News from Around:

More World Youth Day news and some of the “secrets” of these gatherings…

Pope Benedict XVI has put his own stamp on the church’s celebration of World Youth Day, and it’s especially clear in the gathering’s moments of prayer. In Cologne, Germany, six years ago he surprised the youth at the Saturday night vigil by urging them to quiet down.

The Cologne event was where he started a major new WYD tradition: Instead of ending the vigil with a boisterous musical finale, he ended it with eucharistic adoration.

The Pope seems surprised that “these youth days have actually turned out to be a genuine gift for me.” He has been struck by the “intense joy” and “the spirit of recollection that, amazingly, pervades the actual World Youth Days themselves.” “It was quite simply the common joy of faith that carried us through and that made it possible for hundreds of thousands of people to remain in silence before the sacrament and so to become one.”

Read the full Catholic News Service article

RIO DE JANERIO, BRAZIL — Pope Benedict XVI will travel to Rio de Janeiro in 2013, when World Youth Day (WYD) is held there, the city’s mayor has announced.  “We will make it official in middle August,” Rio’s Mayor Eduardo Paes announced on August 1.

During this pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI has scheduled international WYD celebrations every 3 years—lengthening the 2-year intervals that had prevailed under Blessed John Paul II. Plans for WYD in Brazil were reportedly moved forward, however, to avoid a conflict with the World Cup, which Brazil will host in 2014  Read more from the Portuguese American Journal

News from ‘Round Here:

Last Sunday brought the World Youth Day delegation meeting.  It was exciting to discuss the details as well as the dreams of Madrid.

Tuesday has me actually arrive in a little bit later than usual (still before 9am – still very early for many youth ministry types) and a meeting with our child protection offices as we prepare details for a September training.  There was also a meal and a meeting related to the Mid-Atlantic Congress for next March.

Wednesday found me on Relevant Radio, offering a brief overview of our offices to New School Principals, and sending out a draft “direction statement” to our youth ministry contacts… all before 9:30am.  The day settled down with a run to the retreat house to pack-out High-LI supplies and an office visit from a just engaged youth minister.

Thursday was not the day I expected and can’t even talk about. Out of the office son Clark and I went to see Cowboys & Aliens and went out for dinner for some storytelling- so a good finish.

Clark was out early Friday for a weekend family visit, so the morning started with an early airport run, The rest of the day involved a run through the parishes of central Maryland, interrupted with a webinar on the Youth Rally and March for Life in a great little coffee house.  Had nice brief visits with four youth ministers which made for a great day!

Saturday was spent powering through a touch of flu while engaging in a young adult training in English and en Español.  We were blessed with more than we expected so the day involved a quick catering run as well.  Getting home in the afternoon, I immediately spent the remainder  of the weekend in and out of sleep.