www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Alex's WYD Report

Dear Johanan,

I hope you appreciate the trouble I went to to get your Chaplet through to you know who!

To bead or not to bead, that is the question

Alex

Dear Alex:

I simply admire (and enjoy) your chutzpah for lacing your Minister's speech with that "Pax vobiscum!" which drew humorously, as I can see, the auto-reflex of the "latinophrones."

Your "covert" insertion must have satisfied you no end as it underscores the need to de-latinize the Greek Catholic Churches!

Or, as I suspect here, that those Latin hierarchs must have mused, self-approvingly, how successful their "integration programs" are.

Whichever, I just love it how you daringly stuck it to them!

Thanks for your memories of WYD Toronto 2002!


AmdG

Dear Amado,

Yes, I sometimes push the envelope a bit too much, eh?

In this case, the minister just wanted to have some "wow power" and achieved his aim in using Latin.

He began his speech with "Laudetur Iesus Christus!"

The Pope did make mention, at one point, of "Catholics, Greek Catholics and Orthodox."

The commentator remarked that the Pope discussed "Catholics, Orthodox and Greeks."

Was he confused or what?

That's why I like "Orthodox Catholic."

Less confusion, you know . . .

Alex

Dear Alex- Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and "diary" if you will of what transpired the last week or so. For those of us who had no chance to make Toronto, I for one feel as if I was there. Our parish had it's 52nd anual Ukrainian festival yesterday, so I was well occupied with work, especially in the ahem food department. You were in my prayers at Liturgy.


God Bless
Michael

[ 07-29-2002: Message edited by: Celticson ]

Please accept my thanks also for your kindness in remembering us to the Holy Father, and for delivering his blessing to us!

Wishing you Every Perfect Gift;
Stefan-Ivan

[ 07-29-2002: Message edited by: Stefan-Ivan ]

Alex,

I want to thank you so much for keeping all of us posted to the happenings of WYD. Wow, you are indeed blessed to encounter such experience you had with the Holy Father and this year's WYD! May God grant you many years!

Also, thank you so much for your kindess in getting the Holy Father's blessing to us.

I went to the WYD in Denver in 1993, and it was indeed a wonderful experience! Just looking at the pope changes everything for many people.

May God grant the Holy Father good health and many years!

Again, many many thanks to you Alex! For your kindness and generosity.

SPDundas
Deaf Byzantine

PS, Do you happen to know some Dundas folks in Canada?

Thanks Alex for everything!

I cried as soon as I read the words of the Apostolic blessing.


Rose

Dear SPDundas,

Most of the Americans I met came from Ohio, for some reason . . .

One can still meet Pilgrims on the streets of Toronto.

Last night, while going home (I think Joe Thur had enough of me for one day ) I met some Nuns wearing red scapulars and I stopped to discuss with them their habit . . .

Reports now coming out indicate that not only Catholics came out to volunteer for this event, but Protestants, Jews, Muslims and others.

As one non-Catholic was quoted as saying, "This was a Canadian event!"

Alex

Dear Rose,

Yes, I am sad today because our dear Pilgrims are leaving and because our Holy Father has left us.

We were all privileged to have had the inspiration of their example, their prayer and their witness.

May God bless the Holy Father and all the Pilgrims!

Alex

Dear Friends,

Just a note to say that my in-laws went to the monastery gate with about 1,000 other onlookers to see the Pope off yesterday.

The Pope came out and when he saw the crowd gathered there, asked to be taken to see them and speak to them.

He then boarded his helicopter and went off.

Good Bye, Holy Father, our hearts and our prayers go with you!

On a personal note, I just met a Nun who was an attendant of the Pope during his stay with the Sisters of St Joseph.

She was Sister Enid, my former Principal at Holy Rosary when I was there in Grade 8.

She remembered me . . .

Alex

[ 07-30-2002: Message edited by: Orthodox Catholic ]

Hello Alex,

When I asked if you have met any folks with the last name Dundas because there are many who live in Ontario, I'm a direct decendent from them (I'm a 3rd generation American on both sides of my family). My mother went to Ontario few years ago, she remarked that there are several street names and a town named after DUNDAS. Many members of the Dundas clan moved to Canada from Ireland and Scotland during the faminine in late 19th Century.

That's not even all. Just curious if you ever met anyone who is a Dundas. That's all. Well, if you haven't, then you have NOW (me)!

But again, thanks for your report. God bless.

SPDundas
Deaf Byzantine

What about the anti-Catholic people were they there handing out lit. ?

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Because I am still to tired to go into any more depth than I already have at http://YourCatholic.com I just want to add that the meals program were set up by the Mormons and this probably explains why we had tuna on Tuesday instead of Wednesday. ;-)

Also, the only anti-Catholics I encountered were the pro-aborts at the Way of the Cross who we drownded out with cries of John Paul II we love you; and the man, upon pilgrims leaving the Papal Mass, handing out comicbooks fill of Jack Chick tracts. By the time I realized what they were, I was simply too tired to attack him and shove his comics into the mud :-p

I am only saddened that I never met Alex, but was able to meet Iilya, Daniil & Cyril Kennedy many times throughout the week both at St. Elias, St. Nicholas, and at other functions too. God Bless!

[ 07-30-2002: Message edited by: Nik ]

Dear Nik,

Yes, I was somewhat involved with government work in conjunction with the visit and my time was not my own.

I guess the really NICE thing about when a Church is also a State is that other States take official notice of it, whether or not it shares that Church-State's faith.

I didn't meet any anti-Catholic people. I met people who weren't Catholics but who loved the Pope and the entire WYD event.

Some Tibetan Buddhist friends attended the events, as did Muslim and Jewish friends. My Protestant friends were amazed and one confided in me, "I guess Catholics are Christians after all!"

Should that comment be a new thread for discussion, do you think?

Alex

Dear SPDundas,

Yes, and we also have a Dundas Street here in Toronto!

I didn't meet any Dundases, however.

God bless,

Alex