Diocesan Pilgrims Prepare for World Youth Day

By Linda Busetti
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 5/23/02)

ARLINGTON — When diocesan World Youth Day pilgrims woke last Saturday, it was raining buckets. That didn’t stop about 100 of them from traveling to St. Ann Church in Arlington for a "mini-pilgrimage" — a two-mile walk — to St. Agnes Church in Arlington.

The walk, a preparation activity for participation in World Youth Day in Toronto from July 22-28, was sponsored by the diocesan Office of Youth Ministry.

As youths, young adults and youth ministers assembled in St. Ann Church, Megan Sullivan of Ft. Belvoir said attending the last World Youth Day in Rome had inspired her to become more involved in the Church. She looks forward to "meeting people from all over the world and realizing that we will all share the same faith."

Kevin Bohli, director of the Office of Youth Ministry, distributed English and Spanish versions of the Prayer for World Youth Day 2002, which includes the World Youth Day theme, "God our Father, Your Son Jesus calls us to be salt of the earth and light for the world."

Bohli announced that about 500 people from the diocese will travel to Toronto for World Youth Day. He read a letter from Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde, who said he looks forward to seeing them in Toronto where they will hopefully have the opportunity to celebrate Mass together. The bishop encouraged them to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation before their pilgrimage.

"A pilgrimage is not a tourist visit," Bohli said. "You are going to get out of it what you put into it." He said rosaries were available for those who wanted to pray the rosary on the walk. "Search for the deeper meaning today in this mini-pilgrimage," he said.

"A pilgrimage is a faith journey to a sacred place," Bohli said, tracing the practice back to the Middle Ages. In preparing for their "journey of prayer and remembrance" to World Youth Day, Bohli advised the youths and their leaders to attend daily Mass, go to Confession, pray each day, fast and take part in service projects. He told them to become familiar with the nine saints or blesseds who are patrons of World Youth Day 2002 and to visit the official Web site at www.wyd2002.org.

As the pilgrims processed out of St. Ann Church, they were greeted by a damp breeze, but no rain for the half-hour walk on the Custis bike trail alongside Rt. 66. The smell of honeysuckle mixed with voices singing, "Seek Ye First" or "Lean on Me." A long line of pilgrims stretched up and down the hills of the narrow trail. While some youths chatted, others prayed the rosary aloud.

Mary Acosta of St. Clare of Assisi Parish in Clifton, who attended World Youth Day in the Philippines and Paris, said she looks forward to sharing the connection of faith with so many youths. Her friend Jackie Sachau of New Jersey, a World Youth Day chaperone, said she gets chills just thinking about the "simple joy" that awaits them.

Father Michael Taylor, chaplain at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington and Father David Sharland of Youth Apostles, celebrated Mass for the pilgrims at St. Agnes Church, before their return walk to St. Ann. 

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