Hispanic Youths Begin Journey to Toronto

By Alfonso Aguilar
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 7/25/02)

It may not have been the most important Mass that they had attended in their young lives, but it was certainly a benchmark event on the path toward their most important Mass —with the Holy Father this week in Toronto, Canada.

"The journey to Canada begins today, in this diocese, in this parish; you will carry the message of all the parishioners of your congregations," said Father Juan Antonio Puigbo before 150 young people who will attend World Youth Day in Toronto.

"The pope and the world are waiting for you," Father Puigbo added.

Fathers Piugbo and Keith O’Hare assisted Father Ovidio Pecharroman in celebrating the July 20 Mass at Queen of the Apostles Parish in Alexandria, where nearly 600 parents, relatives and friends of the diocesan youth delegation filled the church for a farewell Mass.

Sister Eloina Alvarez, of Poor Sisters of St. Joseph, is the coordinator of this delegation and will accompany the pilgrims all the way. The delegation of 150, most of them Hispanics belonging to different diocesan parishes, departed by bus from Queen of the Apostles last Sunday and will remain in Toronto one week. Other diocesan delegations are already on their way to Canada. Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde also will attend the celebration.

World Youth Day celebration runs from July 23-28. The pope will attend the last two days, and then will go to Guatemala and Mexico to canonize "Hermano Pedro" and Juan Diego, respectively.

"This trip to Toronto will mark our girls and boys forever, as the journey to Denver did," said Onofre Gutierrez, a parishioner of Blessed Sacrament in Alexandria.

Onofre said that thanks to the generosity of many people and their own hard work, a total of 17 youngsters from Blessed Sacrament Parish in Alexandria will make the trip. Originally, only three registered.

Rocio Castro was among the many mothers attending the Mass to bless their children and wish them a good trip. "I feel very emotional and proud of my daughter because it was her own decision to go to Canada," she said while her daughter Lisa Castro stood in front of the altar with dozens of youngsters as they were blessed by Father Daniel L. Mode, administrator of Queen of the Apostles.

"Toronto begins in Arlington," repeated Father Piugbo, who is also making the trip. "The world is waiting for you. You will have a great experience and I ask God to protect you."

"Tell the world in Canada that you are the future of the Church, and find there your own true mix of experience and wisdom," Father Pecharromán said.

The choir of Our Lady of Angels in Woodbridge made the Mass very special with their music, which included Andean rythms. 

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