Denver Catholic

2 AUGUST 13-26, 2016 | DENVER CATHOLIC Archbishop's Page Archbishop's Column Most Rev. Samuel J. Aquila PHOTO OF THE WEEK @ArchbishopDen July 30 #WYD2016 #ArchDen preparing for Mass this morning with #PopeFrancis & @ least 1.5 million young people. +sja While in Poland for World Youth Day, Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila met with Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, Archbishop of Krakow and long-time aide to Pope St. John Paul II. PHOTO BY T. WARCZAK General Manager KARNA SWANSON Director ANDREW WRIGHT Business Manager MICHAEL O'NEILL Published by the Archdiocese of Denver, 1300 S. Steele St., Denver, CO 80210 Denver Catholic (USPS 557-020) is published bi-weekly, except monthly in January. Denver Catholic is printed by Prairie Mountain Publishing, LLC in Boulder. Periodical postage paid in Denver, CO. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $35 a year in Colorado; $42 per year out of state. Foreign countries: $42 surface, all countries, 6-8 weeks for delivery; $135 air, all other countries (average). Mexico, $48 air; Canada, $55 air. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Denver Catholic, Circulation Dept., 1300 S. Steele St., Denver, CO 80210 or email circulation@archden.org. EDITORIAL: 303-715-3230 or denvercatholic@ archden.org. ADVERTISING: 303-715-3253 or denvercatholicads@archden.org. CIRCULATION CUSTOMER SERVICE: 303-715-3230 or circulation@archden.org. World Youth Day beyond the headlines E very World Youth Day I have experienced the resounding gift of hope—hope that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is taking root in hearts and that the Church is alive. Krakow was no di" erent. The joy of the Gospel was evident in the young people, and their love for Christ was palpable in the manner in which they participated in the catechesis gatherings and various events with Pope Francis. Over 800,000 young people from around the world registered for World Youth Day (WYD) and 2.5 million faithful attended the closing Mass with Pope Francis. While the U.S. media barely mentioned the event, the local Polish media provided constant coverage as they were truly amazed at the dedication of the young people, their joy, and the sacrifi ces they made to be there. The theme for WYD was drawn from the Jubilee Year of Mercy, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." I was privileged to pres- ent three days of catechesis to three di" erent English-speaking groups. There were young people in the groups from the U.S., Canada, Philippines, India, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Zimba- bwe, Zambia, China, Thailand, Leba- non and Slovenia. Our Catholic faith is what brings us together and there was an immediate connection among the young people because of their faith. The fi rst day of catechesis addressed the need for mercy in our time. Pope Francis noted that "…the Church, in this time of great historical change, is called to o" er more evident signs of God's presence and closeness. … This is a time for the Church to rediscover the meaning of the mission entrusted to her by the Lord on the day of Easter: to be a sign and an instrument of the Father's mercy … ." The young people I met were very much aware of the chal- lenging times in which we live and that all people need to open their hearts to the mercy o" ered by Jesus. The second day focused on our own personal need to be touched by Christ's mercy. The three great parables of mercy in Luke 15 were the foundation for the encounter with the merciful Jesus, as were his encounters with the Samaritan woman, Zacchaeus, Peter and Paul. The youth were invited to encounter Jesus' mercy in their own lives and to experience in a personal way the mercy of Jesus for them and the invitation he gives to them. By entering into the Parable of the Prodi- gal Son and recognizing their personal sin, they were called to experience the embrace of the Father's love for them. The third day cried out with the simple prayer, "Lord, make me an instrument of your mercy." We looked at Pier Giorgio Frassati and Teresa of Calcutta, along with others who were inspiring witnesses of mercy. I shared with the young people the witness of Christ in the City and how young people reach out to the homeless in Denver. Pope Francis also reminded them at the concluding Mass to give witness to mercy and to be com- mitted to living lives that refl ect the mercy of the Father. These themes speak to our own hearts today, and I encourage you to refl ect on how the Lord speaks to your heart in these themes. The Archdio- cese had close to 800 who participated from throughout northern Colorado, including nearly 300 from the Neo- catechumenal Way, and many priests who accompanied various parish groups. We will be blessed by the fruit of their encounter in Poland and their meetings with Pope Francis. If you did not attend WYD, think of how you and your parish can welcome back and support those who did go, so that the work of the Holy Spirit is encouraged. The closing Mass, though hot, was a powerful experience of the uni- versal Church and a great witness to the world that the message of Jesus Christ and his Church are alive and well. I ask each one of you to read the Holy Father's closing homily for WYD. The Gospel reading for that Sunday was Zacchaeus, and Pope Francis o" ered the 2.5 million there a great challenge to be missionaries of mercy in carrying the Gospel out into all the world. My heart is still fi lled with grati- tude for the experience of WYD and the joy of encountering the lived faith of young people, and through them, Jesus' mercy and love. Whenever I become discouraged as I gaze at the chaos of our world and the great confusion and tensions that are pres- ent, I think back on the WYDs I have experienced and the life and hope that Jesus alone can give to our young people and the world. My heart is then strengthened to proclaim ever more boldly that Jesus Christ is Lord, He is Risen, and a world of peace can only be found in his mercy! ARCHBISHOP'S SCHEDULE AUG. 13: Convalidation Liturgy at Cathedral Basilica (10 a.m.) AUG. 14: Masses at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish, Fort Collins (9:45 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.) AUG. 16: Young Catholic Professionals anniversary celebration – Magnolia Hotel, Denver (7 p.m.) AUG. 17: Year of Mercy Penance Service at St. Stephen parish, Glenwood Springs (7 p.m.) AUG. 21: Convocation Mass at the Augustine Institute (4 p.m.) AUG. 27: Archdiocesan Mass for Altar Servers at Christ the King parish (10 a.m.) Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila stands with youth representing several di erent countries following a catechesis session led by him July 27 at World Youth Day. PHOTO PROVIDED Read Pope Francis' homily from the closing Mass in Krakow: http://bit.ly/2apGvdp WORLD YOUTH DAY 2016

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