A difficult time, a time of grace, a time of hope
Benedict XVI in Washington – how the people experience him
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Schoenstatt saluda al Santa Padre en Washington, Estados Unidos Schoenstatt wolcomes the Holy Father in Washington Schönstatt grüßt den Heiligen Vater in Washington |
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16 de abril, 12.00 hs: el Santa Padre cerca de la Banco Mundial April 16, 12.00 am: the Holy Father passes by the World Bank building 16. April 12.00 Uhr: der Papst fährt am Gebäude der Weltbank vorbei |
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Entusiasmo... „The atmosphere was electric“ Die Menschen an den Straßen sind begeistert |
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Momentos de emoción Emotional moments Bewegende Momente Fotos: Ajimeno © 2008 |
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UNITED STATES, Enrique Soros. Benedict XVI arrived in the United States. His presence awakens different feelings. While there are other dioceses, which have suffered from the consequences of the sexual scandals in the U.S. Church, that is not the case here in the Washington D. C. Archdiocese. In spite of this difficult issue many still remain faithful. However, there is a profound awareness that we don’t belong to the Church because its members are perfect, but because they have a deep love and fidelity to Christ in spite of many failings. This awareness of our sins spurs one to desire to strive with their lives and souls toward holiness.
In particular the seminary of the Archdiocese of Washington D.C. is guided by the spirituality of the Neo-catechumen Road. Like many movements, which have surged forth from the bosom of the Church in the twentieth century, it intends to radically mark the hearts of its members with a profound love and giving all for Jesus. The young priests from this seminary are a source of hope for the Church. It is evident in the parishes where they carry out their ministry, in the way they resonate with their people, with the faithful, how the life of their "sheep" manifested in their joys, their crisis, and their problems are also theirs.
The Pope’s visit is an occasion for discussion on different topics such as: immigration, social justice, and the role of the family for the Church among others. The Catholic Church in the United States is like many institutions in the country, an excellent
monetary support for charitable causes. The aspect of social help, support, training, and promotion for the immigrant is a fundamental load for the ecclesial hierarchy and for the faithful. Here there are many projects of complete assistance to the most needy, which includes help with legal issues, health, and education through the different branches that operate within the well-known Hispanic Catholic Center.
Neither the title nor the rank is important. What matters is, where can I best serve the Lord?
Only 46,000 would be able to attend the Mass on Thursday
All those who are interested in participating the large Mass with the Pope in the National stadium on Thursday in Washington know that there will only be a few, exactly 46,000 people who will be able to enter. Since the parishes and the dioceses received so few tickets, there was a drawing for the tickets.
In the Archdiocese of Washington D.C., the pastors were asked to give preference for participation to the lay leaders, since they are the ones who serve the parishioners with their selfless and committed work. But in many cases, the leaders gave up a moment of a profound experience with the Pope so that others could enjoy this opportunity.
This is what Father Michael Schapfel, a member of the Schoenstatt Institute of Diocesan Priests and Pastor of the German Speaking Community in Washington told us: "According to the guidelines from the Archdiocese I offered the tickets for the Mass first to the members of the Parish Council, but many of them ceded their right, offering this opportunity to other parishioners who show great interest."
"On Friday I received a call from a friend. He told me that the mother of his boss wanted to go to the Mass with the Pope. What impressed me the most is that this lady is an evangelical. I was so moved that I decided to call her to tell her that I would give up my ticket so that she could go," related José Amaya, Coordinator of the Hispanic Catechesis and Formation of Catechists in the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.
This is the spirit that is experienced here. Neither rank nor title matters. The question that moves the hearts is "Where can I best serve the Lord?" His vicar, Father Javier Santaballa, invited José Cervero, a lay leader at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Maryland,, to be at the Nunciature to greet the Pope personally for his birthday, an honor very few have. José responded: "Thank you very much, but my place is with the people preparing the atmosphere in the streets with songs and with a spirit of faith." José had already given up participating in the Mass with the Pope, by giving his ticket to another person.
Tickets for the Mass with the Pope
"My brother is a Catholic, and a practicing one," José Amaya told us. "The least thing I expected was for him to ask me for a ticket to the Mass with the Pope, and he did. What he does not know is that our father is also going to attend the Mass. My brothers and my mother are angry and have been separated for more than twenty years. My sister asked me to invite our father also, which I had already done. My family will be seated together at the Mass without them knowing it. I was able to register as a volunteer to give them the space, so that they can meet again."
Getting tickets for the Mass with the Pope is very difficult. For example, the Diocese of Austin, Texas received only sixty. If half of a ticket were given to each parish of this diocese, there would be some that would not even receive a piece of a ticket since Austin has 129 parishes.
Among the tens of thousands of visitors that are arriving in Washington this week, there are four boys from Chile who were fortunate enough to receive tickets from people who had tickets but were unable to travel to Washington. They are members of the project, Operation Mario, an undertaking of the Schoenstatt Boys’ Youth in Chile who send university students to the United States for one year to evangelize among students.
Benedict XVI with the key of the Kingdom of Heaven
Wednesday as well as Thursday will mark a milestone for the city of Washington D.C. and for the United States. Hundreds of thousands will be in relatively close contact with the Pope, and Catholics as well as non-Catholics will notice that something is happening, since the normal reality of the city will change for two days. With a different personality from his predecessor, Benedict XVI demonstrates that in his way, he makes himself profoundly loved. He gains the affection of his faithful who he heartily loves. And the people who by experiencing him, greeting him, and singing to him not only honor his person; rather, and very especially, they honor Jesus, who chose him as a Peter to lead the ship of the Church through turbulent seas, and according to Matthew16: 19, ‘I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven: whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.'
"Please consider offering a two-day journey on the streets of Washington, D.C. to welcome Jesus in the person of Pope Benedict XVI. All Christians united, all Christians with the mission of bringing Jesus to the people! This is a great opportunity to evangelize, to show the world that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life! With Jesus, we don't fear the truth, we don't fear the future, we look at our way to Him with tremendous hope," the Schoenstatt Movement of Washington invited their members. Schoenstatt members stood and will stand where the Pope will pass by holding: a large horizontal banner (10 m. long x 30 cm. high) that will read: "BENEDICT XVI, WE LOVE YOU - Catholic Movements and Communities," two horizontal banners (10 m. long x 30 cm. high) declaring: "HOLY FATHER, WE LOVE YOU - Schoenstatt Movement," one vertical banner 2.5 meters high (from New York) with the image of the Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt, one vertical banner 2.5 meters high with the picture of the inside of a Schoenstatt Shrine, the big picture of the Blessed Mother from their Schoenstatt Place, many, many, many Pilgrim MTAs, your image! high toward heaven!, small banners "Schoenstatt Movement, Washington, DC". They also had eighteen (!) eighteen yellow T-shirts with the inscription "Benedict XVI - We love you." Everywhere they went and will go, they wanted to bring two amplifiers with microphones, guitars, maracas, and other instruments. "Only God knows what will be allowed to go through the checkpoints. But we need a lot of people to help us to sing and to hold the banners and pictures,", e-mail messages said … and so far they have succeeded. "This is a great opportunity to show the mass media and the people of the world that Christian Catholics are very enthusiastic, very committed, deeply rooted in Jesus and Mary, and that we want to share this spirit with everybody. It would be so great if you came with us to sing to the Holy Father, to Jesus, and to the world!" And indeed, the cameras of the big media agencies of the world were directed at this little flock … sending the message of love for the Church around the globe.
Source: AICA, Translation: PressOffice Schoenstatt
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