Too Many Pilgrims to Count
The groups started arriving in late June: a busload of youth from Massachusetts, a bus from Virginia, a group that came by train from the South Bronx. They were all heading to the 50th anniversary of the Neocatechumenal Way, which was to be celebrated on Sunday, July 7 in the Barclay Center in Brooklyn.
On the 5th of July we had five groups scheduled, and another two or three arrived unannounced. And then came Saturday. Though we had seven groups on the calendar, ranging from 40 people to 110, even more buses pulled up. At one point a local resident counted tencoaches lining Fort Washington Avenue.
We met countless youth trying to grow in love of Jesus. They arrived from Texas, California, Arkansas, New Jersey, Missouri, Colorado, Virginia, and even Belize. Many of the teens were first- or second-generation immigrants. They were kids struggling with fear, anxiety, feeling rejected, and yet each had a deep desire to add purpose to their lives. Mother Cabrini has a lot to offer kids like that. Shrine staff gave ten talks in a single day about Mother C
abrini’s life and spirituality, six in English and four in Spanish.
We sent the groups on their way, greeted another four on Sunday morning, and then the deluge trickled off to two or three groups a day.
Please pray for the work the Neucatechumenal Way does with young people. Many of the youth were in the process of discerning whether they have a vocation to the priesthood or religious life. We need them… and they need our prayers.
