CU ventures to World Youth Day

Seminarian Randy Dollins leads a group of World Youth Day participants on a pilgramige to the Cologne Cathedral in Cologne, Germany.   Photo by Matt Azur

Chelsea Keeney
Reporter

While Creighton’s campus was abuzz with Welcome Week activities last Sunday, nearly 1 million Roman Catholics, including members of the Creighton community, congregated in Cologne, Germany, for World Youth Day.

The Rev. Casey Beaumier, S.J., a theology professor, and Arts & Sciences sophomores Katherine Kasl and Brian Atkinson made the pilgrimage to Germany for the 20th World Youth Day. The international gathering of young Catholics began in 1986.

“When I was a teacher at Creighton Prep, four of us took a group of students to the World Youth Day in Rome in the year 2000,” Beaumier said. “It was an incredible experience. This WYD, in Cologne, Germany, was especially important because it was the first major public event outside of Rome for our new pope, Benedict XVI.”

Pope Benedict XVI, the former German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, reportedly tried to avoid any actions that would be reminiscent of his predecessor, John Paul II.

“I think he was received warmly. The crowd had developed a chant for him, ‘Benedetto!’” Beaumier said.

“I believe that he enjoyed being in his German homeland, and that this return was confirming for his leadership of the Catholic Church. He is quite different from Pope John Paul II, who thrived in public appearances. Our Pope Benedict was more subtle in his public role at the World Youth Day.”

On Aug. 18, WYD participants took part in a celebration with the pope in the Rhine meadows. Both Kasl and Beaumier found this walk to the Cologne Cathedral memorable.

Beaumier felt that the banners posted along the path to the Cathedral were popular and touching.

“One [banner] was a large composite of individual photos that together made up an image of Pope John Paul II, and above the image were the words, ‘Thank-You, JP II,’” Beaumier said.

“Right next to it was a large photo of Pope Benedict XVI, and above his image was the word ‘Welcome!’ Thousands of people from all parts of the world gathered under these images — many in tears as they remembered John Paul II and the way he cared for the church. It was a beautiful sight.”

“The walk to Marienfeld was longer than I expected; it was about 12 miles one way. Overcoming myself and choosing to try to make the journey easier for those with me really gave me a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment once I reached the end,” Kasl said, remembering the journey to the Sunday Mass and vigil .

Atkinson said religious solidarity and unity was a central message at WYD.

“The part that hit me the most was that there were people there from 180 different countries in the world and they were there for the same purpose as everyone else: to come together and worship the Lord. The feeling of solidarity with the youth of the world gave me great hope for what we decide to set out and accomplish,” he said.

Kasl agreed. “I hope young Catholics took away the fact that their Church is alive, young, vibrant and worldwide, as well as able to weather changes in leadership.”

An optimistic Beaumier said, “Our young women and men are the future of the Church and to see them gather together from all of the continents of the earth to profess their faith fills me with hope.”

Beaumier, Kasl and Atkinson all hope to attend the next World Youth Day, planned to be held in Sydney, Australia, in 2008.