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Last trip in Rome,
2000
World Youth Day 2000 was held in Rome last summer. It was a gathering of
more than 2 million young people from all over the globe. More than 67,000
young people traveled from North America to gather together, celebrate life
in Jesus Christ as Catholics. It was a tremendous experience.
My wife, Joan, accompanied me. As we got off the airplane in Rome, we were
met unexpectedly by familiar faces. Reed and Taylor- the drummer and bass
player from Scarecrow and Tinmen. From that moment on, we were locked at the
hip with those lads from Southwest Florida.
We had much work to do during the week of World Youth Day.
Wednesday, I invited Scarecrow to join me and Dana (We are One Body) for a
Catechetical session at St. Paul-outside the wall, with Francis Cardinal
Arinze. Terri Telepak was the animator. The sight of 7,000 young people
literally filling up the Basilica was astounding. The volume of their voices
as we sang familiar songs, "Lord, I lift Your Name on High", "Awesome God",
and songs for Mass, was immense.
Thursday found Joan and I with Michelle Miller from the USCC/NCCB, Colette
Kennett from the Diocese of Belville, IL and Bishop Kevin Britt, in a little
town called Collefero. Collefero is about 30 miles outside of Rome and was
the site of our second catechetical session. It was a beautiful little town
and had a soccer stadium. We were all set to begin the session when a better
idea surfaced suggesting that we might process to the town church and
conduct the session there. What a great idea! Out of the sun, into the shade
and coziness of the parish. It was heaven sent.
On Friday, Tom Booth, Scarecrow, Joan and I headed out to the Vigil site for
a sound check for our performances the next day. It was a long ride, but
highly entertaining as everyone caught up with what we doing and how the
families were. After the sound check, we headed back to Rome and ended up at
the Trevi fountain. We dove into a cave and ate at an underground
restaurant. It was cool and refreshing after being in the hot sun all day.
We had a loudness contest with the table next to us- filled with young
Spanish pilgrims. I think we lost, but it sure was fun making all that
noise. The manager immediately came out and asked us to quiet down...
Saturday early, we headed to our rendezvous site to catch the buses back to
Tor Vergata, the Vigil site.
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