ROME -
2000
When we first
decided to go to Rome, a lot of things came to mind about
what the trip would be like. We were excited and didn't
quite know what to expect. We had many ideas of what we
would see and do while in the ancient city. Little did we
know our expectations would be met and surpassed. Our first
night in Rome we went for a long walk and discovered how
very different it was from Canada.
Day 2 we got
up early for our first catechesis sessions at St. Paul's
Basilica. Cardinal Lerenzo, who is an executive director on
one of the Pope's council's, spoke very wisely about faith
and God's role in our lives. Bishop O'Brien participated in
the mass that followed the catechesis session. We were
amazed at the number of countries that had gathered in Rome
for the jubilee celebration. The streets were Jam packed
with enthusiastic youths from 6 different continents. We
spent the rest of Day 2 seeing the sights such as the
Spanish Steps and the Pantheon before retiring to a nice
Italian bistro for a late dinner of authentic Italian
cuisine.
Day 3 started
out with another catechesis session. This time we were
honoured to be in the presence of Cardinal George of
Chicago. He spoke about how we all have the freedom to act,
give, and receive God's love. In the mass that followed,
our very own Father Kenney got to participate. After that we
got a close look at St. Paul's tomb.
After we left
St. Paul's, we headed down to the Coliseum, which was a
truly breathtaking sight. There we also saw the Roman
Ruins.
Friday was a
special day. It was the day we went to the Vatican. We were
very fortunate to be there this year because we had the
opportunity to walk through the Holy door that has not been
opened since 1950 and won't be opened again until 2050. Upon
entering St. Peter's Basilica we were immediately awe-struck
at the beautifully detailed architecture and statues devoted
to every aspect of our religion. That night everyone
gathered by the coliseum for a procession in the Stations of
the Cross, which was broadcast in five languages. Many
people participated in this march down the road to the
coliseum, several of them carrying palms, small crosses and
candles.
Saturday was
a very difficult yet rewarding day. We had to walk
approximately 10 km under a cloudless sky surrounded by 2.1
million others who were compelled to go there for the same
reason we were. That night we were blessed with the Pope's
arrival. The first thing he did was get in his vehicle and
drive around the enormous grounds so that he could greet
everyone from close by because the main stage was very far
away from most people. We were lucky enough to get within
10 feet of him This was the night of the great vigil where
the Pope presided over a ceremony that celebrated the
international flavour of World Youth Day 2000. Many people
from all over the world got up and spoke onstage about World
Youth Day's impact on their lives. That night we also got
the opportunity to hear the Pope himself speak directly to
the youth of the world. It was very moving to see such a
great multitude of youth all gathered together to celebrate
God and Jesus.
All through
the night, cheers and singing could be heard coming from
various groups of youths. Many of us stayed up late into
the night to talk with our new friends knowing that this was
such a unique experience that it shouldn't be passed up for
sleep, which can be done just about any night. Sunday
morning was the climax of the trip. It was the day we had
been anticipating for a long time. The Pope returned, this
time to give a mass over the millions of people there. This
mass was so large that it needed 4000 Eucharist ministers to
pass out the hosts. Bishop O'Brien had the honour of being
on the same platform as our Holy Father. At the end of the
mass, it was announced that the next World Youth Day would
be held in Toronto in 2002. This resulted in a lot of
euphoric cheers from the Canadian contingent of 4000 who
were scattered far and wide across the massive fields.
Our
experiences in Rome were definitely among the most
unforgettable of our
lives. The sights and sounds of the Jubilee 2000 left a
lasting impression on our hearts and souls. It truly has
changed the way we think about God, Jesus and our faith. We
now appreciate the sacrifice Jesus made for us 2000 years
ago even more than we had prior to this pilgrimage.
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