WYDToronto2

World Youth Day 2002
Toronto, Canada

So Saturday rolled around and we got all geared up to brave the mile and a half walk to Downsview Lands Park for the Papal Mass. Steve (trash bag guy) apparently got a little mixed up and thought we were going to a Klan rally. I had to pull him aside and explain to him why the KKK was incompatible with Catholicism and moreover what exactly a Papal mass was... where the Pope's the Grand Wizard of love... where hate and prejudice in all forms is renounced. Anyways, it was an enlightening experience for Steve, and with that little bit of confusion out of the way, I think he's all set to teach seventh grade catechism for another year.

So after the conference with Steve and before we headed out I had to make sure everyone had an easily accessible source of water because I really didn't want to deal with any of my youth passing out from dehydration along the way. So I wound up jimmy-rigging a bunch of my youth's sleeping bags to their back pack when possible... and when I couldn't I had to attach them to my own. So then with my water bottle in hand and approximately seventeen sleeping bags on my back, I was ready to lead on. Our diocese was real sneaky and rather than going out to the “official pilgrimage starting point” and hiking 5 miles we started from the school where we were staying thus only having to walk a mile and a half, which was a welcome idea especially when you have approximately seventeen sleeping bags on your back.

Part II
The actual Pilgrimage walk , Vigil and Papal Mass

This poster really sums up our last two days in Toronto. We met many different people from all over the world. For example when we were out looking for lunch we met some very friendly people who were convinced Catholics were going to be spending the rest of eternity burning in a fiery Hell. They gave us some lovely literature to read and suggested we read the Bible some time before sending us on our way. Skewed perspective... good advice. But not everyone we met was that hostile towards us.

For instance, here is Carmel, another one of my adults, and the frog she met. They became very good friends over the course of the two days... at least that's what she tells me. I'm not exactly sure if I want all the details. Man... Can I pick chaperones or what?

Here are several shots of the vigil with the pope. This was a very powerful prayer experience for all those who took part. After a hard day of walking and borderline fasting, I was extremely impressed that my youth stayed awake for it, let alone the incredibly reverent mood they kept for the duration of the evening prayer. I must be doing something right to have such pious group of young adults.

Once we got to the park and settled in, Michelle (another chaperone), Fr. Tom and I went off to get lunch. We asked around as to where lunch was being served and was pointed in a specific direction by someone who did not speak English very well. Luckily, Fr. Tom was fluent in French, Michelle was fluent in Spanish, and I myself know both Jive AND Pig Latin. Which would have been handy were we not getting directions from a German fellow. So after walking about 3 miles we learned lunch was served at the “official pilgrimage starting point”... two more miles away. Fun, fun, fun! We continued our trek and made it there about 5 minutes before they closed shop. Had we arrived 10 minutes later I think there would have been some riots Woodstock style, but thankfully that didn't happen. After we got the food we feasted on the most delicious turkey sub I've ever had and then headed back to camp. Not up for the return walk, I was able to flag down a ride, no doubt thanks to my rugged good looks. Then like the conquering heroes we returned with lunch just in time for dinner.

After the vigil most of my youth decided they were tired and wanted to go to sleep. I tried to explain to them that after the pope leaves is when the party really starts. (And I'm sure the pope leaving and party beginning is just one of those odd coincidences ... after all, to quote Bono, we have one "funky pontiff.") But like the pope, most of my youth opted for rest. I still have so much to teach them... Oh well... Anyways, I didn't let that stop me from going out 'til about 4:30 in the morning.

Then at 6AM we got our wake up call by none other than God, Himself, as the heavens opened up and it down poured for about half an hour. I tried to explain to my youth how exciting and fun the rain was, but for some reason, they didn't believe me. I tell ya’… kids these days… not believing their youth minister. At least last summer I was able to sucker them into believing that being stranded in New York City was fun… but that’s another story. Anyhow, this shot was taken just after it stopped raining... and right before it started raining again.

As the pope was cruisin’ around the masses (no pun intended) in the popemobile, I left my soggy youth behind and made my way towards the “main stage.” It was not easy because I had to make my way through vicious natives, cross some dangerous swamps, fight off some huge crocodiles, all in the face of a typhoon. But I made it pretty close. (OK, so they were Canadians, mud puddles, frogs, and some light wind and rain, but that’s not nearly as exciting, is it?) At any rate I did wind up next to a kangaroo. I think he was the mascot some Australians I met when I took this shot... Yes, it was an inflatable kangaroo. [Ruin all my fun.] So yeah… here’s the start of mass… and with a magnifying glass I think you can even see the Pope.

And just like in that classic song, “The Itsy Bitsy Spider,” out came the sun and dried up all the rain. You know it’s a good sign when the pope says, “We have the sun!” (Or did he say, “We have the Son.” I’m pretty sure he was talking about the weather and not doing catechesis… Well it’s a good sign either way, and our sleeping bags dried up to boot.) As demonstrated in the above photo, it turned out to be an absolutely gorgeous day. Mass ended with all one million of us (we picked up some "locals" besides us pilgrims) singing the closing song, and then being sent on our way to share Jesus' love in our home communities, where we truly are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.