Our Youth

Reporter’s Notebook – WYD – Bishop Caggiano Speaks to 1,000 English Speaking WYD Pilgrims (with slide show)

July 31, 2013
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Below, Auxiliary Bishop Frank Caggiano shares his wisdom with English-speaking pilgrims during a catechesis session in Rio de Janeiro. After his prepared speech, he took questions from the audience. Although he joked that he would answer only easy questions, he spoke bluntly on homosexuality, abortion, and the reason behind calling the pope “holy.”
Below, Auxiliary Bishop Frank Caggiano shares his wisdom with English-speaking pilgrims during a catechesis session in Rio de Janeiro. After his prepared speech, he took questions from the audience. Although he joked that he would answer only easy questions, he spoke bluntly on homosexuality, abortion, and the reason behind calling the pope “holy.”

Auxiliary Bishop Frank Caggiano was one of the bishops from around the world asked to speak at a catechetical gathering.

Diocesan pilgrims were afforded a chance to hear one of their own bishops at their second catechesis.

Pilgrim Karena Lim, 23, from St. Gerard Majella, said she always enjoys listening to Bishop Caggiano speak and was happy that he joined the pilgrims.

“I feel so proud because I feel like he is representing us so well,” she said. “He is proud to be from Brooklyn. And it helps me feel proud to be a young Catholic from Brooklyn.”

Bishop Caggiano thanked all the attendees for the sacrifices they made to travel to Rio and attend Catechesis. He likened them to Jesus’ first disciples who heard the words: “Come, follow me.”

“You have waited in long lines. You have gone hungry for many hours…because you heard those three words and you said ‘Yes,’” he said.

“Who is this Jesus who has called you here?” he asked. “I am going to tell you bluntly because I am from Brooklyn. He is not just a wise man… He’s God made man. When God called you here, He sent no one else but Himself.”

Pilgrim James Jusseaume, 23, from St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Prospect Heights, said he was touched to see his bishops make the sacrifice to be at World Youth Day.

“They are leading the way by example,” he said. “I think it’s important that since we are the biggest group from the United States that the bishops are present.”