evening vespers were quite nice with songs in German, English and Latin. The bells chime at every prayer time. They resound for some time.

A bit too tired for reflection tonight.