WYD Panama: Catechesis in the
Parish
 |
| Bishop Edward Burns of Dallas, Texas (USA) |
Concerts, confessions, and catechesis in the parishes of
Panama City help prepare young people to participate even more fully in the
World Youth Days ahead.
By Seán-Patrick Lovett
The description “Catechesis in the Parish” doesn’t really do
them justice. In reality, these World Youth Day morning gatherings are a
multiple mix of things.
The idea is to aggregate groups, according to common
languages and nationalities, in various parishes around Panama City, for three
days of reflection, reconciliation, and recreation, ahead of the main WYD
events with the Pope.
What happens?
The catechesis itself involves a presentation by a Cardinal,
Bishop, or other ecclesial authority, followed by a Q & A session. But
there are also testimonies from young people themselves: often powerful stories
of how they found God, or rediscovered their faith, or came to terms with a
major life crisis.
Then there’s the music. Lots of it. All followed by the
celebration of Mass, and accompanied by impromptu confessions that are heard by
young priests, sitting or standing on the outskirts of the gathering. The
overall effect is of a crowded, colourful, rowdy yet reflective, World Youth
Day in miniature.
Who is there?
On Day One, around one thousand young people crowded the
Parish of San Francisco de la Caleta in downtown Panama City. They came from
the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Britain, and South Africa.
They were there, partly for the sheer joy of being there, but mostly to reflect
on the theme and challenge of the day: “Here I am, Lord”.
Leading them in that reflection was the Bishop of Dallas,
Texas, Edward Burns.
What did the Bishop say?
Bishop Burns engaged his young audience with a series of
anecdotes that ranged from his personal vocation and devotion to Our Lady, to
how he overcame his fear of flying.
But, most of all, he focused of the theme of challenge: “The
challenge for us is to really listen to the Lord”, he said.“With all the
technology we have around us, to shut all that down so that we can be still in
the presence of the Lord and listen to Him much as Samuel said: ‘“Speak Lord,
your servant listening’”.
The Bishops’ challenge to “shut off your iPhones, shut off
your iPads, all your electronics”, caused ripples of surprised and amused
reactions among those present. But he quickly qualified his provocation: “Find
yourself in the presence of the Lord”, he said, “open your heart, your mind,
and your lives to Him, and let Him speak to you”.
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