Bishop Tadeus Kondrezevitch
Posted on 08/13/2005 3:47:52 PM PDT by NYer
Moscow (AsiaNews) – Once again they will set off to go to the pope, once again they will meet him in a country which is not their own, but their joy anyhow is great, and their expectations multifold. Around 1000 youths from Russia have left to attend the twentieth World Youth Day in Cologne. They are aged between 18 and 24 years and they come from all the dioceses of the country. For many, it is the first time they will see the pope; others had the chance to do so already months ago when they went on pilgrimage to Rome. All want above anything to welcome him in Moscow, according to those accompanying them. But the Russian Orthodox Church remains opposed to a papal trip to Russia, accusing the Vatican of proselytism.
In recent days the Moscow Metropolitan, Mgr Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz celebrated masses in the cathedral with a number of groups headed for Cologne. “On 9 August there were 100 people present for the service, about as many as those who attended another mass on 8 August, which was a group of overseas students leaving for Germany,” he told AsiaNews. Mgr Kondrusiewicz said that outside the church there was a climate of “meditation but at the same time of great joy”.
The Metropolitan explained that after he had chosen the most active youths, catechism in preparation for the trip started: “In April we started to organise a WYD in each diocese with meetings and times of prayer”. Kondrusiewicz invited the youths to “reflect first of all about the theme of this WYD (“We have come to worship him”). He said: “In order not to get lost in the modern world it is necessary that young people ask themselves: ‘what does man want to worship?’ I suggested they search for the answer in God and above all in the Eucharist. The next step is to testify to this discovery and to share it with other youths they meet.” According to the Metropolitan, today it is much easier for Russians to communicate: “All young people speak English very well”.
Fr Sergei, one of those responsible for the group, said the “pilgrims will arrive in Cologne on 15 August; now they are divided in German parishes and dioceses where they are learning about the local culture with great enthusiasm. They are also finding out about the life of Catholics in this country and preparing songs and readings.”
Kondrusiewicz said he has high hopes for the future of the Catholic Church in Russia, “sustained above all by the courage and enthusiasm of new generations”. He added: “Youths are the future of the Church, of Russia, and of the world.” He concluded by drawing attention to the problems that Russian youths often find themselves prey to: alcoholism, drugs, unemployment and the breakdown of family values with an increasing number of divorces.
Bishop Tadeus Kondrezevitch
How true. The crowds in Rome for John Paul's final days and funeral, those there for the election of Benedict show that there are very many youth that get it.
I will never forget the shouts of joy raised by the younger people in St. Peter's Square when Cardinal Ratzinger was announced as the new Pope.
Let's pray for all those attending WYD.
prayers sent up for the joyous youth at WYD, especially this contingent from Russia.
I think the Church has a great future ahead of it, and that JPII's "Springtime" will be carried in on the shoulders of the new generation of young, orthodox priests. Here in Boston, the older parishioners and the established priests are often taken aback by the traditional theology and religious fervor of the youth.
We weren't in Rome at the time, but my Catholic friends and I were among the young who shrieked for joy when the selection of Pope Benedict XVI was announced. :-)
For young and old, it was an awesome moment! I was at my gov't issued desk, volume set to mute and watching the bells toll in St. Peter's Square. Two catholic secretaries walked in at that moment and I shouted "Habemus Papam!" The other staff looked at me as if I were nuts ... or at least some religious whacko. The 2 women stepped behind me, staring at the computer monitor and asking "who"? Just then the curtains of the portico pulled back and we all stared at the monitor. I turned off the mute setting so we could hear the announcement. On hearing "Joseph Ratzinger", their faces remained clueles while I yipped and hollered with glee and prayers of thanksgiving.
Like the first moon landing, the election of Joseph Ratzinger to the Papacy will forever remain a waterershed moment for all of us alive today.
I too was at my government issued desk. There was a scurrying around as everyone with a radio (or the internet) realized that we (probably) had white smoke and a new Pope. After a certain amount of confusion I turned on the radio as well as my computer because the Vatican website sort of went south at the critical moment (as faithful Catholics from all over logged on!)
My boss and two coworkers were listening with me as Cardinal Estevez read the announcement V-E-R-Y S-L-O-W-L-Y in Latin -- as soon as he got to "Josephum" I whispered "It's Ratzinger" . . . then it seemed like a minute and a half before he said the rest of his name! I was doing a war dance and my boss was looking at me funny. Of course my office (two Methodists, a Baptist, and a reform Jew) had no idea who Cardinal Ratzinger was, other than that they had heard on the TV that he was mean, anti-Semitic, etc. etc. etc. I told them that wasn't true, not sure they believed me, but hopefully they know better now.
Oh dear!
I hope Alexy II's secret police are checking documents at the border to make sure no Orthodox get "stolen" during the festivities!
heartwarming. thanks, brother
I was in a golf cart on the third hole. When I heard the news I started whooping and hollering and I was doing fist pumps. Others thought I was out of my mind
isn't it pleasing to consider you are a missionary and able to bring truth to your co-workers. God Bless you, sister
LOL! I was here at my rummage-sale desk, exchanging "When are they going to tell us something?" gripes with Cyborg, and then I saw the picture of Cardinal Ratzinger and let out a very loud shriek (according to reports :-). Three children started to cry, so I told Anoreth, "Give James his pacifier!" and went outside and shrieked. Dogs started to bark down the street, so I came back in before someone called the Sheriff about the disturbance!
Then I spent the rest of the afternoon explaining to the offspring why this was such great news.
I was grinning from ear to ear listening to Arroyo.
.... or had scored a hole in one :-)
okay, I was at work, walking into my cube (aka the organized chaos place) and one of my non-denominational, goes to church to meet guys, younger co-workers said, "There's a new pope."
And I said, "Who?"
And she said, "He's German."
And I practically yelled, "Is it RATZINGER??????"
And she said, "Yes."
And I threw my arms in the air and said, very loudly, "YESSSS."
And over the other side of another cube, someone else said (with dissapproval), "CNN says he's more conservative."
And I said, "Uh-huh." That was sort of the end of it. They don't quite get it.
LOL!
I'm considered quite eccentric at work anyhow, there's a fire-eating Baptist who's convinced I'm going straight to Hell. I think maybe she's starting to get the message that what she thinks she hates is not the Catholic Church but the fictitious church her preacher has told her about . . . you know, the one that worships idols and prays to Mary and thinks that you can sin all week and just get cleaned up on Saturday . . . < /roll eyes >
On the other hand, we also have some very devout Catholics in the building - the cradle kind. They are a little bemused by the recent convert -- but at least one of them is more orthodox than I am!
Oh have some fun with this ... put a statue of the BVM on your desk and smile each time she walks by.
Unfortunately, I am surrounded by 3 non-practicing catholic men. To drive my boss nuts, I place Maronite icons on my computer monitor's desktop, that change according to the liturgical season. He never says a word but I from time to time makes some snide remark. I just smile (and pray for them all each night).
(I do like to tweak 'em, just a little bit. But I DO pray for 'em too.)
My son just left for World Youth Day today - he's going with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal - any and all prayers for him (Christopher) will be so much appreciated! Thanks
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.