Mission Students Attend World Youth Day

In April 2004, EXTENSION Magazine profiled the work of Ursuline Sister Theresa Sarich at Santa Monica Mission in El Cenizo, Texas. The story also mentioned the dream of students at the mission to attend World Youth Day. The generosity of Catholic Extension donors helped make that dream possible for two of these students from the Diocese of Lardeo, Lourdes Rodriguez and Monica Quintana, who shared their impressions of the experience.

Following is their report:

From the Diary of Lourdes Rodriguez:

It really felt strange when the time came for me to leave home for two whole weeks! However, I soon got into the spirit of the pilgrimage. Early in the morning of August 10, we traveled by bus from Laredo to San Antonio, with Bishop James Tamayo leading us in prayer.

At San Antonio, we boarded the plane for Houston. How exciting it was for me to experience my first trip by air! I couldn't help thinking about God 'way up there above the clouds.

From Houston we flew to Paris, which I found so different from small Laredo. Of all the places we visited there, my favorite was the big church of the Sacred Heart where Bishop Tamayo was invited to celebrate Mass and our youth group was asked to sing a song for Communion. We picked "pescador de Hombres," [Fisher of Men], and a lot of Spanish-speaking people joined us in singing. It was beautiful!

Since I was born on February 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, my parents named me Lourdes. So you can imagine how I felt when we got to Lourdes. Bishop celebrated Mass in the great basilica there. Later, I had the privilege to bathe in the miraculous spring water. I felt wonderful! My small group had a long visit with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament in a large white tent. Many other people were also praying there.

We visited St. Bernadette's home and saw the rooms where she slept and the one where her father worked as a miller.

Our last experience at Lourdes was the candlelight procession at night with tons of people singing and praying the rosary. I really appreciate my name more than ever now.

On our way to Cologne, we visited Avignon where the popes lived for a while. In the large chapel there we joined a group of priests and people in a solemn praying of the Rosary that included hymns and short sermons. It was the feast of the Assumption.

Then on we went to Lyon, and visited the church of St. Paul. At 2:30 p.m., a huge clock there went into action, showing the Annunciation. Out popped an angel; then God the Father and then the Holy Spirit over Mary. Bishop told us that it was from Lyon that the first priests came to our Southwest to bring the sacraments to the Catholics here.

As we traveled toward Cologne, we spent a night at a castle that belongs to the relatives of Brother Alexander of the Brothers of St. John in Laredo. There were miles of vineyards for miles around.

Our next stop was very different - a former concentration camp near Strasbourg. When I saw the furnace room and other terrible sights, my skin crawled. It was so horrifying to contemplate.

Finally, Cologne! We waited in line about two hours to tour the great cathedral that holds a great golden chest containing the relics of the Wise Men. It was near the cathedral that we met Bishop Tamayo, who told us about his visit with Pope Benedict XVI on the boat ride up the Rhine River to Cologne. The Pope wanted to hear about Laredo.

After some searching, our little group found the Basilica of St. Ursula where we spent some time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. There, we each received for free a very nice booklet of prayers and Bible readings especially printed for youth. All at once it started to rain very heavily, and some of us gathered under an overpass where a group of musicians, mostly drummers, got us all dancing! Then we went back to the hotel for the night.

Early the next morning, we headed for "Marienfeld," the place where all were gathering to meet the Pope that evening. Every group was given a section to stay in, but we were free to walk around. Finally the Holy Father arrived! I remember hearing over and over the cheer going up from everyone: "Benedetto! Benedetto!" That night we camped out under the stars. I unpacked my sleeping gear and tried to sleep, but it was so cold I couldn't. Instead, I walked around with some of the group.

The following day, we welcomed Pope Benedict XVI and joined him in praying the Mass. I can't find the right words to tell how I felt. Here I was, with young people of every color, race, and country, all united with the Pope in praising God.

I still pray for all those who helped make this trip possible for me.

- Lourdes Rodriguez


From the Diary of Monica Quintana:


I want to thank God for giving me the opportunity to attend the 2005 World Youth Day pilgrimage. Also all the people who helped with prayers and donations for my attendance.

I will never forget that we were able to visit Lourdes. Thank God we were able to go into the water; it was a very great experience for me because I was so impressed with how the volunteers were so professional on praying with us in different languages and singing, too. We also saw many of the youths who were going to Cologne, Germany. At Lourdes. I was tired from walking a day before. Afterwards, I went into the water praying with faith that my tiredness would go away. I thanked God for taking my tiredness away.

At first I thought that not too many youths would attend this Youth Day because of the new Pope. But in contrast, my amusement was big . I even saw youths from Afghanistan and Iraq, which I hadn't thought of. I was shocked when I saw some Iraquis pass by us with a big announcement saying "Pray for peace in the world, and for more Catholic Iraqis," after the Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict.

The day before the Mass, I was talking to one of the priests in our group when suddenly a bunch of youths were running and screaming, "The Pope!" I ran quickly with a camera in my hand. We were rushing to get to the very front: we never thought we would be able to do it, until we did.

At the beginning, I didn't understand what the Pope was saying, until I met some Mexicans and youth from Spain. They had a small headphone radio. One of them was saying it out loud so that the rest of us could know and understand what the Pope was telling us.

Briefly, I would like to say that I will appreciate the generosity of all those who helped me for my pilgrimage; some day I would like to meet the people who donated money and personally thank them.

May God keep blessing every one of them. I hope some day I could do something for them, too.

- Monica Quintana