Fruits of the harvest

Here are some testimonies from some of the Ottawa pilgrims:

"The WYD pilgrimage has shown me that there is purpose in suffering; sometimes we suffer to love our neighbours, love God, or learn to better love ourselves. During these two weeks, we have given up food, sleep, shelter and our comfortable routines for the sake of the Kingdom of God."
-Alicia Cameron

"I expected the climax of our pilgrimage to be the closing vigil and Mass. Being denied entrance and later hearing stories from pilgrims who made it to these events was difficult until Archbishop Prendergast pointed out how the Lord allowed each of us to experience it in our own way for a reason. I realized that God wove our experiences
together into a common quilt so that we could learn things from one another that we couldn't on our own."
-Matthew Bisson

"As a Catholic, it is important for me to receive the eucharist. However, due to health reasons, I was unable to during the pilgrimage. I was deeply frustrated, but that frustration turned into prayer, which turned into a hunger and burning desire to receive Christ into my life and experience Him in a new way. It has given me a new appreciation for the Holy Sacrament."
-Serena Williamson

"The experience of WYD 2011 in Madrid gives me great hope for vocations to the priesthood. I have seen thousands of young men from around the world willing to give their lives for Christ by serving His Church. Many other young men have expressed interest in knowing more about the priesthood. I think that WYD really helps to encourage vocations. In fact, that is part of my journey to the priesthood. After WYD 2005 in Germany, I returned home excited about learning what steps I had to take to respond to God's call to be a priest in the Archdiocese of Ottawa."
-Matthew Keshwa, seminarian

"Pour moi, les JMJ ont été une occasion de rencontrer le visage joyeux, enthousiaste et plein d'espérance de l'Église à travers de beaux jeunes!"
-Dominique Nahas

"J'ai beaucoup aimé mon expérience des JMJ 2011, particulièrement les catéchèses données par les évêques à Madrid. Ils nous parlaient de l'amour du Christ étroitement lié à l'amour de l'Église et l'importance de vivre et de partager notre foi ensemble entre amis et avec ceux qui nous entourent, pour pour être affermis dans la foi. Je retourne au Canada avec une soif de témoignage et de partager avec d'autres cet amour que Dieu nous porte."
-Olga Andrianarijaona

Notre retraite à Avila

Aujourd'hui, nous avons pris un autobus de Madrid à Avila pour une retraite avant de retourner à Ottawa dans deux jours. Mgr Prendergast a présidé la messe dans la chapelle San Segunda à la cathédrale à Avila.

Mgr Prendergast nous a expliqué que les saints Espagnols s'exprimaient et ils parlaient de leur foi et que nous devons suivre leur exemple, même si les Canadiens sont plus portés à la garder à l'intérieur. Dieu doit remplir nos coeurs et nous devons vivre dans la joie et la paix du Christ pour être de bons témoins de son amour. Aujourd'hui, c'est la fête de Marie reine de l'univers et reine des coeurs. Nous demandons à Marie son intercession pour que nous aillons la même joie et paix qu'elle a dans son coeur.

Voici une photo de quelques pèlerins d'Ottawa à Avila :

Vigil and Closing Mass

We are now back at the hotel and getting cleaned up and having a much needed siesta. Many smiles and recounting of the events over the past 24 hours.

Buenas noches!

Ted

WYD Closing Mass with Pope Benedict XVI at Cuatro Vientos in Madrid

Pope Benedict XVI delivered the following homily at the Closing Mass of World Youth Day in Madrid:

Dear Young People,

In this celebration of the Eucharist we have reached the high point of this World Youth Day. Seeing you here, gathered in such great numbers from all parts of the world, fills my heart with joy. I think of the special love with which Jesus is looking upon you. Yes, the Lord loves you and calls you his friends (cf. Jn 15:15). He goes out to meet you and he wants to accompany you on your journey, to open the door to a life of fulfillment and to give you a share in his own closeness to the Father. For our part, we have come to know the immensity of his love and we want to respond generously to his love by sharing with others the joy we have received. Certainly, there are many people today who feel attracted by the figure of Christ and want to know him better. They realize that he is the answer to so many of our deepest concerns. But who is he really? How can someone who lived on this earth so long ago have anything in common with me today?

The Gospel we have just heard (cf. Mt 16:13-20) suggests two different ways of knowing Christ. The first is an impersonal knowledge, one based on current opinion. When Jesus asks: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”, the disciples answer: “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets”. In other words, Christ is seen as yet another religious figure, like those who came before him. Then Jesus turns to the disciples and asks them: “But who do you say that I am?” Peter responds with what is the first confession of faith: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God”. Faith is more than just empirical or historical facts; it is an ability to grasp the mystery of Christ’s person in all its depth.

Yet faith is not the result of human effort, of human reasoning, but rather a gift of God: “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven”. Faith starts with God, who opens his heart to us and invites us to share in his own divine life. Faith does not simply provide information about who Christ is; rather, it entails a personal relationship with Christ, a surrender of our whole person, with all our understanding, will and feelings, to God’s self-revelation. So Jesus’ question: “But who do you say that I am?”, is ultimately a challenge to the disciples to make a personal decision in his regard. Faith in Christ and discipleship are strictly interconnected.

And, since faith involves following the Master, it must become constantly stronger, deeper and more mature, to the extent that it leads to a closer and more intense relationship with Jesus. Peter and the other disciples also had to grow in this way, until their encounter with the Risen Lord opened their eyes to the fullness of faith.

Dear young people, today Christ is asking you the same question which he asked the Apostles: “Who do you say that I am?” Respond to him with generosity and courage, as befits young hearts like your own. Say to him: “Jesus, I know that you are the Son of God, who have given your life for me. I want to follow you faithfully and to be led by your word. You know me and you love me. I place my trust in you and I put my whole life into your hands. I want you to be the power that strengthens me and the joy which never leaves me”.

Jesus’ responds to Peter’s confession by speaking of the Church: “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church”. What do these words mean? Jesus builds the Church on the rock of the faith of Peter, who confesses that Christ is God.

The Church, then, is not simply a human institution, like any other. Rather, she is closely joined to God. Christ himself speaks of her as “his” Church. Christ cannot be separated from the Church any more than the head can be separated from the body (cf. 1 Cor 12:12). The Church does not draw her life from herself, but from the Lord.

Dear young friends, as the Successor of Peter, let me urge you to strengthen this faith which has been handed down to us from the time of the Apostles. Make Christ, the Son of God, the centre of your life. But let me also remind you that following Jesus in faith means walking at his side in the communion of the Church. We cannot follow Jesus on our own. Anyone who would be tempted to do so “on his own”, or to approach the life of faith with kind of individualism so prevalent today, will risk never truly encountering Jesus, or will end up following a counterfeit Jesus.

Having faith means drawing support from the faith of your brothers and sisters, even as your own faith serves as a support for the faith of others. I ask you, dear friends, to love the Church which brought you to birth in the faith, which helped you to grow in the knowledge of Christ and which led you to discover the beauty of his love. Growing in friendship with Christ necessarily means recognizing the importance of joyful participation in the life of your parishes, communities and movements, as well as the celebration of Sunday Mass, frequent reception of the sacrament of Reconciliation, and the cultivation of personal prayer and meditation on God’s word.

Friendship with Jesus will also lead you to bear witness to the faith wherever you are, even when it meets with rejection or indifference. We cannot encounter Christ and not want to make him known to others. So do not keep Christ to yourselves! Share with others the joy of your faith. The world needs the witness of your faith, it surely needs God. I think that the presence here of so many young people, coming from all over the world, is a wonderful proof of the fruitfulness of Christ’s command to the Church: “Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation” (Mk 16:15). You too have been given the extraordinary task of being disciples and missionaries of Christ in other lands and countries filled with young people who are looking for something greater and, because their heart tells them that more authentic values do exist, they do not let themselves be seduced by the empty promises of a lifestyle which has no room for God.

Dear young people, I pray for you with heartfelt affection. I commend all of you to the Virgin Mary and I ask her to accompany you always by her maternal intercession and to teach you how to remain faithful to God’s word. I ask you to pray for the Pope, so that, as the Successor of Peter, he may always confirm his brothers and sisters in the faith. May all of us in the Church, pastors and faithful alike, draw closer to the Lord each day. May we grow in holiness of life and be effective witnesses to the truth that Jesus Christ is indeed the Son of God, the Saviour of all mankind and the living source of our hope. Amen.

*****

At the conclusion of Mass, the Pope led the faithful in the recitation of the Angelus. He gave the following remarks before the prayer:

Dear Friends,

You are now about to go back home. Your friends will want to know how you have changed after being in this lovely city with the Pope and with hundreds of thousands of other young people from around the world. What are you going to tell them? I invite you to give a bold witness of Christian living to them. In this way you will give birth to new Christians and will help the Church grow strongly in the hearts of many others.

During these days, how often I have thought of the young people at home who are waiting for your return! Take my affectionate greetings to them, to those less fortunate, to your families and to the Christian communities that you come from.

Let me also express my gratitude to the Bishops and priests who are present in such great numbers at this Day. To them all I extend my deepest thanks, encouraging them to continue to work pastorally among young people with enthusiasm and dedication.

I now commend all young people in the world, especially you, dear friends, to the loving intercession of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, Star of the new evangelization and Mother of young people.

[Spanish] I greet the Archbishop of the Forces affectionately and I warmly thank the Spanish Air Force, which very generously permitted Cuatro Vientos Air Base on this, the centenary of the foundation of the Spanish Air Force. I place all Spanish Air Force personnel and their families under the maternal protection of Our Lady of Loreto.

In this context, I recall that yesterday marked the third anniversary of the grave accident at Barajas Airport which caused many deaths and injuries, and I express my spiritual closeness and my deep affection for all those touched by that unfortunate event, and well as for the families of the victims, whose souls we commend to the mercy of God.

I am pleased now to announce that the next World Youth Day will be held in 2013, in Rio de Janeiro. Even now, let us ask the Lord to assist all those who will organize it, and to ease the journey there of young people from all over the world, so that they will be able to join me in that beautiful city of Brazil.

Dear friends, before we say good-bye, and while the young people of Spain pass on the World Youth Day cross to the young people of Brazil, as Successor of Peter I entrust all of you present with this task: make the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ known to the whole world! He wants you to be the apostles of the twenty-first century and the messengers of his joy. Do not let him down! Thank you very much.

[French] My dear young people of the French-speaking world, today Christ asks you to be rooted in him and with him, to build your lives upon him who is our rock. He sends you out to be his witnesses, courageous and without anxiety, authentic and credible! Do not be afraid to be Catholic, and to be witnesses to those around you in simplicity and sincerity! Let the Church find in you and in your youthfulness joyful missionaries of the Good News of salvation!

[English] I greet all the English-speaking young people present here today! As you return home, take back with you the good news of Christ’s love which we have experienced in these unforgettable days. Fix your eyes upon him, deepen your knowledge of the Gospel and bring forth abundant fruit! God bless all of you until we meet again!

[German] My dear friends! Faith is not a theory. To believe is to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus and to live in friendship with him in fellowship with others, in the communion of the Church. Entrust the whole of your lives to Christ and bring your friends to find their way to the source of life, to God. May the Lord make you happy and joy-filled witnesses of his love.

[Italian] My dear young Italians! Greetings to all of you. The Eucharist that we have celebrated is the risen Christ present and living in our midst: through him, your lives are rooted and built upon Christ, strong in faith. With this confidence, depart from Madrid and tell everyone what you have seen and heard. Respond with joy to the Lord’s call, follow him and remain always united to him: you will bear much fruit!

[Portuguese] Dear Portuguese-speaking young people and friends, you have met Jesus Christ! You will be swimming against the tide in a society with a relativistic culture which wishes neither to seek nor hold on to the truth. But it was for this moment in history, with its great challenges and opportunities, that the Lord sent you, so that, through your faith, the Good News of Jesus might continue to resound throughout the earth. I hope to see you again in two years’ time at the next World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Til then, let us pray for each other, witnessing to the joy that brings forth life, rooted in and built upon Christ. Until we meet again, my dear young people! God bless you all!

[Polish] Dear young Poles, strong in the faith, rooted in Christ! May the gifts you have received from God during these days bear in you abundant fruit. Be his witnesses. Take to others the message of the Gospel. With your prayers and example of life, help Europe to rediscover its Christian roots.

Le corps et le sang de Jésus nous donnent notre force

Ce matin, Mgr Prendergast a célébré la messe avec nous à la paroisse San Antonio de Padua à Madrid et son homélie était court car nous avons besoin d'énergie pour nous rendre à Cuatro Ventos pour la vigile avec le pape ce soir.

Mgr Prendergast a souligné que Jésus a partagé plusieurs repas avec les pécheurs et il a donné son corps comme nourriture pour notre pèlerinage dans cette vie et non seulement pour les 10 jours que nous passons en Espagne pour les JMJ.

La soif que nous avons est une soif pour la vie éternelle. Jésus nous parle d'une alliance nouvelle et pour se faire, nous avons beaucoup besoin des prêtres. Prions pour nos séminaristes, pour nos prêtres et nos évêques, et pour les jeunes qui discernent leur vocation.

Jesus' nails hold our faith together

Today, over 10,000 English-speaking pilgrims from every continent packed into Palacio de Deportes for a catechesis session with New York City Archbishop Timothy Dolan, who is currently the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

He lead us in prayer and we said "Praise be Jesus Christ now and forever!" He said that the result of being firm in the faith and rooted in Christ is to be His witnesses.

"How are we going to be missionaries and evangelists?" he asked us. "How are we going to be light of the world and salt of the earth?"

Archbishop Dolan said that there are four essential components: charity, joy, hope, and love for the Church.

Charity captivated people from the beginning of our Church. "The love that the followers of Jesus had for one another captivated the unbelivers' hearts," he explained. He addressed the canadian pilgrims and mentioned our devotion to Catherine Doroty because of her love for the poor. "We are at our best when we give ourselves in love to one another," he added.

Joy is the infallible sign of God's presence. When we're happy, people want to know why. JOY stands for "Jesus first, others second, yourself third."

In Haiti, after the earthquake, they gathered in front of the cross even though they had nothing because they had hope. When the world sees us never giving up, they want to know why.

Passionate love for the Church must be the passion of our lives. This is tough for us today because people want spirituality without religion and we answer "no" because Jesus and His Church are one and they cannot be seperated. Jesus is so close to the Church that the Church is His bride and His body because the two are one flesh. The nails of Jesus Christ are what holds our faith together because the human body died and that was when He was mostly God.

S'enraciner dans la foi comme un arbre près d'un ruisseau

Aujourd'hui, nous sommes allés à la catéchèse à la paroisse San Millán y San Cayetano et quand nous sommes entrés, il y avait l'adoration eucharistique.

Mgr Jean Kockerols au Vicariat de Bruxelles nous a parlé du corps et de sa transfiguration. Il nous a expliqué que l'enracinement prend beaucoup de temps et c'est progressif, mais c'est fort. « Le livre des psaumes s'ouvre par la promesse que si nous sommes comme un arbre planté près d'un ruisseau, nous buvons de l'eau vive et notre feuillage ne meurt pas », il nous expliqua. « Il faut devenir familier avec Jésus et le connaître pour s'enraciner dans la foi. Les disciples ont pris le temps de le connaître et de reconnaître en lui le sauveur », il ajouta.

C'est une démarche personnelle. Parfois, il est à mes côtés et parfois, il est bien devant. Il faut accepter ce compagnenage avec lui. « Il nous invite à prier avec lui sur la montagne et de voir l'imensité de la beauté de notre vie », il nous expliqua. « Il veut aussi nous montrer où nous allons. Nos souffrances ne seront plus une limite quand nous serons transfigurés dans notre corps glorieux. »

Ici sur terre, il faut rester « connecté » au monde spirituel et endurer la souffrance de notre humanité. Notre proximité de Jésus est la raison de notre bonheur. Le Seigneur nous montre où pêcher ; où jetter nos filets et il répond à nos besoins.

Il faut vivre ce compagnenage jour après jour afin d'être enraciné dans le Christ.

Suite à la catéchèse, nous avons célébré la messe.

Le pape est arrivé à Madrid aujourd'hui à midi.

The power of names

This morning, we went to Saint Teresa of Avila parish in Madrid for a catechesis session and Mass. Saint Thérèse of Lisieux's relics arrived today and they will be here for three days. The church was packed; there were people sitting on the floor.

Cardinal Francis George from the Archdiocese of Chicago gave the catechesis session and spoke on the power of names. "When you know someone's name, you can build on the relationship, but to give someone your name is to give them a certain level of control because they can call on you," he explained. "Faith is a response to God's call. He takes the initiative and we can't control God."

With the phrase "I Am", Jesus claims divinity. He was one of us, but different. We don't have a name for God in the Bible until Jesus arrives in the world. Through Jesus, God becomes one of us. We can't use the name to control God, but He trusts us with it and He wants to have a relationship with us. We can always call on Him and we can understand His ways because of Divine Revelation through Jesus. We give Him our name and He calls us by name.

Faith gives us a way of thinking that doesn't fit with the world's. Our faith tells us who we are as followers of Jesus. "The heart has its reasons that intellect doesn't understand," explained Cardinal George. "It's a marriage; Jesus loves His Church and we can trust Him like a wife trusts her husband," he added. The problem, however, is that our sinfulness stops us from trusting God.

It is Jesus who acts in the sacraments. It's Jesus who forgives sins, who baptises, who gives himself to us in communion, and faith helps us to overcome our own evil and the evil of the world. "Faith comes first in baptism," said Cardinal George. "When we were baptised, we were born into the family of God and it cannot be 'undone', just as our birth into our biological families cannot be undone," he explained.

Jesus is also the saviour of the whole world and he wants the world to know who He is. To grow in the firmness of the faith is to take on this mission and that's Cardinal George's prayer for us this World Youth Day.

Plus de 5 000 Canadiens se sont réunis à Palacio de Deportes

Aujourd'hui, plus de 5 000 Canadiens se sont réunis à Palacio de Deportes pour une grande cérémonie qui comptait de nombreux évêques catholiques du Canada, y compris Mgr Prendergast qui l'a mené. Un prêtre a donné son témoignage et il a chanté des chansons en jouant la guitare. Les autres chansons étaient animées par la chorale de Marie Jeunesse.

Mgr Prendergast a expliqué aux jeunes du Canada qu'il faut vraiment s'enraciner dans la foi afin que le Seigneur puisse nous aider à surmonter nos peurs. Dieu n'attend pas qu'on soit parfait; il a confiance qu'on a ce qu'il faut pour devenir ses mains et ses pieds.

Mgr Richard Smith, Archevêque d'Edmonton, a rappelé aux jeunes de vivre en communion avec Jésus-Christ.

Mgr Lacroix, Archevêque de Québec, et Mgr Prendergast nous ont envoyé en mission et on prié pour nous.

Hola Madrid

Hola Madrid!

We are now in Madrid. It has been quite a journey so far. The Days in the Diocese were amazing. During those days, we were hosted in homes in the parish boundary of Holy Family in Valladolid. This was the highlight, and every morning we would hear stories of the ways that the host families would share their warmth. We were well taken care of! Some of the stories were of host homes ironing clothes, having their extended families over to meet the Canadians, chocolate for breakfast, many late night conversations, and much more. They became like second families and on our departure, there were tears shed. Thank you Valladolid for your warmth and hospitality!

On the bus ride to Madrid, we had an open mike where the pilgrims could share their journey and experiences. Once again, tears were shed as we remembered tender moments and much laughter was had remembering the many joys. This was one of the most memorable times!

We are now on the second phase of our journey; the days in Madrid. We have settled into the Florida Norte Hotel and had small group discussions. This morning, we will have a gathering with the Canadian pilgrims at Palacio de Deportes. There should be thousands of us there. Tonight there will be the opening Mass with hundreds of thousands gathered in Cibeles Square. Thank you for your prayers. We will continue to pray for you.

Ted

The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Today, Archbishop Prendergast spoke about Jesus' resurrection and Mary's hope during the last Mass that we celebrated at Sagrada Familia parish in Valladolid.

Saint Paul tells us that the victory in the resurrection will be shared with all of us. In Valladolid, there's a great devotion to Jesus and His Sacred Heart. Father Bernardo F. de Hoyos was beatified last year and was an apostle of the Sacred Heart, and this Sunday marks the 300th anniversary of his birth. During the World Youth Day Mass this Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI will consecrate the youth to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

However, the most important thing is not the act of consecration, but the transformation of our hearts and our intimate relationship with Jesus, explained Archbishop Prendergast.

Mary allowed us to have a deeply intimate relationship with Jesus because she gave permission to God to give birth to Him.

God wants to give us eternal life and the fullness of His love. By celebrating Mary's assumption today, we celebrate this love. Nothing can seperate us from the love of God and we are forever with Him in His love.

At the end of the Mass, we exchanged gifts with the priest and volunteers from Sagrada Familia parish.

The Days in the Diocese are now over and we are currently in Madrid. Photos taken by Javier Polanco Gonzalez during the Days in the Diocese have been posted online: https://picasaweb.google.com/117589744512370515497/PreJMJValladolidAgosto2011?feat=email.

Évangéliser dans les rues de Valladolid

Aujourd'hui, nous avons eu un rassemblement de tous les pèlerins qui sont à Valladolid pour les journées en diocèse. Chaque groupe de chaque pays a évangélisé dans une région différente de la ville. Nous avons distribué des prières dans la rue et nous avons chanté en anglais, français et espagnol.

Aujourd'hui marque le 50e anniversaire de Mgr Prendergast comme jésuite. Nous avons célébré son anniversaire à Valladolid. Voici une photo du groupe avec l'archevêque:

Mass in Alba de Tormes - the city where St. Teresa of Avila died

Today, the Ottawa pilgrims visited the city where St. Teresa of Avila died. Archbishop Prendergast presided the Mass in the basilica where her tomb lies and where her arm and heart are found.

During the Mass, His Grace explained that Jesus was sent to someone who hadn't studied, and that St. Teresa didn't study either, but she is a doctor of the Church. The dove over St. Teresa in front of the basilica represents the holy spirit and it's over us as well.

Jesus says that for those who believe in Him, water will flow from their hearts, and that's what He wants for us as well. As a nun, St. Teresa saw herself as going away from God until she had a conversion and that's when God was able to work through her.

"Let's ask the Holy Spirit to fire us up with love and to transform our hearts," concluded Archbishop Prendergast.

Première journée complète à Valladolid

Aujourd'hui fut très chargé. On a visité trois églises, on a eu une conférence sur la sexualité, la chorale internationale a pratiqué pour le concert de demain soir, on a célébré la messe et on a eu une soirée dédiée à Marie.

Mgr Prendergast a célébré la messe et nous a expliqué que les grands thèmes dans les lectures sont notre choix et notre alliance avec le Seigneur. Dans la première lecture, Josué a parlé au peuple et leur a dit qu'ils peuvent servir Dieu ou non. Notre alliance avec Dieu est notre choix de répondre à toutes les choses que Dieu fait.

Dans la deuxième lecture, on est présenté des types de vocations différentes. Tomber en amour est un choix qui peut changer notre vie pour toujours. Jésus nous invite à découvrir la valeur du mariage ainsi que la vocation du célibat. Le choix de notre vocation coûte toute notre vie, mais ça vaut la peine.

Aujourd'hui, nous avons l'exemple d'un prêtre de ce diocèse qui est devenu un évêque et qui est mort un martyr. « Je vous invite à prier pour ceux qui ont fait un choix de rester fidèle à leur vocation et pour que le Seigneur puisse guider ceux qui n'ont pas encore fait un choix dans leur discernement », a conclu Mgr Prendergast.

Another delay

Greetings from Paris!
We are now in the Paris airport a little tired but in good spirits. Some people are eating, some playing cards, some snoozing and some of us blogging...probably the Archbishop and me. We arrived an hour late in Paris. Originally, we were flying out on two flights (one at 9:35 and the next at 12:35) but because of the late arrival, we missed the first flight and we are now on the same flight.

So we wait together and enjoy French baguettes!

Ted

So Far So Good...with a little delay

Well the first official day of our pilgrimage has gone well...well mostly. Everyone arrived on time to the Diocesan Centre with passports in hand. Archbishop Prendergast celebrated Mass and it was a joyful albeit hot and humid gathering. I think the Lord was preparing us for Spain's heat. The buses showed up early and the departure was smooth. Lots of good conversation was had on the bus ride! It was very rainy on the ride and the drivers had to reduce their speed.

No major problems checking in and at security and after a bit of a supper, we are currently having small groups. The Ottawa pilgrims are starting to get to know each other...the beginning!

Air France has just notified us that the flight will be delayed about half an hour while the prepare the cabin. I am sure that will be no problem as we can pick up that time easily in the air. Oh yeah...the plane is an Airbus (a double decker!).

The next entry will be from Spain. Hasta Muy Pronto.

Ted

YOUCAT

YOUCAT – short for “Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church” will be distributed to the millions of pilgrims at World Youth Day in August.

“I beg you,” Benedict XVI writes, “study this Catechism with passion and perseverance. Make a sacrifice of your time for it.”

YOUCAT adapts the content of the Catechism of the Catholic Church to a format intended to engage young people and young adults. It is an accessible and contemporary expression of the Catholic faith.

The book is also keyed to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, so people of any age can explore Catholicism and the Church in a much deeper way.

It explains:
• Doctrine – What Catholics believe;
• The Sacraments – How Catholics celebrate the mysteries of the faith;
• Moral Life – How Catholics are to live;
• Prayer and Spirituality – How Catholics should pray.

YOUCAT’s attractive format includes questions and answers, highly-readable commentary, margin photos and illustrations, summary definitions of key terms, Bible citations and quotes from the Saints and other great teachers. The questions are direct and honest, even at times tough; the answers straightforward, relevant and compelling.

“You need to know what you believe,” the Pope adds in the foreword. “Yes… you need to be more deeply rooted in the faith than the generation of your parents so that you can engage the challenges and temptations of this time with strength and determination.”

Firmes en la fe - lyrics / paroles

Estribillo:
Firmes en la fe, firmes en la fe
caminamos en Cristo, nuestro Amigo, nuestro Señor.
¡Gloria siempre a Él! ¡Gloria siempre a Él!
Caminamos en Cristo fi rmes en la fe.

Estrofas:
1. Tu amor nos edifica y nos arraiga,
tu cruz nos consolida y fortalece.
Tu carne nos redime y nos abraza,
tu sangre nos renueva y nos embriaga.
Oh, Cristo, nuestro Hermano,
oh, Cristo, nuestro Amigo,
nuestro Señor.
¡Haznos firmes en ti!

2. Tus manos acarician nuestras llagas,
tus ojos purifican la mirada.
Tus labios comunican mil perdones,
tus pies nos encaminan a la vida.
Oh, Cristo, nuestro Hermano,
oh, Cristo, nuestro Amigo,
nuestro Señor.
¡Haznos fi rmes en ti!

3. Tu aliento es el Soplo de lo Alto,
tu risa es el signo de la gracia.
Tus llagas son amores encendidos,
tus penas son el precio de mi alma.
Oh, Cristo, nuestro Hermano,
oh, Cristo, nuestro Amigo,
nuestro Señor.
¡Haznos fi rmes en ti!

4. Tu rostro es el icono de la Vida,
tu frente es nuestra luz resucitada.
Tu muerte es la causa de mi vida,
bautismo de mi carne en ti salvada.
Oh, Cristo, nuestro Hermano,
oh, Cristo, nuestro Amigo,
nuestro Señor.
¡Haznos fi rmes en ti!

5. Tu gloria es el futuro de los hombres,
que marchan con impulsos de tu gracia.
Tu Iglesia es la casa de mil puertas
encima de tu piedra edificada.
Oh, Cristo, nuestro Hermano,
oh, Cristo, nuestro Amigo,
nuestro Señor.
¡Haznos fi rmes en ti!

6. Tus jóvenes caminan con María,
que canta como novia engalanada.
Con ella cantaremos tu victoria,
la muerte ha sido ya aniquilada.
Oh, Cristo, nuestro Hermano,
oh, Cristo, nuestro Amigo,
nuestro Señor.
¡Haznos fi rmes en ti!

Letra: Mons. César Franco
Música: Enrique Vázquez, pbro.

Useful expressions in Spanish for World Youth Day

These are some useful expressions in Spanish for World Youth Day:

1. World Youth Day (WYD) = Jornada Mundial de la Juventud (JMJ)

2. Volunteers = Voluntarios

3. Pilgrim = Peregrino

4. Pope = Papa

5. Priest = Sacerdote

6. Catholic Church = Iglesia Católica

7. Confession = Confesión

8. Mass = Misa

9. Patron Saints = Santos y Patronos

10. Youth Festival = Festival de la Juventud

11. Opening Mass = Misa de Inauguración

12. Catechesis = Catequesis

13. Popemobile = Papamóvil

14. Stations of the Cross = Vía Crucis

15. Vigil with the Pope = Vigilia con el Papa

16. WYD Closing Mass = Misa de clausura de la JMJ

17. Pray = Rezar

18. The Cross and Icon = La cruz y el icono

19. WYD Hymn = Himno JMJ

Sac à dos pour les JMJ

Voici une image du sac à dos que les pèlerins recevront dès leur arrivé à Madrid pour les JMJ y compris les ressources qu'ils recevront avec le sac.

Archdiocese of Ottawa now on Twitter

The Archdiocese of Ottawa is now on Twitter and we are counting down the days until we leave for Madrid, Spain for Word Youth Day! Because the number of characters is limited, we created a blog as well and we will post our daily news here. Be the first to know what is happening in Spain by reading our blog and by following us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/ArchOttawa.