Feb. 7, 2011 – The Florida Catholic
LYNN RAMSEY
Florida Catholic correspondent
Lynn Ramsey
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WINTER GARDEN — The schedule resembles that of a rock band on tour — three cities, two countries, 11 days. But Our Lady Queen of Peace Mission in Delray Beach has a mission: to send 17 young people and three adults on a pilgrimage of a lifetime.
The dioceses in Florida and many parishes throughout, hope to give their young people that same mountaintop experience. World Youth Day (WYD) gives people ages 16-35 a chance share their faith and be rejuvenated to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But to get that mountaintop experience, many mountains must be climbed.
Pilgrims must be prepared spiritually for the journey. They must also gain physical endurance to be able to stay the course. They must also be prepared to deal with logistical obstacles.
That goes for pilgrimage leaders as well as pilgrims.
Shepherding the pilgrims
Father Vincenzo Ronchi of the Missionaries of St. Charles Scalabrini, parochial vicar at Our Lady Queen of Peace Mission in Delray Beach, has some experience in sending groups to WYD. As a newly ordained priest, he took a group from Canada to the first WYD in Denver. He is part of the Palm Beach Diocese’s group going Aug. 11-22. They will leave Madrid on Aug. 22 — the first day of school in Palm Beach County.
Anthony Marchica, director of youth and young adult ministry for the Diocese of Palm Beach, went on World Youth Days in Denver and Paris as a pilgrim. So he had a little experience on which to draw while planning this one — his first as a pilgrimage leader.
“It’s definitely helped me in understanding the difference between a pilgrimage and a trip,” Marchica said. “The goal is spiritual development, with an emphasis on building community among the people going. It’s also helped me with practical stuff — how to pack; what you need to carry; what you need to bring into the park for Mass; what you should leave at the hotel rather than carry with you.”
The Diocese of Venice is going to WYD as one big group, with 11 parishes represented. Diocesan youth director George L. Smith is leading a group for the first time, but he relies on the experience of parishes such as St. Martha in Sarasota and Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in Sarasota that have sent many groups before.
Smith also said the tour company and the WYD council have provided great resources so he could find out what he needed to know for leading a pilgrimage.
We are one body
Smith admits that the logistics challenges of traveling with a big group are daunting. But he also said those are to be expected and will provide opportunities for greater spiritual growth. Plus, the benefits of going as a group outweigh the disadvantages.
“Solidarity for one: It gives the teens an opportunity to see the larger Church and be one with our diocese as we take a pilgrimage to see the pope for this amazing day,” Smith said. “That’s what it’s about. World Youth Day is showing how large, how amazing, how universal our Church is. To go as a diocese is a real treat for them and for us as youth directors as well.”
The group will receive another benefit of unity — a visit by Bishop Frank J. Dewane in Madrid. Smith said the group traveling together makes it easier for the bishop to catechize the group about the pilgrimage. It also ensures that no members of the group will miss the opportunity of bringing the pilgrimage close to home.
“The idea of a larger Church — not just a parish, or not just a diocese — the idea that a Church established by Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago, it’s important that it’s spread throughout the world,” Smith said. “Any questions, seeking the truth, eucharistic adoration throughout, catechesis from bishops — it will be able to feed their minds and their hearts.”
Lots to do, lots to do …
Fundraising is at the top of the list of things to do, but pilgrims can’t leave or return to the country without a passport. According to the U.S. State Department’s passport website, many post offices, clerks of court and other government offices are designated to accept passport applications if you have the average four to six weeks to wait. If you need an expedited application, you have to visit the Miami Passport Agency at the Omni Center, 1501 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 210, in Miami. The website also urges that if you are getting passports during the summer travel season, then you’ll need to go the expedited route, which will take two to three weeks.
“We’ve been urging them to get them as soon as they sign up for the pilgrimage,” Father Ronchi said. “A few members of our youth group could not join us because they’re in the progress of getting legal status in the country, so they could not travel abroad.”
He spoke of a girl who has temporary protected status and could not go. She and her parents are here legally with the same status, but traveling internationally with that status carries a risk. “Traveling for people with these statuses is usually restricted to humanitarian purposes,” said Father Ronchi. “It was difficult to secure all the documents for this one girl, and maybe that would’ve caused difficulties for the whole group going through airports.”
Once you have passports, then you proceed to plan your trip. Our Lady Queen of Peace’s group made WYD a part of a two-week trip that includes Rome and Assisi in Italy. But the group also has to plan for insurance for each pilgrim. The group also is trying to ensure discipline.
This is vital, because a well-organized group can fit in a lot into a short time. Father Ronchi emphasized the need for pilgrims to prepare for lots of walking.
“There’s a lot to experience if we move fast,” Father Ronchi said. “We’ll need time off to be with other young people in the world. We want to participate in the catechesis in the morning, concerts at night, meet the pope when he arrives, the vigil and Mass.”
Heat and money
Heat is another concern for WYD pilgrims. The average temperature in August is 87, but it can get into the 100s. “They’re always prepared,” said Father Tim Daly, chaplain for Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach. “It’s hot in other times. They’ve been well prepared with liquids.”
Walking also brings up safety risks. But Father Daly said that staying with the group is an important safety measure to which everyone needs to adhere.
Pilgrims also need to plan ways to deal with expenses not covered by their tours. In the Palm Beach tour, some meals are not covered. Pilgrims will also bear costs of souvenirs and other items.
Our Lady Queen of Peace is trying to arrange with local banks to set up debit cards that will work in Spain and Italy. Parents would also be able to monitor their use and put more money on them if needed.
The cards should help with money exchange.
Prepare the way
Ultimately, all the work that goes into the trip goes for naught if the pilgrims aren’t prepared to reap the spiritual blessings from the trip. Each person who spoke for this story emphasized that this was not a vacation, but a pilgrimage.
Father Daly said that as most of the logistical plans have been taken care of, the pilgrims will fully focus on matters of God.
“They’ve expressed interest in knowing more about Pope Benedict XVI, because we’re celebrating Mass with him. At this point, as we get closer, (preparations) are more of a spiritual interest.”
To that end, the pilgrims need to do some spiritual preparation for the trip.
“Prayer is the big thing — praying for the pilgrimage, praying about it, that they get most out of that experience,” Smith said. “Praying for strength and charity when things start challenging us … because that’s what you need to expect. Prayer is the number one thing we can do. They have to psychologically get their minds on board with the fact that it’s not a vacation.” Marchica said it best: “I would really hope this is a trip of a lifetime. We’re doing everything we can to make it as rich as possible. You get to feel the rootedness and connectedness to the faith and to incredible people from around the world. We are one universal Church, not just a collection of parishes.”
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