By Rose O’Connor
Special Contributor
BORDENTOWN – Twenty pilgrims from the Dioceses of Camden and Trenton came together July 9 for an initial meet and greet ahead of their trip to Lisbon, Portugal, for World Youth Day.
World Youth Day, initiated by Pope John Paul II and first celebrated in 1986, will be held Aug. 1-6. Pope Francis is scheduled to be present for the gathering, with numerous events planned, including him hearing confessions and eating lunch with the pilgrims. He also plans to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Fátima and pray the rosary with young people who are ill as well as celebrate the World Youth Day closing Mass.
“World Youth Day is a blessing for the Church,” said Jose Rodriguez, director of the Office of Family and Youth Ministry, Diocese of Camden. “My hope for our pilgrims is that they take a moment to realize there are so many young people on fire for the Lord just like them.”
Gathered in Mary, Mother of the Church Parish, the pilgrims were welcomed by Dan Waddington, director of the Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries for the Diocese of Trenton.
“It’s wonderful to be here and to come together as two diocesan Churches to go be with the Holy Father. I hope that all of you will be truly inspired by the Holy Spirit while you’re there. Thank you for your ‘yes,’” he said.
Among the attendees: seven seminarians from the Diocese of Camden.
“I am so excited for each one of you; I’ve seen the fruits that come out of World Youth Day,” said Carolyn Norbut, associate director of vocations and director of pilgrimages for the Diocese of Trenton. “I am especially excited for the seminarians; it’s going to be very solidifying for you. I pray, as you discern your vocations.”
Father Edward Friel, pastor of Mary, Queen of All Saints Parish, Pennsauken, has traveled to World Youth Day four times and will again serve as spiritual director for the pilgrims on this trip.
Sharing his prayers for the pilgrims, he said, “I hope they grow in their faith and their understanding of the Church. World Youth Day is a place to reflect on where they’re called to be as a young person in the Church.”
Michael Leason, a Diocese of Camden seminarian and third-year student at Seton Hall University’s college seminary, is looking forward to experiencing World Youth Day with his fellow seminarians.
“The brotherhood in Camden is a tight fraternity, and it will be great to go overseas with them,” he said. “I am looking forward to seeing the Church on that side of the world.”
He’s also ready to experience World Youth Day as a seminarian. “We’ve had a lot of formation and have done a lot of intellectual work in the seminary, so it’ll be good to really experience everything in a real-life setting with so many different people from all over the world.”
In addition to the afternoon information session, the group gathered for their first Mass together. Father Friel served as principal celebrant and homilist. Concelebrating were Father Adam Cichoski, director of vocations and rector of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Camden, and Father Joshua Nevitt, Bishop Dennis Sullivan’s priest-secretary and associate director of vocations. Assisting was Ricardo Lozano Cruz, who was recently ordained a transitional deacon.
“Let’s take care of one another and really enjoy this life God gave to us,” Father Friel said.
That message was on the minds of Anna Brigamonte, 20, and her sister Mary, 19. Parishioners of Saint Catharine Parish, Holmdel, both attend the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind.
“Everything is moving so fast,” Anna Brigamonte said, adding that she is looking forward to “slowing down and thinking about God. I am just so excited to meet people from everywhere and pray.”
Rodriguez had a specific prayer intention for Camden’s seminarians, saying, “My prayer is that this pilgrimage helps them during this time of discernment. I know all our pilgrims will come back renewed and excited to share their stories, and I am excited to hear them.”
Rose O’Connor is digital and social media manager for the Diocese of Trenton.
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