After 29 hours of waiting at airports, taking two planes and riding a bus, we have finally arrived in Aparecida!

We met at the Ottawa international airport at 5 pm yesterday evening, where Archbishop Prendergast saw us off and blessed us. We definitely needed a blessing to get us through this long journey to Aparecida, which took a total of 29 hours! We arrived at our hotel at 10 pm tonight. Our flight from Toronto to Sao Paulo was delayed by approximately 3 hours, so we waited in Toronto for a total of 5 hours, and finally left the Pearson airport at 3 am. Then, when we arrived in Sao Paulo at 1:48 pm, we had to wait for a bus organized by the Oblates to bring our group of nine to Aparecida, and we finally left that airport at 8 pm, and arrived in Aparecida two hours later. We were supposed to arrive here at 2 pm today.

We are blessed to have pilgrims in our group who manage fairly well in Spanish, including Jonathan who is fluent in Spanish, as none of us speak Portuguese and we have been using as much Spanish as possible to get by, and Msgr. Daniel even said he spoke Latin with the Oblate priest as that seemed to be their only common language. I have personally been practising my Spanish to order food at the airport in Sao Paulo, to help Erin purchase a bottle of water at the airport, to speak with the Oblate priest and seminarians who organized our bus transportation, and with a cleaning lady at the hotel as I was having trouble accessing the Internet. All of these were necessities and we couldn't have managed without them.

We will try to catch up on sleep tonight and the next few nights. We have an early morning tomorrow with breakfast at 7 am and Mass at 9 am.

Intense programme for Apostolic visit to Rio de Janeiro / Précisions sur le programme de Rio

In a press conference held this morning, the director of the Holy See Press Office, Federico Lombardi S.J., presented information on Pope Francis' imminent apostolic visit to Rio de Janeiro for the 28th World Youth Day. Fr. Lombardi reviewed the Holy Father's programme for the week he will spend in Brazil, explaining that this journey is “particularly significant in his continent, and this naturally lends it a particular sense of anticipation and participation”.

“As we know”, Fr. Lombardi continued, “it was not his decision to make his first trip to Latin America, but rather it was his predecessor Benedict XVI who had confirmed that World Youth Day would be held in Brazil, and had confirmed that 'the Pope' would be present, as at all the World Youth Days, even though the Pope in this case would not have been him. Therefore, Pope Francis is assuming the legacy of Pope Benedict XVI's pontificate in making this trip. You will recall that practically the same thing happened at the last change of pontificate: Benedict XVI's first trip was to Germany, his homeland, to Cologne for the World Youth Day decided by his predecessor John Paul II”.

“The trip had already been decided but the programme has also been adapted, we might indeed say intensified and enriched with further events with the change of pontificate. The plan that had been drawn up for Pope Benedict XVI was less demanding, whereas with Pope Francis, some elements have been added, such as the pilgrimage to Aparecida, or the vist to the favelas, to the hospital, the meeting with the Comite de Celam. There are elements which were not scheduled in the first programme for the trip, intended for Pope Benedict XVI. Pope Francis has maintained the same days – that is, the trip was expected to take place from 22 to 29 July even before the change of pontificate – but more events have been planned for this period, especially the pilgrimage to Aparecida which will occupy a day that had in the previous draft programme been intended as a day of rest”.

“Of course, the Holy Father was invited by the bishops who organised and promoted the World Youth Day”, added Fr. Lombardi: Orani Tempesti, archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, and Cardinal Damasceno Assis, president of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil, and naturally also by the president Dilma Rousseff, “who came to the Vatican “for the inauguration of the pontificate and who met Francesco the following day, explicitly inviting him to Brazil. The Pope confirmed immediately, just a few days after his election, that he intended to travel to Brazil for World Youth Day, and this helped to speed up preparations”.

 

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Ce midi, le P. Federico Lombardi, s.j. a fourni à la presse quelques précisions sur le programme du séjour papal à Rio de Janeiro. Reprenant le calendrier publié ces jours-ci, le Directeur de la Salle de Presse du Saint-Siège a d'abord tenu à souligner qu'il s'agira d'un événement particulièrement important pour l'Amérique latine impliquant un caractère particulier tant en matière d'attentes que de participation: La décision d'effectuer ce voyage en Amérique du Sud a été prise par Benoît XVI qui avait annoncé que les JMJ 2013 se dérouleraient au Brésil. Le Pape François entend donc y prendre part comme ont fait ses prédécesseurs, tout comme Benoît XVI s'est rendu en 2005 aux JMJ de Cologne, qui avait été fixée par le défunt Jean-Paul II. Certes, le programme de ce séjour brésilien a quelque peu subi des corrections en fonction du nouveau Pape. Il était initialement plus léger et le Saint-Père a décidé de consacrer la journée de repos initiale à un pèlerinage au sanctuaire marial d'Aparecida et à la visite de la favela de Varginha, à la visite de l'hôpital San Francisco de Assis et à une rencontre avec le Comité du CELAM. Ceci n'a pas modifié le calendrier initial du séjour, qui se déroulera du 22 au 29 juillet.

Le Pape a été invité par l'Archevêque de Rio et la Conférence épiscopale brésilienne d'une part, de l'autre par la Présidente Dilma Rousseff, venue à Rome pour l'inauguration du pontificat et pour l'inviter personnellement au Brésil. Le Pape François ayant très vite confirmé sa disponibilité, il a été possible d'accélérer les préparatif du voyage papal. 

We leave for Aparecida, Brazil tomorrow / Nous partons pour Aparecida, au Brésil demain

Tomorrow, our group will meet at the international airport in Ottawa, Ontario at 5 pm. We will fly from Ottawa to Toronto at 8 pm, and from Toronto to São Paulo at 11:40 pm, arriving Thursday morning at 10:55 am, local time in São Paulo. From there, we will take a bus to Aparecida, which should take approximately two hours.

Two of our pilgrims, Alice DeRoth and Jonathan Roy, left for South America last Wednesday and they will meet us at the airport in São Paulo on Thursday morning.

Please pray for safe travels for our group and for all pilgrims travelling to Brazil for WYD, and we will also keep you in our prayers!

God bless!

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Demain, notre groupe se rencontrera à l'aéroport international d'Ottawa, en Ontario, à 17 h. Nous allons décoller d'Ottawa pour Toronto à 20 h, et ensuite de Toronto pour São Paulo à 23 h 40, et nous allons atterrir vers 10 h 55 jeudi matin, heure locale à São Paulo. De là, nous allons prendre un bus pour nous rendre à Aparecida, qui devrait prendre environ deux heures.
 
Deux de nos pèlerins, Alice DeRoth et Jonathan Roy, sont partis pour l'Amérique du Sud mercredi dernier et ils vont nous rencontrer à l'aéroport de São Paulo jeudi matin.

Veuillez prier pour un voyage sécuritaire pour notre groupe, ainsi que pour tous les pèlerins qui vont se rendre aux Brésil pour les JMJ. Nous allons également vous garder dans nos prières!

Que Dieu vous bénisse!

Ottawa to / à  São Paulo

 

 São Paulo, Brazil / Brésil

"In the footsteps of the Lord": exhibition for World Youth Day / « Dans le sillage du Seigneur » : une exposition pour les Journées mondiales de la jeunesse

“In the Footsteps of the Lord” is the title of the exhibition which will accompany the 28th World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro. The exhibition, organised by the John Paul II Youth Foundation of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, will be open from 9 July to 12 October in the Museu Nacional de Belas Artes in the carioca capital.

“In the Footsteps of the Lord” presents a series of works, objets d'art and manuscripts grouped into four sections: “Christ, the way of salvation”, “Vocation and mission of the Apostles”; “Mary, the road leading to Christ”, and “The saints: models to emulate”, all inspired by the theme of the World Youth Day, “Go and make disciples of all nations”.

“Christ, the way of salvation” includes works on the life of Jesus, the passion and the resurrection, Thomas' disbelief, and the parables of the adulteress and the good Samaritan, as well as an important section dedicated to the image of Christ. The exhibition opens with the celebrated Mandylion of Edessa, venerated as an acheiropoieta or image made not with human hands, regarded as a true image of the Saviour. The exhibition includes other prestigious works by, among others, Beato Angelico, Melozzo da Forli, Leonardo da Vinci, Bernini, Correggio, Guercino and Lorenzo Lotto, whose “Christ and the Adulteress” was recently restored by the Vatican Museums. The Christological image of the Turin Shroud will also be displayed in the form of the photograph taken by Secondo Pia in 1898.

The works in the second section are linked to the theme of the call of the Apostles, such as the diptych of St. Peter and St. Paul dating from the third and fourth centuries, on loan from the Vatican Museums, and works by Pomarancio and de Ribera.

The section dedicated to “Mary, the road leading to Christ” juxtaposes works from both eastern and western traditions: Byzantine icons are displayed alongside Pinturicchio's celebrated “Madonna of the Window-Sill” and works by Michelangelo, Sassoferrato and Perugino.

Finally, the fourth section consists of depictions of the most renowned saints.

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« Dans le sillage du Seigneur », tel est le titre de l'exposition organisée à l'occasion des 28e Journées mondiales de la jeunesse à Rio de Janeiro par le Conseil pontifical pour les laïcs (Fondation Jean-Paul II pour la jeunesse). Du 9 juillet au 12 octobre, au musée national des beaux arts de Rio, l'exposition propose des oeuvres et des documents regroupés en sections intitulées : Le Christ, chemin de salut; Vocation et mission des apôtres; Marie conduit au Christ; Les saints, modèles à suivre.

« Le Christ, chemin de salut » présente des expressions de la vie de Jésus : la passion et la résurrection, l'incrédulité de Thomas, la parabole de l'adultère, le bon samaritain, l'iconographie du Christ. Au premier plan, le Mandylion d'Edesse et une reproduction photographique du Suaire de Turin, des portraits de Fra Angelico, Melozzo Da Forli, Mantegna, Léonard de Vinci, Correggio, Bernin, Le Guercin, Lorenzo Lotto (le Christ et la femme adultère, récemment restauré par les Musées du Vatican).

Les autres sections proposent notamment le célèbre diptyque Vatican du IIIe - IVe siècle des apôtres Pierre et Paul, ainsi que des tableaux de Pomarancio ou de Ribera, et des représentations de Marie allant des icônes byzantines à Pinturicchio, Michel-Ange et Sassoferrato.

Dernière réunion avant le grand départ pour les JMJ mercredi soir prochain!

Hier soir, les pèlerins d'Ottawa qui partent pour le Brésil mercredi prochain se sont rencontrés à la résidence de l'archevêque - 143 rue Saint Patrick, à Ottawa.

Ils ont soupé ensemble et ont discuté de leur itinéraire, quoi mettre dans leurs valises, à quelle heure se rencontrer à l'aéroport pour le long voyage de plus de douze heures d'Ottawa à São Paulo - la plus grande ville au Brésil - via Toronto, échanger leur argent avant le départ, où acheter des bouteilles d'eau au Brésil, et bien plus encore! Les jeunes commencent à avoir hâte au voyage, mais avouent avoir peur pour leur sécurité et de se faire voler, ainsi que pour leur santé.

Veuillez prier qu'ils aient un bon voyage sécuritaire et qu'ils restent en bonne santé. Ils vous garderont également dans leurs prières.

Voici quelques photos prises à la réunion:

Indulgences pour les JMJ / Papal indulgences for WYD

Le Saint-Père concède des indulgences particulières à l'occasion des XXVIII Journées mondiales de la jeunesse (Rio de Janeiro, Brésil, 22 - 29 juillet). Le décret de la Pénitencerie apostolique en précise les conditions: les jeunes et les autres fidèles préparés obtiendront l'indulgence quotidienne aux conditions habituelles (confession, communion, prières aux intentions du Pape), applicables aux âmes défuntes, lors des cérémonies et exercices qui se dérouleront à Rio. Les fidèles justement empêchés, pourront, aux mêmes conditions, l'obtenir en filiale soumission au Souverain Pontife et en union spirituelle aux cérémonies retransmises par les media. L'indulgence partielle est concédée à tout fidèle où qu'il soit s'unissant avec contrition et en prière aux JMJ (récitation finale de la prière spéciale et invocation à Marie, Reine du Brésil, ou à d'autres patrons intercesseurs), dans le but d'encourager la jeunesse à s'affermir dans la foi et la sainteté de vie. Afin que les fidèles bénéficient plus facilement de ces indulgences, les prêtres proposeront à leurs pénitents de prier pour que les JMJ portent des fruits.

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According to a decree made public today and signed by Cardinal Manuel Monteiro de Castro and Bishop Krzysztof Nykiel, respectively penitentiary major and regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary, Pope Francis will grant Indulgence to the faithful participating in celebrations for the 28th World Youth Day, to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 22 to 29 July on the theme "Go and make disciples of all nations".

The young people and the faithful who are adequately prepared will obtain the Plenary Indulgence, once a day and under the usual conditions (sacramental Confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer in accordance with the intentions of the Holy Father), applicable also to the souls of deceased faithful.

The faithful who on account of a legitimate impediment cannot attend the aforementioned celebrations may obtain Plenary Indulgence under the usual spiritual, sacramental and prayer conditions, in a spirit of filial submission to the Roman Pontiff, by participation in the sacred functions on the days indicated, following the same rites and spiritual exercises as they occur via television or radio or, with due devotion, via the new means of social communication.
Partial Indulgence will be conceded to all the faithful who, in any place and between the indicated days, with a contrite heart raise devout prayers to God, concluding with the official prayer of the World Youth Day and invoking the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Brazil, with the title “Nossa Senhora da Conceicao Aparecida” as well as other patrons and intercessors of the same meeting, that they may encourage the young to reinforce their faith and lead a holy life.

Construction on the Main Events Structures Begins

Work for the installation of the structure of the Main Events has begun. The stages at Campus Fidei in Guaratiba and in Copacabana are in the initial phase with the construction of the base and were designed so that Pope Francis will always be at the highest point, guaranteeing adequate visibility for the participants.

On the central stage of Copacabana, the Opening Mass, the Papal Welcoming Ceremony, and the Stations of the Cross will be celebrated. In addition, the edge of the beach with have an additional 13 stages, each one measuring 100 square meters, where the Mysteries of the Passion of Christ will be acted out on Friday, 26 July.

The design for the stages for the events Copacabana comes from the artistic director of World Youth Day, Abel Gomes. He says that the inspiration came from the irregular contour of the mountains in Rio de Janeiro. “I would say that the (central) altar is a large sculpture of 4,000 square meters”, he says.

There will be four circular platforms of different heights, joined by one beautiful staircase. In the middle, there will be an accessible ramp that will allow for the entrance of the Popemobile. In the back, there will be a long screen 15m high and 61m wide. The stage – 70m wide, 60m deep, and 30m high, which will have a capacity for one thousand people.

The central stage at Campus Fidei, where the Pope will preside the Vigil and the Final Mass, is 3,000 square meters. The architect, João Uchôa, explains that the design was inspired by Gothic Cathedrals. According to him, the cathedrals were constructed at the end of the Middle Ages, and it marked a new time in the Church.

“The cathedrals have beautiful pieces. Since World Youth Day is a youth movement, we thought it would be a good image to express that. It is a plastic and symbolic element”, he explained.

The structure has a large iron cross coated in gold measuring 33 meters in height, which is in reference to the age of Christ when he died. The two 14-meter front towers form the image of two hands clasped in prayer. Behind the structure, 360 white towers were arranged in the form of a cyclorama which brings to mind an image of a large organ, similar to those that were played in the old churches.

Below the stage, which has a 750-person capacity, will be located the sacristies of the Pope and the Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, Dom Orani João Tempesta, and the artists’ dressing rooms and invited authorities.

The structures will be finished in the first half of July.