World Youth Day Pilgrimage Built On Divine Mercy

    Our pilgrimage to Krakow, Poland, began with Mass in the Sarto House Chapel adjacent to the Catholic Center in Evansville.  We celebrated the Mass setting for the Mercy of God, in light of the Divine Mercy theme of World Youth Day 2016.  Following a quick lunch, we (47 of us) boarded the bus and took off from the Catholic Center a few minutes past noon on Saturday, July 23, bound for Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, where we traveled by the Polish Airline, LOT, to Warsaw, Poland.  

    A pilgrimage is spiritual in nature, meant to be a transforming experience.  It is as much, if not more, about the manner or demeanor in which one makes the pilgrimage than about the place or destination.  Of course, a destination as incredible as Krakow certainly enhances such an experience.  Prayer, fasting and sacrifice are essential to a truly transformative pilgrimage, which is necessarily grounded in faith, hope and charity.  As bishop, I carried the Diocese of Evansville—our people, endeavors, hopes, needs, ministries and services—in my mind and heart throughout the pilgrimage.  Pilgrimages often have a particular theme or emphasis.  This particular WYD pilgrimage, in light of the Jubilee of Mercy, centered on Divine Mercy.  Thus, the fruit of this pilgrimage should be best reflected in our spiritual and corporal works of mercy.

    Pilgrimages are often laced with highs and lows, expected and unexpected graces.  There are memorable moments of joy and excitement, such as meeting new people or getting a great photo of the pope, as well as moments that test the most resolved of intents and purposes.  At the heart of it all must be an openness to encountering the sacred.  All this was certainly the case for our WYD pilgrimage to Krakow.

    First and foremost, I cannot say enough about how well our Diocesan Director of Youth and Young Adults, Mr. Steve Dabrowski, coordinated and carried out this pilgrimage for us.  I tip my miter to him.  I also want to acknowledge my wonderful traveling companions.  The Diocese can be proud of each and every one of those who represented us on this endeavor.  There were a couple of very trying moments, which certainly tested the mettle of every member of our group.  I was both inspired and humbled by the perseverance of faithful witness and discipleship in Jesus Christ that radiated among our group.  Honestly, I would take this group anywhere (and that is saying a lot for an introvert).   It is worth pointing out that the people of Krakow displayed remarkable hospitality, patience and kindness.

    Due to storms in the Chicago area, our departure from O’Hare Airport was delayed 2 ½ hours, causing us to adjust our first day of pilgrimage in Poland.  Arriving a couple of hours behind the original schedule, we took a bus directly to Czestochowa where we celebrated Mass at 8:30 P.M. local time on Sunday evening, checked into our hotel and had a late dinner.  We spent the next day, our first full day, visiting the monastic shrine at Jasna Gora (where we celebrated Mass in the Chapel of the “Black Madonna”) and Auschwitz-Birkenau (where a sobering awareness of atrocities against human life, past and present, are inescapable), eventually arriving in Krakow around 10 P.M.  The emotions stirred by this first day are better left unexplained.  As displayed by Pope Francis during his visit of Auschwitz-Birkenau, this first day’s experience is best held in prayerful silence.

    Included among the 2 million participants at WYD, in Krakow, were more than 40,000 pilgrims and 85 bishops from the United States.  It was mentioned that approximately 800 bishops from around the world were expected to take part in one way or another.  It takes quite an infrastructure to manage these types of numbers infiltrating a city, even for a week.  Imagine even half of these numbers descending upon the city of Evansville…thousands of people walking up and down Hwy. 41, the Lloyd Expressway and Diamond Avenue.  All would come to a complete standstill in no time.  Yet, everyone seemed to take practically every opportunity and challenge in stride with incredible patience, understanding, charity and even joy.  With more tham 180 nations represented, this was truly an experience of the universality of our Catholic faith.   

    The events of WYD included various venues of catechesis, worship, adoration, celebration, encounter and interaction.  There were great presenters, catechists, music groups and skits throughout the week.  The enthusiasm for the Catholic faith was as palpable as anything I have ever encountered in my life.  Despite rain, heat, humidity, long lines and crowded spaces, the enthusiasm of faith and joy of the gospel seemingly did not wane.  Some went hours, even a day or so, without food.  Yet, despite such fasting and sacrifice, planned or unplanned, late into each and every evening young people continued to sing, dance, laugh and abound with enthusiasm and joy.  

    The Holy Father spoke of the effective witness of mercy that is so much needed in our lives, families, communities, cultures and societies throughout the world.  Pope Francis exhorted everyone, especially the young, to not accept a mediocre way of life but to embrace the call to leave one’s mark on the world.  He warned of the allurement of false happiness and securities, stressing that the only truly and lasting joy is found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Throughout the week, we were reminded of the seeming ordinary lives of persons like St. John Paul II and St. Faustina Kowalska who provided an extraordinary witness of mercy.  Through the inspiration and intercession of such remarkable saints, we too must strive to embrace more fully the call to holiness through the extraordinary grace made available to us in Word and Sacrament.  All works of mercy, corporal and spiritual, must be rooted in a life of prayer.

    I am sure that I will be sharing bits and pieces of my WYD experience in the days ahead through various opportunities of writing, preaching, teaching and simply chatting with others.  There is quite a bit to unravel, which takes time and reflection.

    It was an incredible experience, one that must be pondered for several weeks to come.  There is much to be discerned before, during and after such an experience.  I am glad that I did it.  I am glad that it’s over.  I am glad that I have three years before the next one, which will be in Panama (2019).  While I would do some things differently, if I had it to do over, I would do it again.  Neither Pope Francis nor the good people of our Diocese fail to inspire and lift me up.

    Interestingly enough, and for good reason, Krakow proclaims itself to be the “City of Mercy.”  It has me wondering what the Diocese of Evansville might proclaim itself as being…and would we have sufficient evidence to prove it.  We can be who and what we choose to be, in accordance with the Will of God, if we dare to believe and strive to make it happen.  All things are possible with God.  Holiness is not an option for the few, but the call of every baptized person.  Embracing that call, may we be a diocese known for its extraordinary faith, hope and charity through its ministries of mercy and services of justice.   Relying always on Divine Mercy, may our constant prayer ever be “Jesus, I trust in you.”