Tag Archives: holy father

Life during and after the Papal Visit 2010

18 Sep

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A year ago, this historical visit of the Pope to the UK changed my life quite dramatically.

Indeed 2010 had been quite a rubbish year for me: in the 8.8 earthquake in Chile I saw my home country in a state of emergency, including the anxiety of not knowing for a few hours whether my family and friends were dead or alive. A couple of months later, due to the economic crisis in this country, I faced redundancy and then came the trapped Chilean miners! I really felt that my life was moving…

However in September, as the Pope’s visit became a historical event for this country, for me this would mean a dream coming true and a change of direction in my life.

You see, when JP2 visited Chile I was 10 years old and I remember so clearly that I could only sit in front of the box as my parents deemed I was too young to be taken to the acts. This negation in 1987 became joyful enthusiasm in 2010 and so when Fr G announced that tickets were up for grabs in Church, I did not hesitate to sign up straight away.

So I attended the Hyde Park Vigil and Cofton Park Mass but I followed much of the visit from start to finish via the internet. It was right at the beginning with the Mass in Scotland that I realised that I was witnessing a once in a lifetime event.

As I followed the Papal visit on screen, what I enjoyed most was the atmosphere that was formed by the people in the events and also by the content of what the Pope said to all of us which I can only describe as spiritual food.

The meeting between the Pope and the young people outside Westminster Cathedral really touched my heart when he said: ‘after all, we were made for love.’

Also, I will never forget being part of the Hyde Park Vigil: the people, the atmosphere, the music were completely out of this world. The testimonies before the actual Vigil started were tremendously moving as well as the silence during adoration… and of course those very important words pronounced by the Pope himself: ‘come to Madrid for World Youth Day’.

Three hours sleep later, I was in a bus heading to Cofton Park with my parish. We had a dark drizzly start but as soon as the Pope arrived the clouds opened and the sun started to shine :-) . During the bus trip and waiting times, the Holy Spirit was stirring my heart and I truly felt that He was telling me: tell the young people in your parish about Madrid… come to Madrid.

And so in the bus back, Adelene and I cooked up a plan which would consist of talking in the following mass about our experiences during the papal visit and invite all to come to WYD and, on the way, try to start up a group for young people in our parish. Throughout the year this materialised in fundraising events for WYD in the parish, Youff mass every month and a lectio group with some of them at home.

Hard work and enthusiastic determination of proclaiming God and the young Church experienced in Hyde Park; these encapsulate for me this past year which of course had a high – very high – point during World Youth Day in Madrid. Planted and build up in Christ, firm in the faith indeed and a truly amazing, inspirational and spiritually gifted year of my life.

Paula

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Hyde Park Vigil 2010

18 Sep

Many of us who attended the Hyde Park Vigil during the Pope visit last year, heard and responded to the call to become pilgrims in World Youth Day Madrid 2011.

Here is a video, for you to re-live this historical moment in our country and in our lives.

 

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A Pilgrim’s Picture Tale by Janie Cameron

24 Aug

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On The Pope’s arrival to Plaza de Cibeles

24 Aug

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Sunday Morning – The Final Mass

23 Aug

On the morning of the final mass.

I woke at 5:00 AM. Could not sleep. I had too much information in my head and in my heart. Got up and decided to go for a stroll. There were still lots of people up but not as many as earlier and definitely the mood was calmer. There were lots of people sleeping. I headed for a place where my mobile could be charged – a new environmental enterprise, pedalling a bike for power to charge the phone. and so I did, I pedalled for 30 mins, the maximum that you are allowed. Well, the queue was far shorter than the previous night but still I was amazed by the Spaniards, as they were still up as if it was only midday.

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On my way back from pedalling the bike I met some Chileans and some Irish girls, we chatted for a while. The girls were in their late teens, belonged to Youth 2000 and told me a bit about the situation with the Church in Ireland. They told me that their generation is not as devoted because the faith stopped being passed to the younger generation. This faith which was normally passed by parents and schools was simply not happening… in addition to all the sorts of problems that we have heard about in the media (+ pray for Ireland!). We agreed with what the Pope said earlier and which is also written in his foreword letter  in Youcat: we young people need to make an effort, we ‘… need to be more deeply rooted in your faith than the generation of your parents…’

After going back to my group, I tried to get some sleep but I was quite cold. Slowly the sun started to rise and people started to wake up. The huge Tree in the stage was lit again and the loud speakers started to make some sounds.

As mass started, I think we all realised that we were at the beginning of the end. It was such a pleasure to be there with the Pope, the rest of the pilgrims from Portsmouth and indeed the world! I think we would have gladly frozen that moment of time forever.

Then came the Pope’s first words which were directed to every single one of us: ‘I have been thinking a lot about you during this time in which we have been separated. I hope you have been able to get some sleep in spite of the weather. I am sure that since dawn you have raised up your eyes more than once, and not only your eyes but above all your hearts, turning this occasion into prayer. God turns all things into good. With this confidence and trusting in the Lord who never abandons us, let us begin our Eucharistic celebration, full of enthusiasm and strong in our faith’.

The Homily, as it always does when it comes from the Holy Father, had a fantastic amount of depth. I would recommend it to be read and reflected on at home on your own as well as to be read in all masses and discussed amongst young people across the country – because it is mega inspirational.

Here is a link for the Catholic Church of England and Wales, the document is a PDF download:

World Youth Day Madrid, Final Mass

As the mass drew to a close and the next World Youth Day was announced to be in Rio de Janeiro in 2013 – good on the Brazilians to have scored a hattrick of major events – I had to say goodbye to my group and head to the airport as a late flight to London awaited me.

Dream accomplished, I thought. At the airport I found a few Catholic friends amongst the majority of pilgrims in the flight. It was good not be heading back alone. I also felt great comfort in starting to read my Youcat, which at the front says: ‘This book is a personal gift from the Holy Father’ – impossible not to continue with the encouraging Foreword and the rest of the book. Thank you Papa Benedicto for your loving guidance and see you in Rio in 2013!

Paula

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Agua! Agua!

23 Aug

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Portsmouth and the Elements

23 Aug

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The Vigil.

After and incredibly hot day the Vigil began and coincidentally so did the rain. From rain it soon became a storm. It was so strong that the Pope could not read his address to us and we got blown away and drenched.

Firstly our Holy Father was sheltered from he rain with a huge white umbrella and after a couple of attempts to re – start his specch, he paused and waited for the rain to stop.

In the meantime, the Portsmouth, together with the rest of the pilgrims could feel the rain pounding on hour backs, the wind was strong, battering the speaker towers and lightening flashed across the sky. The atmosphere amongst us pilgrims was that of fighters. Nothing, NOT even the rain would become and obstacle between the Vigil and us. We’ve come to be with our Pope,  to listen to his message and share with him a Vigil and mass and until we’ve done those we were staying put.

So we continued chanting: ‘Jesus’, ‘Benedicto’ and ‘esta es la juventud del Papa’ really loudly. Some of us even prayed to God and our Lady to intercede and stop this torrential storm.

As we looked at the big screen again, the Pope had his advisers around him – they were in deep discussion. Surely this  about a change in the content of the Homily, given the circumstances.

Once the weather settled a little, the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament began. Suddenly the loud chanting stopped and an immense silence took over us: we were, all of us, in front of our Lord. This was a moment that I particularly looked forward to after experiencing the Vigil at Hyde Park, how wonderful and precious it was.

After the Vigil finished, the Pope said that God has sent us a shower of blessings and that he was very proud of us and our strength and determination helped us through the rain. This same determination, he said, would help us through life. He was so lovely and caring.

After the Vigil had finished, we left our area and moved towards the front to get a better view of the altar. The stage was mounted on was big, in order to accommodate the large number of priests and bishops. The backdrop was created to look like drapes and once the coloured and once the light shone on it it looked truly spectacular. The tree, symbolised the theme for this World Youth Day, ‘Planted and Built up in Jesus Christ, firm in faith’.

We returned to our area and although it had stopped raining, much of the ground was still muddy. The sky was overcast so unfortunately we were not sleeping under the stars. There was enough room for all of us pilgrims to find somewhere to lay down and after a hot and rainy day, that is exactly what Portsmouth did.

Paula and Jonathan

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WYD East Anglia – Cuatro Vientos Part 2

21 Aug
Pope Benedict at the WYD final Mass

Pope Benedict at the WYD final Mass

Morning! Been awake an hour and a half now – was woken up by a phone call from Maggie, who wanted to come see our group! Then, as previously arranged, I had a phone call from Rob Dunger, which was broadcast on Radio Suffolk. Just need to put sun cream on now…

All sun creamed up. We’re now waiting for the Holy Father to arrive (again), who will celebrate the Closing Mass of WYD Madrid 2011. “Firmes en La Fe” is playing again – gotta love that hymn now! Everyone’s finally awake and there’s a buzz in the air – no, not the helicopters… I think the storm last night did everyone a favour – it cooled us down, allowed everyone to get much closer in their groups and we all had fun! It din’t rain after I went to sleep, or at least, I wasn’t wet when I woke up! Had a really good night’s sleep last night, which was amazing, considering I was literally in a sleeping bag, no roll mat, no air bed, no nothing, and I still slept well! It’s now getting really warm and it’s gonna get even hotter!

Our priests were up and about really early, as they needed to go and get ready to celebrate Mass with the Pope. They’re showing the thousands of priests on the big screen now and it’s a huge mass of white! Looks amazing! We have no sound again, but we’ll see what happens. Flags are flying and it looks like the King and Queen of Spain are here, walking along with a bishop. Not too sure who he is, but I’m sure it’s someone important.

Sounds like he’s here – just going to have a look. Yep, Mass has started! I would go to the Press Centre, but feel it’s more important to be with my group during the Concluding Mass. A Spanish Cardinal is speaking, apparently welcoming us to the final Mass of WYD. The Holy Father invites us to pray. He’s sprinkled holy water over himself and the rest of the ministers, clergy and other people that are close enough. The Glory to God is being sung – lovely version. The weather’s gorgeous now and it’s only 10am! The speaker allowed the Amen of the Glory to God to roll around for ages – it sounded really good!

First reading is from Isaiah. Of course it’s in Spanish,, but we have the English translation in our Magnificat. The Psalm is Psalm 138. Sounds much more complicated in Spanish! The cantor has a lovely voice – I’d be so scared if I was singing the Psalm during Mass with the Pope. It’s great how many people in our group can sing – just listening to people and I’d say that easily at least 50%, if not more, can really sing! Second reading’s from St Paul second letter to the Corinthians.

And now, the Gospel. The Acclamation is one we know very well! Everyone’s joining in. Found the English translation. “You are Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my church” from Matthew’s Gospel. The Holy Father’s about to give his homily. I love listening to the Holy Father  - there’s no mistaking his voice and he always talks directly to us, as opposed to at us, which is just lovely! Ooh, wow, an English bit! Asking us to remain silent and reflect on the Holy Father’s teaching and people are obliging again. It’s absolutely silent here, you could hear a pin drop. Really powerful silence. Awesome. Broken by the Holy Father, praying. I don’t know what we’re supposed to be singing, but it sounds great! I apparently missed the renewal of our baptismal promises, and we are now praying the Prayer of the Faithful. The Litany of the Eucharist now. We’re unable to receive Communion here, by have been encouraged by the Pope to go back to Madrid and find a local church to receive from in place of here. This was all due to the amazing weather last night, causing problems like destroying the adoration places around the airfield at Cuatro Vientos!

I’ve just thought how to describe it here – it’s like a real community of people. Although we don’t all know each other and there are language barriers, that doesn’t matter at all, because we are all celebrating something that is close to everyone’s heart here, and that is Jesus Christ and the sacrifice He made for us. Silence again. The Pope is now singing the Preface. I love this, because if Mass is in a foreign language, everyone knows this bit because the tune is absolutely universal.

Sign of peace was amazing – yes, we made the sign of peace with our own group, but other people near us came and were saying “Pax Christi”! Loads of people and it was brilliant! There are no hostile feelings here.

“I, the Lord of sea and sky” is playing and being sung very enthusiastically by our group, as it’s in English! That was fantastic! Loved it!

I believe the cross on the altar is the one that was used for Via Crucis, although I could be completely wrong! I’ve got no idea how long Communion will last for, but I’m really grateful that everyone around is quiet. Oh, nope, that was it! Prayer time after Communion now, and again, we’re asked to stay quiet. Really amazing two million people being quiet can be! (If you know what I mean!)

We’ll shortly be finding out where the next WYD  is going to be held. Are the rumours correct? Is it going to be Rio? We’ll have to wait and see. The Pope is being thanked for the YouCat book which each and every pilgrim received in the Pilgrim Packs. It was a personal gift from the Holy Father. Young people from around the world are being gifted with a cross, which they are about to receive. 5 people are lucky enough to receive their crosses directly from the Holy Father. How incredible must they be feeling right now?

It’s in Rio! In 2013! Wow, 2 years to get all that money together! We’ll do it though – it always come together! He was speaking in English, sending blessings on us until we meet again in just 2 years’ time. He’s just given the Angelus. Hail Mary in Latin – gorgeous! Blessings are extended through us to our loved ones back home. “Firmes en La Fe” yet again – great! There’s a real concept of oneness here.

That’s it! All done! Until 2 years’ time, that is. Rio will be amazing! Might even be better organised than Spain! Everyone’s packing up now, starting to head back to their accommodation, or wherever they’re staying. It has been such an inspiration time here in Spain, with some lows, many highs and oh so many laughs! It’s been great and I think I speak for lots of people when I say that my faith has been deepened and I’m even prouder to say that I am a practising Catholic that I was before! Now to return to our parishes across the world and explain and inspire people about WYD and encourage them to come to the next one! It’s been simply amazing!

I’ll keep on blogging for a while, just to wrap things up, but that’s it from me for now! Many thanks to everyone that’s read my posts! I really hope these two aren’t too lengthy for you!

Ruth :-)

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