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Greg Waddle (izq.) con su grupo de la Juventud Masculina Greg Waddle (front row, left) with his group of the Boys’s Youth Greg Waddle (vorne links) mit seiner Jungengruppe Foto: Schoenstatt Family Magazine © 2005 |
WYD, Greg Waddle/mkf. News about the preparation for World Youth Day in Schoenstatt and Cologne are plenty on schoenstatt.de – from the perspective of those preparing in Germany. Star Weekends, team meetings, information about the volunteers in the Schoenstatt Project Office, or about the long term volunteers in Cologne – among them three Schoenstatt members from Germany, one from Paraguay, one from Argentina, two from Chile, one from Venezuela , who are planning to soon visit Schoenstatt -, program planning, and the vast support from the German Schoenstatt family, all these items are subject of articles. But how are those expected to como preparing for the event? Greg Waddle, from Pamyra, Nebraska, USA, shares the enthusiasm of the Schoenstatt Boys’ Youth in USA – hopefully encouraging others to share theirs!
World Youth Day is finally here for me and all the other youth from around the world! For years, I have thought and planned, dreamed and hoped for this chance to see the Holy Father, the Original Shrine, and follow in the footsteps of the great hero, Joseph Engling. My name is Gregory Karl Waddle, and I have worked hard to get this chance to travel to Germany. Almost every cent of the money I earned from my mowing job has gone into the bank account in preparation for the pilgrimage and my very first flight!
See the greatest man of our time
One thing that is incredibly exciting to me about this trip is the chance to see the greatest man of our time, Pope John Paul II! Another reason that I am excited is the chance to be near the places that my confirmation patron lived and died. My patron is the heroic martyr, Blessed Karl Leisner. Blessed Karl’s example and that of the other Schoenstatt heroes of the founding generation is really cool, especially to boys like me. Everything is going to be totally awesome!
It is going to be really cool to be with other boys who share my ideals and enthusiasm for our Faith as well as the thrill of going on this trip! Besides me, there are three boys and two dads (mine included) going from Nebraska. One of these boys is our regional leader and all are from the same Boys’ Youth group that I am in. We Nebraskan youth are making a 10-mile foot pilgrimage to raise funds and prayers for this trip! All of us are excited about meeting the other boys that will join us on our pilgrimage. From four other states and Puerto Rico, 19 other boys are coming. Those states are Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Texas. Getting all the United Staters together on this international trip is going to be really exciting and a great way to get to know each other while exploring Germany and France under the leadership of Father Jonathan Niehaus.
In the footsteps of Joseph Engling
Of the events that cause all this excitement, saving, and traveling, the first is our departure from Milwaukee and consequent arrival in Germany. Then, the flurry of events will begin with the International Schoenstatt Youth Encounter in Schoenstatt itself.
After those first three wonderful days, we will proceed in the footsteps of Joseph Engling and Schoenstatt’s Founding Generation. As we visit Northern France, we will see where the heroes of World War I, heroes of courage and virtue, fought and died. At Cambrai, we will be in the actual place of Joseph Engling’s death which took place in 1918. Undoubtedly inspired by our pilgrimage in Joseph Engling’s footsteps, we will return to Cologne, Germany, and join the countless other excited youth from around the world. At last, during those five days of World Youth Day, we will have our chance to see the great Holy Father and pray in the Cathedral of Cologne having come to worship our totally awesome God!
The testimony was published in the Spring issue of : Family Magazine, USA, International Schoenstatt Center, Waukesha/WI, USA (sr.donna@schsrmary.org)