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Copyright ©2004 Sophia Institute

On assignment with the National Catholic Register and Faith and Family Magazine, Tim Drake blogs from World Youth Day 2005 in Cologne...

Friday, April 21, 2006

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

Friday, February 24, 2006

Friday, January 27, 2006

Sunday, August 28, 2005

Some Final Thoughts - A Reflection on WYD's Lasting Impact

Some conversations that I had in the closing days of World Youth Day, and after the event got me to thinking about the potential lasting impact of the event in Germany and elsewhere. One of the stories seldom told in the secular media was that a large majority of the pilgrims stayed with host families throughout Cologne, Bonn and Dusseldorf.

This was unique to WYD in Cologne. I cannot recall this happening at previous World Youth Days. Typically, the pilgrims were housed in schools and parishes.

What is unique about this, is the potential long-term impact that the event could have on the country, through those who experienced it through the pilgrims that stayed with them.

One pilgrim told me how her host-parents didn't have a positive opinion of Pope Benedict. Is it possible that the positive stories related by the pilgrim could sway the opinion of their host family.

Another pilgrim told me how on their way to Marienfeld, a German asked him what he needed, and then went to a store to obtain the items that the pilgrim told him he needed. Afterward, the German man insisted that this small group come to his house (after the closing Mass) for tea and to share some stories.

Finally, some pilgrims from Rapid City, South Dakota told me that no matter what time they returned home each evening, the host family was up, and had a full meal ready for them. They wanted to hear all of the stories from the pilgrim's day.

In reflecting on these stories, it occurred to me that these were the untold stories of World Youth Day. Certainly, the story was told of the youth gathered in Cologne for the Pope. The stories were told of their enthusiasm and joy, their prayer and singing, but I saw very few stories told of the pilgrim's stays with their host families.

Not only were the pilgrims able to learn more about German culture, language, and life from their host families, but one wonders what lasting impact the stories told by the pilgrims might have on the families and their faith. I recalled the stories of the early Church, gathering together in family's homes around the dinner table, and how such evangelization spread the faith. Isn't that what was really taking place in Germany, below the media radar?

To demonstrate that impact, I draw from a conversation I had the day before I left.
On the Monday after World Youth Day, I was blessed to have a conversation with Birgitta, a 32-year-old student who lives outside Cologne.

She told me that while she had not participated in World Youth Day, she felt drawn to what was taking place. She was inspired by the energy, happiness and joy of the young pilgrims. Baptized Catholic, she admitted that she was not practicing her faith. Yet, she also admitted that World Youth Day had an impact upon her.

"During these days, seeing the happiness of the young people, even when they were tired or stressed, and hearing the words of the Pope, I feel myself being drawn closer to the Church," she told me.

Whether that will develop into anything further is difficult to know, but one wonders what sparks were ignited during those seven days in Cologne, and what impact, if any, they could have on the rebirth of an active, Christian faith in the heart of Europe.

posted by Tim Drake at 6:00 AM 1 comments   

Engaged at World Youth Day

Early in the week, seeing all the young people, I wondered whether there were any couples that had met and married one another because of World Youth Day. As a columnist for CatholicMatch I am always intrigued at the ways in which the Holy Spirit brings people together and their engagement and marriage stories. Sacramental Christian marriages, I am certain, are one of the fruits of World Youth Day.

On my plane ride from Cologne to Amsterdam I met Paul Yantes, 21, of Rapid City, SD and Taryn Radecki, 20, from Burnsville, Minn. The two had met a year ago at a Catholic Youth Camp where they had both worked, in northern Minnesota.

They were both part of a pilgrimage group from Rapid City attending World Youth Day. Yantes wanted to propose during the trip, but wasn't exactly sure how he would do it. The group was planning to make a visit to Salzburg, Austria in the days before World Youth Day, and he thought that might make a nice place to pop the question.

When he walked into the Cathedral in Salzburg, he knew it was the place.

"It was beautiful," said Yantes.

As the group knelt in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, he pondered when and how he could ask. To Radecki, it seemed like Yantes was stalling during adoration. After praying, they both sat down.

Then, Yantes dropped to one knee and asked the question. Radecki broke out in tears, but eventually said yes.

"I had been dropping marriage hints for months," said Radecki. "I had no inkling whatsoever that he was going to propose. So, when he got down on one knee I burst into tears."

Yantes sister was in on the secret. She sat in a pew behind the couple and took photos of the event.

"I was shaking for two hours afterwards," said Radecki. "We were staying at a convent and they had no telephone for me to call my parents," she said. "I was jumping up and down and wanted to tell someone."

They hope to get married next spring, after they graduate from St. Mary's (in Winona, Minn.).

posted by Tim Drake at 5:42 AM 0 comments   

Two Heads are Better Than One

This intriguing statue outside of Bonn's Basilica of St. Martin drew many curious passers-by. The two heads sit in a plaza right outside the Church. The commemorate the beheaded martyrs Sts. Cassius and Florentius, whose remains are held in a reliquary in the Church's lower crypt. The crypt had Eucharistic adoration taking place while I made my visit the Monday after World Youth Day, and a steady stream of pilgrims from Spain and Italy were making their way into the crypt for prayer.

posted by Tim Drake at 5:11 AM 0 comments   

"Zaccheus, Come Down from That Tree"

Due to a lack of time, there were a few photos that I wasn't able to post while I was in Cologne. This is one of them. It was taken on Friday, as a large crowd gathered in the streets of Cologne near St. Pantaleon Church to watch the pope's arrival there to speak with seminarians.

As the crowd got larger and larger, the various chants for Pope Benedict continued as the crowd waited in anticipation. The most popular chants were "Be-ne-det-to" with the clapping, and one where a leader yells out "Viva" and the crowd responds "Papa." There was also my favorite... "Mucho Papa, mucho papa."

At one point, this man across the way climbed up and crouched in a tree to get a view of the pope. I couldn't help but be reminded of Scripture, and when the Holy Father finally appeared, I fully expected Pope Benedict XVI to tell this young man to get down from that tree.

It's one of my favorite photos from my days in Cologne.

posted by Tim Drake at 5:02 AM 1 comments   

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Returning Home

A journalist's work is never done. On the way home Tuesday I ran into a wonderful youth group from Rapid City, SD headed up by Father Brian Christianson and transitional deacon Jim Hoener. While waiting for a connecting flight in the Amsterdam airport I caught wind that Father Christianson was going to be celebrating a Mass in the airport's open-air lounge located up on a balcony overlooking the airport mezzanine, so I asked if I could join them. They were happy to oblige, and for the next 20 minutes I enjoyed a wonderful Mass amidst all the activity of an international airport. It was a real blessing, and a wonderful way to begin my travels home.

I was also fortunate to meet and talk with several of the youth from their pilgrimage group, including one couple who were engaged over the course of their WYD pilgrimage.

I have plenty more that I plan to write, but I need to catch up on my sleep first.

posted by Tim Drake at 6:48 AM 5 comments   

Monday, August 22, 2005

He's No JPII

It was said at last night's press conference, by a reporter who interviewed hundreds of young people, that the most critical comments about the pope came from German youth. That is perhaps not surprising given his treatment by those who knew him best.

"The Poles can love someone because they are Polish. The Italians can love someone because they are Italian," said Nils Keimeier, 32, a political correspondent for Financial Times Deutschland. "It's not so easy to love someone because they are German. The Germans know Cardinal Ratzinger. He burned ground," he said, using an expression equivalent to the English expression for "burned bridges."

So, to see this morning's NYTimes start off right off the bat by interviewing a German is something like ignoring 700,000 others to kick off the article with some criticism.

The most critical comment I heard, from the hundreds of young people I talked to, was that they didn't know him. The vast majority that admitted they didn't know the man also admitted that they are quite willing to give him a chance.

Clearly, he's no John Paul II.

He didn't kiss the ground when he arrived on his home soil. He always kept extremely close to his texts, only changing a word or two in all of his some 15 speeches. He is less spontaneous. He uses less gestures and talks less personally of himself. He didn't weave the popemobile through the crowd, though he mentioned that he wanted to during his closing remarks at Marienfeld. The massive amount of people and the lack of clear roadways made it impossible.

So, he's no JPII, and that's okay with the young. They recognize that he is his own man - a man of books, and concepts, and ideas. His talks on adoration, the Eucharist, and vocation were clear and direct, and the young responded very positively to his messages (interrupting his vigil 12 times and the final Mass 16 times for applause). The applause was loudest when his remarks were most challenging - observing Sunday Mass, imitating the saints.

Pope Benedict XVI is no JPII. He doesn't have to be. As pope, he is Christ's representative on earth whether he has charisma or not, whether he kisses the ground or not.

In Cologne, the young of the world showed that they are ready to accept him as such. 1.1 million came to participate in Mass with him.

One of my favorite photos from WYD was taken outside St. Pantaleon Church. I'll post it when I return to the U.S. In it, a crowd is gathered along the streets waiting for the pope's arrival. They are 8-10 deep. On the left side of the street, perched up in a tree, was a man hunched leaning on a branch, hoping to get a view of Benedict, in persona Christi. I fully expected the Pope, when he arrived to yell to the man, "Zaccheus, get down from that tree."

The crowds and their response to this new pope, were tremendous. A reporter asked me on the media ship if I had seen anything like the crowd assembled along the river. "No, I told him, but it reminds me of Scripture when Christ flees the crowd and addresses them by boat." I don't think he liked my answer. There were no further questions.

If I'm not mistaken it was St. Teresa of Avila who said, "If you are who God intends you to be, you will set the world ablaze." Pope Benedict is exactly who God intends him to be. That can never fail to resonate with people.

As one older gentleman said to me, "He's more like the popes I grew up with."

posted by Tim Drake at 1:02 AM 33 comments   

"There's a whole new generation of saints-in-the-making at the cutting edge of a major revival in the Catholic Church today, and this book tells their story."

—Leon Suprenant, President, Catholics United for the Faith

"With snapshots of a myriad lives, Tim Drake shows us the face of tomorrow's Church and it is bright and hopeful.'

—Al Kresta, president, Ave Maria Radio, host of "Kresta in the Afternoon"

"Tim Drake shows how, once again, Jesus calls the young to a life of heroism, glory and beauty in a world that offers only timidity, dullness and flash."

—Mark P. Shea, Senior Content Editor, CatholicExchange.com

"If you are feeling discouraged about the future of Catholicism, Tim Drake 's book Young and Catholic is the perfect antidote. A new generation of Catholics with attitude - the John Paul II generation - is coming of age."

—Sherry Weddell, Co-director, The Catherine of Siena Institute

"Unwrap this timely and jubilant book and smile at the precious gift inside."

—Michael Coren, columnist, Toronto Sun and Canadian talk-show host

"The Holy Sprit is restless. He moves upon the land, upon the water, upon the hearts of man. Tim Drake tells this story, that the Holy Spirit is alive and well and living in the hearts of young Catholics. And these young believers are evangelizing the world. All gloomy gusses must read this book. The good news is breathtaking."

—Austin Ruse, President, Culture of Life Foundation

"Young and Catholic is a well-researched, engagingly written look at the vibrant faith life of the newest generation of Catholic faithful. Tim Drake's thorough, wide—ranging and careful reporting makes this book a necessary read for anyone who cares about the Church's life today —and tomorrow."

—Amy Welborn, author, De-Coding DaVinci "

This book gives hope to even the weariest of souls."

—Patrick Reilly, executive director, Cardinal Newman Society

"Young and Catholic is a testament to the never ending-grace that Christ gives his Church throughout the ages. It gives hope and inspires confidence that Christ will always be with us."

—Matthew Pinto, author, Did Adam & Eve Have Belly Buttons?

"In Young and Catholic Tim Drake tells the story of a God-send: a fresh, young, passionate return to Catholic orthodoxy--in schools, law offices, and even urban bars. To the faithful, Drake's reporting will come as a relief and prove to be an inspiration. It is the good news the Church needs right now, to better spread the Good News. Executive summary: God provides."

—Kathryn Jean Lopez, editor, National Review Online

"Drake convincingly shows in his book that today's well formed young Catholics, deeply influenced by Pope John Paul II and the authentic teachings and implementation of the Second Vatican Council will be effective future leaders both in the Church and in the wider society."

—Fr. C.J. McCloskey III, research fellow at the Faith and Reason Institute in Washington, DC

"If one merely looks at dioceses or older religious orders of men or women, or even what are called Catholic colleges and schools, the Catholic Church often seems like a plodding, staid institution contentedly preparing to continue the way it has appeared for decades. Tim Drake's book finds quite a different Church in the making. Vitality is found everywhere, even though it rarely receives the attention or understanding of the media or hierarchy. Not merely are there conversions but many entrepreneurial innovations that serve to find new ways to understand and present the "old" faith as the charged and exciting reality it is."

—James V. Schall, S. J., Georgetown University

"Young and Catholic is an inspiring and encouraging account of how Generation X and Y Catholics are living holy, Christ-centered lives in the midst of a culture of consumerism and death. Filled with stories of faith, sacrifice, and conversion, it is a must read for anyone wondering about the future of the Church in the United States."

—Carl E. Olson, editor of IgnatiusInsight.com and co-author of The Da Vinci Hoax

"Young Catholics giving up on the Church? Don't believe it, says Tim Drake. In Young and Catholic: The Face of Tomorrow's Church he supplies an exciting and—dare I say it?—edifying portrait of vibrant young people proud and happy to accept the challenge of being Catholic. Now the challenge for us older Catholics is to leave them a Church that lives up to their expectations."

—Russell Shaw, columnist, Our Sunday Visitor