Keep me in your prayers this weekend as I was asked to attend WYD. I will be leaving later on today, staying with the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate (the ones who invited me) overnight and leaving early tomorrow morning for Canada.

God Bless

-- (sacerdos@hotpop.com), July 25, 2002

Answers

Brian,

Lucky You! God Bless and have a wonderful time...the Franciscans, how I love them. Keep us in your prayers!

MaryLu

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), July 25, 2002.

Am watching World Youth Day coverage on EWTN, Brian. I'll be looking for you. Wait, I forgot what you look like! Oh, well. May it be a safe and blessed time for you. Please pray for us in return. JFG

-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), July 26, 2002.

Juan Diego también viaja a Canadá Se distribuirá su imagen entre los jóvenes de las JMJ

CIUDAD DE MÉXICO, 23 julio 2002 (ZENIT.org).- Esta semana, Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin será conocido hasta en Canadá como el primer santo indígena. Juan Pablo II presidirá su canonización el próximo 31 de julio en México.

Unas cinco mil estampas con la imagen del beato distribuirá el rector de la Basílica de Guadalupe, Diego Monroy Ponce, a través de sus enviados en la archidiócesis de Toronto, durante las Jornadas Mundiales de la Juventud, informa el diario «El Universal».

Además, el grupo teatral Nahui Ollin se ha sumado a las Jornadas Mundiales de la Juventud en tierras canadienses para representar la obra «Milagro del Tepeyac», viaje que ha sido posible por las gestiones de Monroy Ponce, además del patrocinio de empresas particulares. El espectáculo dará a conocer los detalles de la aparición de la Virgen de Guadalupe.

También se regalarán entre los fieles católicos de Canadá imágenes de bolsillo de la Virgen de Guadalupe, copias fieles del ayate original que se exhibe en el recinto mariano, y que han sido autorizadas por el cardenal Norberto Rivera Carrera, arzobispo primado de México.

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), July 26, 2002.

Thank you both for your prayers it was indeed a great time. It definitely was a pilgrimage, from sleeping on a basement floor or rain soaked grass, to being woken up by music at all hours of the night, to standing in the pouring rain for a time, to even being packed in a small hallway with thousands of other people waiting to catch the subway, I wouldn't trade a moment of it. It was a very beautiful experience, and the franciscans I was with were very prayerful and encouraged the 250 youth plus chaperones to do the same. In fact, Saturday night we all gathered around a statue of Our Lady that the Franciscans brought, knelt before Her, and prayed the Rosary. By the end of the rosary we had many many people of all ages gathered around us, it was, as I said, very beautiful.

God Bless You All

P.S. John

I am not a good picture taker, besides, posting my mug on a forum that attracts all kinds is not something I would like to do ;)

-- (sacerdos@hotpop.com), July 29, 2002.

Welcome Back, Brian! :)

So glad you had a good time at WYD...I knew you would. It had to be a wonderful experience - to see the Pope, to share a spiritual weekend with people from all over the world who share our Catholic faith - you must be floating on air!

Although I did not see the Pope when he was in Colorado, I was in CO at the same time and met so many interesting people from all over the globe and I loved every minute of it.

I was visiting a good friend and she took me to the Mother Cabrini Shrine and it was the most beautiful, spiritual day. We climbed the top of a mountain and there were groups of people from all over the world (who were there to see the Pope) praying the rosary, singing songs, it was special.

May you see the fruits of your blessed weekend - a weekend you will never forget!

God Bless...

MaryLu

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), July 29, 2002.

Thank you MaryLu,

Like I said, it was an amazing experience, and not one I will quickly forget. I guarantee that if we didn't make as many sacrifices as we had made, it just would not have been worth it.

Thanks again and God Bless

-- (sacerdos@hotpop.com), July 30, 2002.

I hope you had a fun time at World Youth Day, Toronto. I was there and at the Saturday vigil I was right at the barricades when he came past in the popemobile. It was a miracle to get so close to him. I was kind of amazed that people were so proud of their countries's heritages and wore their flags openly. I thought that after Sept. 11 people would be afraid to wear anything that marked themselves as United States citizens, but I was very wrong. I was very glad that the pope had the strength to make it. I was worried on Thursday when he coughed frequently, but by Sunday he gave his homily with as much strength as he had years ago before all his health problems. For that I thank God! I hope you are in good health and are not afraid to share with others your experiences. Peace be on you and your house, Megan Mosovsky

-- Megan Mosovsky (Seriphina@excite.com), August 14, 2002.

Great to read, Brian and Megan, that you had a great experience at World Youth Day. (You seemed to be enjoying yourself when the camera caught you! [Jest kidding])
I was able to watch a lot of it. Strangely, the part I found most moving did not involve the pope. It was the living Stations of the Cross -- three hours of amazing acting, music, etc.. I hope that you were able to witness it.
Glad you returned safely (and that your heart did not hinder you, Brian).
God bless you.
JFG

-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), August 17, 2002.