My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,
This article is written on my last day in Rio de Janeiro at the end of World Youth Day 2013 (#WYD13). As a bishop, this is the fifth World Youth Day I have participated in. Each one has been a unique and fulfilling experience for me, and, I believe, for the young people who attended. The Diocese of Brooklyn had the largest United States delegation to Rio, just under 350, plus 80 from the Neocatecumenal Way. Our large numbers are in no small part due to the excellent efforts of our diocesan pilgrimage director, Father Gerard Sauer, and his great team who make the experience a safe and pleasant one. We had 20 parishes and 10 of our seminarians with us.
World Youth Day began with the vision of Blessed John Paul II who wanted to speak directly to the young people in the Church at the very beginning of his Papacy. These gatherings have grown, especially in the site that hosts the event, as well as the energy and the results.
Young people by the hundreds of thousands have joined in the rock concert venue and youth oriented programs. It shows that the Church is with them, trying to understand their culture and leading them to Christ.
These pilgrimages of faith leave a great impression on the participants, some of who are subsequently called to priestly and religious vocations. The youth, ages 16 to 30, away from home, meet other youth from all over the world, who share the same Catholic faith. The experience will never leave them.
The week consists of three days of catechesis by bishops. Our own Bishop Frank Caggiano gave a series of catechesis that were very well received. I attended one of his, where over 1,000 young people gathered in a church that overflowed with enthusiasm. These teachings always allow an opportunity for confession and end with Mass.
As the Holy Father greeted people upon his arrival, a vocation rally was held for English-speaking pilgrims. Pope Francis also conducted a vigil, which included Eucharistic Adoration. Perhaps the Eucharistic Adoration with three million participants on Copacabana beach was the highpoint for our pilgrims. The silence on the beach, only broken by the waves and some tears, was haunting. The closing Mass on the beach, after spending the night there, is a unique experience.
After a three-hour walk to the site, our group was located at the water’s edge. The beach was literally wall-to-wall with people, and because of their late arrival, our pilgrims were relegated to the very edge of the water. I went down to the beach to be with them for the better part of the vigil. With great ingenuity, they quickly dug trenches to divert the water coming in at high tide. The trenches held, and so did they.
The Holy Father’s schedule was even more demanding than the young people. It seemed he did not stop for a moment. He spoke to the civil society, government groups, the Bishops, visited a rehabilitation hospital, a favela and more. He looked engaged and very happy. Pope Francis spoke with great passion and enthusiasm to the young people. He usually began talking in Portuguese and then went into Spanish. There were some radio translations, but fortunately his enthusiasm needed no translation.
In speaking to the young people, he encouraged them to work towards building a culture of encounter with our broader society. The young people, he said, are the missionaries who are called upon to be agents of change in our world. In going about this great work, he used the image of a football team, who must train for the match and make careful analysis of the field of play.
Such preparation will ensure that the seeds of faith planted throughout the world will bear much fruit. Of course, such an endeavor requires of the young that they “build up a sweat as an athlete of Christ.” Lastly he reminded them to be Christians of great faith and joy and to “be not afraid.”
Let us all put out in the deep as we put into effect the teachings of the Pope here in the Diocese of Brooklyn and as we joyfully anticipate being with him at World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland, in 2016.
@BpDiMarzio
facebook.com/bishopdimarzio