So I'm arranging a trip to Calcutta again, so far I have about 3 definites, 3 probables and 2 (unlikely) possibles. Pray for us!!! We're going in August for a month to help out Mother Teresa's order (Missionaries of Charity).
Also, if you're interested in coming, email me or post a reply on this blog!
Also, I'll post some things about the pope visit soon... I've been busy trying to arrange things for an art show I'm doing probably at the end of May.
I have it on Good information, that my suspicion on who started the chant was wrong... it was the Beautiful Sisters of Life!
... was the most memorable chant we made this past weekend. At the youth/seminarian rally some Dominican sisters from Michigan (I believe it was them) created it right behind my back. With the CFRs joyfully joining in the original volley. Joined quickly by the Sisters of life, and rapidly everyone.
I think it best describes this past weekend. Christ is our Hope, bringing us every good, which includes Benedict being our pope. A courageous medium height man, who's smile and joy shine beauty anywhere he steps.
I had the luxury and honor of meeting Benedict the first day. And it was all obviously by God's design. I had come to New York planning on going to St. Vincent church on Friday night to listen to the Legionaries of Christ give a talk about Benedict, and Going to the Seminarian/youth rally on Friday morning ... but it turns out that the rally was on Saturday, which was fortunate, because I had to pick up tickets Friday during the day, get my clothes pressed, and do various other things... while picking up my tickets, I learned that the Sisters of life were only in a few churches that night, and St. Vincent wasn't one. And the sisters were doing street evangelization, so I had to make a choice, either do what I wanted (listen to a talk) or help the Sisters evangelize. Ultimately, I took an email from the Sisters telling me about the Friday night masses a few days earlier as an invitation by God to help them. So I went and helped on the street.
After helping on the street, and putting away the Pope-Cutout that people took pictures with, I went into Adoration, to get some prayer in. While praying, I got a tap by one of the Sisters of life, asking me to come help. So I got up, and headed out with her. I ended up heading out with the Sisters, rushing down Lexington Avenue... scarfing down half of dinner, and realising I didn't quite look appropriate (I was wearing jeans and a T-shirt that said "I (heart) my German Shepard") By the time I finished trying to eat my dinner (I didn't finish eating it until late late that night), we were at the Secret Service security check point, and I was heading through... Goshea was great and let me put my food into her bag while we waited for the Pope to arrive. (Security by the way was about 1:1 ratio of Law enforcement to visitors... meaning about 60 security :60 visitors)
When he finally came out, he came straight for me,took my hand into his large warm, embracing hands, and kept hold of my hand as he walked left of me... my hand only being severed from his grip by the Secret Service pulling us apart... but then he came back took my hand again and looked into my eyes, when I asked him something, and then he engaged the sister beside me in brief conversation.
And the rest is History.
