Knights Reflect on ‘Great Gift’ of World Youth Day

Photos

	Knights of Columbus WYD chaplains lead in Archbishop George Niederauer of San Francisco and Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett of Lismore, Australia, into St. Benedict’s Church for Mass.

Australian bishops welcomed the pilgrims who gathered for a second day for morning catechesis and Mass at the two sites organized by the Knights of Columbus and the Sisters of Life for World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney, and pilgrims excitedly awaited the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI.

On Thursday morning, Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett of Lismore addressed the youth at St. Benedict’s Church, located on the campus of the Love and Life Site, and Bishop Issam Darwish, Melkite eparch of Australia and New Zealand, celebrated an Eastern Rite Mass at the Melkite Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel.

Both bishops reflected on the day’s theme – “Being Confirmed in the Holy Spirit” – and encouraged the youth to embrace their God-given mission to be witnesses of Christ and the Gospel. Following lunch, the majority of the WYD pilgrims returned to the Barangaroo district of Darling Harbor, the site of the opening Mass July 15, to await the opening address of Pope Benedict.

The Knights’ delegation, however, marched to Circular Quay, the ferry hub of Sydney Harbor, to see the Holy Father pass by via ship. Surrounded Sydney natives, they sang and shared devotional items – such as Pope Benedict XVI and Father Michael J. McGivney prayer cards – to those around them.

The Knights then awaited the papal motorcade, which passed by a nearby street, before a special dinner at an Italian restaurant, located on the water overlooking the famous Sydney Opera House.

Knights ready to make their way to the Papal Arrival at Sydney Harbour.

The Knights welcomed several distinguished guests, including Supreme Chaplain Bishop William E. Lori, who entered the room to a round of applause. They were also joined by Basilian Father Thomas Rosica, founder of Salt and Light Television and principal organizer of World Youth Day 2002 in Toronto, and actor Eduardo Verástegui, star of the movie Bella, a screening of which the Knights had helped organize for WYD pilgrims the previous evening.

As dinner concluded, Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson offered a brief reflection for the Knight-pilgrims on their experience of WYD so far.

“There is no other event in the life of the Church that demonstrates the universal, global nature of the Catholic Church than World Youth Day,” he said. “As we experience that first hand, I have been thinking about the sacrifices it took to make the Church a universal, global Church.” The supreme knight said Knights of Columbus bear a special responsibility. “If we say ‘Vivat Jesus!’ we can't just say that casually, because it must make a difference for us if we actually be live that Jesus does, in fact, live – and he lives in us and through us,” he said.

“What a great gift this is for each of us to be here together and experience World Youth Day,” the supreme knight continued.

“If it is a gift, we have to receive it, and if we receive it, we have to do something. We can't take this gift and, like the lazy steward, bury it in the ground. The response begins by making a sincere commitment, and trusting that whatever talents we offer the Lord, he will do something great with them.”

Bishop Lori then offered a concluding toast in honor of Pope Benedict’s visit. “This beautiful city of Sydney is graced by the presence of the Holy Father,” he said. “I think we should raise our glass to Pope Benedict XVI, who is a beautiful priest, a profound theologian, and a splendid, Spirit-given Holy Father. Long live the pope!”

The Knights then prayed together the ‘Hail Mary’ and received Bishop Lori’s blessing. Some went on to a special WYD screening of Road of Hope: The Spiritual Journey of Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan, a documentary produced by Salt and Light Television and funded by the Order.

The film, which tells the story of how the remarkable faith of Cardinal Van Thuan (1928-2002) sustained him during 13 years of imprisonment by the Communist regime in Vietnam, recently premiered at the International Eucharistic Congress in Quebec City.

The Knights’ “stage crew,” meanwhile, returned to the Love and Life Site to help with the Youth Fest activities. Hundreds of pilgrims were already there to listen to speakers on the theology of the body, visit the Blessed Sacrament in eucharistic adoration, and attend concerts performed by the Celtic rock band Scythian and the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal Catholic Underground band.