July 16 - 31 , 2017 PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY 25
Pope Francis responded to an invite by a boy
Loreto , Italy - Nine-yearold Andrea is an Italian boy who joined 130 children last month for a “ Pilgrimage of Joy ” to the Marian Shrine of Loreto , Italy .
He was so moved by the experience that he wrote a letter about it to Pope Francis , inviting the Pope to accompany him and the other children for another pilgrimage next year .
And the Pope offered a surprising response , leaving the door open to the possibility in a letter of reply .
“ Thanks for the invitation you have made me to go on a pilgrimage with you , being with children is for me the greatest joy . A proverb says : ‘ Never say never .’ Therefore let us entrust this dream into the hands of Providence ,” the Pope wrote .
Andrea ’ s letter to Pope Francis was sent on behalf of himself and the 130 other children who traveled to the Marian Shrine of Loreto from June 22-26 . The letter was reprinted by several Italian media outlets .
The pilgrimage was organized by the Rome-Lazio chapter of the National Italian Union of Transportation of the Sick to Lourdes and International Shrines ( UNITALSI ) with the goal of teaching young children the importance of prayer and closeness to God , while at the same time allowing them to play , have fun , and make new friends .
“ We are more than 130 children , and many are sick , others in wheelchairs and others are going alone and are accompanied by some nuns ,” Andrea said in his letter , adding that they are praying for the Pope every day .
Andrea also included a group photo of all the children , and asked for the Holy Father ’ s blessing .
Pope Francis responded saying that “ it was so nice to receive your letter and to hear about the enriching adventure you experienced with UNITALSI during the Pilgrimage of Joy to Loreto for children .”
“ Thanks also for the group photo you sent me , where I could see that there are a lot of you , and you all look so nice . As I was looking at each face in the photograph , I was praying to Our Lady of Loreto for you , and I blessed you straight from the heart , along with your parents , volunteers , priests and the UNITALSI leaders ,” the Pope said in his reply .( CNA )
WYD Unite event brings together youth from across the nation
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Washington D . C ., - On one of the hottest days of the year , more than 1,300 young people from around the country gathered together for WYD Unite , bringing together alumni of former World Youth Days as well as pilgrims from at least 52 Catholic dioceses around the nations .
They gathered for the allday event at the Saint John Paul II National Shrine , named for the Pope who in 1984 began the World Youth Day celebrations to bring together millions of young people from around the globe to share and grow in their Catholic faith . From their starting place in Rome , World Youth Days have traveled across the world to six continents , most recently in 2016 to Pope John Paul II ’ s homeland
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of Poland .
The smaller United States gathering focused upon the theme , “ The Mighty Has Done Great Things for Me and Holy is His Name .” The gathering explored the radical “ Yes ” Mary gave at the Annunciation , as well as gratitude for how God has acted in our lives .
Throughout the day , pilgrims toured the exhibits of the National Shrine , and had opportunities for Reconciliation and spiritual direction . The day also featured performances by Tony Melendez and Audrey Assad . Melendez is a master guitarist who was born without arms , but learned to play guitar using his feet . Previously he has performed before Saint Pope John Paul
II in 1987 . Assad , a daughter of a Syrian Christian refugee , is an acclaimed musician and songwriter who also often speaks on behalf of persecuted Christians of the Middle East .
Returning in a procession to the Saint John Paul II Shrine , participants were joined by an image of “ Our Lady Undoer of Knots ,” which was present for the 2015 World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia and blessed by the Pope during his visit there . A second keynote was then delivered by Bishop Frank Caggiano of Bridgeport , Conn .
Bishop Caggiano focused on the radical message of the Annunciation and Mary ’ s acceptance of God ’ s plan . “ It was her ‘ yes ’ that allowed ourselves to come here , and her ‘ yes ’ that enabled us to say yes to her Son ,” he said .
He challenged the young people to accept God ’ s love of them , but also noted that that acceptance of God ’ s love compels us to bring that love “ to everyone you and I meet .”
“ Life will give you a thousand reasons to doubt God ’ s love ,” he warned the youth , but to be missionary disciples , Christians need to “ say yes to the fact that Jesus is extending his hand to us in friendship .”
After the keynote , the night ended with Eucharistic Adoration and prayer , accompanied by music . ( Adelaide Mena , CNA )
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