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World Youth Day 2013 in Rio de Janeiro
A Pilgrimage with the Pope! July 20th-August 4th, 2013 offered to 28 pilgrims an incredible journey of faith. A followup story can be read at: http://thecatholictimes.com/clients/thecatholictimes/CT-082213.%2022,%202013.pdf or by selecting the file link below.
Thank you all so much for your prayer and support! 
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FROM THE ASSOCIATE PASTOR’S DESK:(from Aug. 25 Bulletin)
A pilgrimage is a journey to a holy place, either as a form of religious devotion, as an act of penance, or to seek the intercession of a saint. As many of you know, I along with 27 youth and adult chaperones from St. John’s and Christ the King Parishes, as well as other parts of the diocese and beyond just completed a pilgrimage of our own... and what a pilgrimage it was!... traveling first to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, then to World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and finally to our diocesan mission orphanage, JPII Casa Hogar, near Lima, Peru. This was truly a pilgrimage in every sense mentioned above and I’m convinced that it has born and will continue to bear great fruit for our group and for the Church as a whole.
With more to reflect on than I have room for in this column, I’d just like to say a few words about World Youth Day in particular. Essentially, WYD is a great pilgrimage of faith for Catholic young people from around the world to gather with the successor of Peter and Vicar of Christ, Pope Francis. Faith is invigorated and deepened, not only by seeing the Pope and hearing him speak, but also in the encounter with so many other faithful young people from around the globe. WYD is truly an electrifying event. One can’t help but be overwhelmed by the youth and vitality of the Catholic Church demonstrated here. In fact, an estimated 3 million pilgrims gathered for the closing Mass! WYD however is not just a big international party with the Pope. It is a serious pilgrimage, and NOT a vacation. With our focus on gathering with the Holy Father and visiting other holy sites associated with the saints, we were given many opportunities for sacrifice and acts of penance. Our sleeping accommodations were hard floors in school classrooms. Most days we contended with unseasonably cool rainy weather. Long hours were spent traveling on public transportation and waiting in line because event organizers and a city such as Rio can’t help but be overwhelmed by such enormous crowds. However, amidst these and other rather purifying inconveniences came some of the greatest blessings.
A number of us were able to see the Holy Father on more than one occasion at the distance of only several feet. I witnessed firsthand growth and conversion in the lives of our pilgrims –and not just the younger ones. I saw vocations seriously explored and more generously discerned. I saw the joy in sharing prayer and faith with those who don’t even speak our language. It was all worth it! A pilgrimage such as this is ultimately a micro-version of the great pilgrimage that is our whole Christian life on earth. Our destination is eternal life with God in heaven. As Christ our Lord has shown us in his own body, sacrifice will at times be a part of the picture, but it is definitely worth the prize. I want to thank all the people of St. John’s and Christ the King for supporting us, especially with your prayers. ~ Father Burish
A pilgrimage is a journey to a holy place, either as a form of religious devotion, as an act of penance, or to seek the intercession of a saint. As many of you know, I along with 27 youth and adult chaperones from St. John’s and Christ the King Parishes, as well as other parts of the diocese and beyond just completed a pilgrimage of our own... and what a pilgrimage it was!... traveling first to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, then to World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and finally to our diocesan mission orphanage, JPII Casa Hogar, near Lima, Peru. This was truly a pilgrimage in every sense mentioned above and I’m convinced that it has born and will continue to bear great fruit for our group and for the Church as a whole.
With more to reflect on than I have room for in this column, I’d just like to say a few words about World Youth Day in particular. Essentially, WYD is a great pilgrimage of faith for Catholic young people from around the world to gather with the successor of Peter and Vicar of Christ, Pope Francis. Faith is invigorated and deepened, not only by seeing the Pope and hearing him speak, but also in the encounter with so many other faithful young people from around the globe. WYD is truly an electrifying event. One can’t help but be overwhelmed by the youth and vitality of the Catholic Church demonstrated here. In fact, an estimated 3 million pilgrims gathered for the closing Mass! WYD however is not just a big international party with the Pope. It is a serious pilgrimage, and NOT a vacation. With our focus on gathering with the Holy Father and visiting other holy sites associated with the saints, we were given many opportunities for sacrifice and acts of penance. Our sleeping accommodations were hard floors in school classrooms. Most days we contended with unseasonably cool rainy weather. Long hours were spent traveling on public transportation and waiting in line because event organizers and a city such as Rio can’t help but be overwhelmed by such enormous crowds. However, amidst these and other rather purifying inconveniences came some of the greatest blessings.
A number of us were able to see the Holy Father on more than one occasion at the distance of only several feet. I witnessed firsthand growth and conversion in the lives of our pilgrims –and not just the younger ones. I saw vocations seriously explored and more generously discerned. I saw the joy in sharing prayer and faith with those who don’t even speak our language. It was all worth it! A pilgrimage such as this is ultimately a micro-version of the great pilgrimage that is our whole Christian life on earth. Our destination is eternal life with God in heaven. As Christ our Lord has shown us in his own body, sacrifice will at times be a part of the picture, but it is definitely worth the prize. I want to thank all the people of St. John’s and Christ the King for supporting us, especially with your prayers. ~ Father Burish
