By
Christie L. Chicoine
CS&T Staff Writer
With its backdrop a picturesque blue sky, on the Feast of the Archangels
Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, more than 3,500 Catholics from the Archdiocese
convened on Saturday, Sept. 29, for the “Amazing Race for Grace:
Celebrating Faith, History and Eucharist.”
Probably the youngest to attend was the baby who moved in Tricia Manion’s
womb during the outdoor, closing liturgy celebrated by Cardinal Justin
Rigali at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood. [Read the Cardinal’s
homily on page 8.]
Manion is the director of the archdiocesan Office for Youth and Young
Adults (OYYA). Her office, along with the archdiocesan Office for the
Bicentennial, co-sponsored the event.
“I know that means that it was happy,” 31-year-old Manion
said of the first child she and husband Dan Cellucci are expecting on
Nov. 4, the Feast of St. Charles Borromeo.
One day, they will tell their child that “a little bit before it
came into this world, it was part of making history for our diocese,”
Manion said. “This baby was here to be present to it all —
and to see that, regardless of how young or how old, the Church has a
space for you.”
The celebration began at noon with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
and prayer led by Auxiliary Bishop Robert P. Maginnis at the Cathedral
Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia.
Bishop Maginnis is the bicentennial’s episcopal liaison.
Being a messenger of God “is not just for angels — it’s
for all of us,” Bishop Maginnis said in his homily. “No matter
what stage in life we are, we are to be messengers of a love of God for
one another. …
“As you leave here this afternoon, go and do what you should do
— be messengers, be of service to others, be heroes for Christ,”
the Bishop concluded.
Afterward, a treasure hunt featuring regional Catholic history was held
around the city, to highlight the many ways the Church serves the people
of God.
Maps and clue cards guided the young explorers on their Catholic Quest,
as they journeyed on foot until 3:30 p.m.
During the day, they learned about the history of their parishes, Catholic
schools, the saints of the Church, religious orders, the work of archdiocesan
Catholic Social Services, and more.
Tom Wimer, 58, a youth minister from St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Springfield,
attended the event with members of his parish’s Teens Inc. program.
He said the treasure hunt was a hit with them. And although there was
a lot of walking, “nobody got lost,” he added with a laugh.
“Adoration was an awesome start to the day,” Wimer said, adding,
“It’s nice to think about history, but if we don’t have
a focus on the Lord, what’s the point?”
From 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., a festival was held on the grounds of St.
Charles Seminary. Young people and families enjoyed activities that included pick-up
games of football and soccer, bobbing for apples, coin tosses, painting
a bicentennial mural, patronizing outdoor food booths, and more.
The Catholic Youth Organizations of St. Frances Cabrini Parish in Fairless
Hills and St. Jerome Parish in Philadelphia were among numerous CYO groups
that took advantage of the soccer fields during the festival.
“It’s fun,” said 13-year-old Bobby Garneau, a seventh
grader from St. Frances Cabrini. His reaction to the diocese celebrating
its 200-year history was: “Wow. That’s old.”
Because of a previously scheduled football game against Northeast Philadelphia
Catholic High School for Boys, Patrick Daly, a 17-year-old senior at Cardinal
O’Hara High School in Springfield, could not make all of the day’s
events.
But after his game ended, Daly headed directly to St. Charles Seminary
for the mid-afternoon festival and closing Mass.
It was important for him to attend, because he wanted to help his peers
show that “our school has pride in our Catholic religion,”
Daly said. “Everyone here seems awesome,” he said of the crowd.
“It’s a good atmosphere — very holy.”
The festival allowed participants plenty of time to socialize with their
fellow Catholics. It also included a meet-and-greet with the auxiliary
bishops of the Archdiocese prior to the closing Mass, and with Cardinal
Rigali after the liturgy.
The sacrament of reconciliation was available during the festival, in
the Chapel of St. Martin of Tours.
Meanwhile, a number of seminarians set up a table on the festival grounds
to promote vocations to the priesthood, and made themselves available
to young men who had questions about seminary life.
Concelebrating the closing liturgy were Archbishop Emeritus Anthony Cardinal
Bevilacqua; Retired Auxiliary Bishop Louis A. DeSimone; Auxiliary Bishops
Robert P. Maginnis, Joseph R. Cistone, Joseph P. McFadden and Daniel E.
Thomas, and numerous priests.
Wimer said the presence of so many priests at the closing liturgy was
powerful. “We started with the Lord, we’re going to finish
with the Lord,” he said just minutes before the closing Mass began.
Manion commended her staff for the year of planning that preceded the
event. “We wanted to have a celebration of our faith, our history
and the holy Eucharist. We looked at those three things and said, ‘Craft
it — make this day a reality,’” she said.
“I would hope that as people look back on today, they say the Church
of Philadelphia is alive — that youth and young adults believe passionately
in Jesus Christ as our Savior, that youth and young adults are excited
and proud to be Catholic,” Manion added.
For her, the highlight of the event occured as night began to fall during
the closing liturgy. She glanced at the statue of the Blessed Mother on
the Seminary grounds behind the outdoor altar, and at the cross atop the
Chapel of St. Martin of Tours. Both the statue and the cross were illuminated
by the setting sun.
“It just reminded me of the power of our faith,” Manion said.
“Not only was Our Lady looking over us, but Our Lord was looking
over us as well. It was just this perfect, peaceful moment for me at the
end of the day.”
Throughout the bicentennial and beyond, OYYA wants to help people “to
hear and respond to the call of Jesus Christ,” Manion said.
Following the Mass, Cardinal Bevilacqua observed that the two centuries
that have passed since the diocese was founded prove that it is has a
lot of life in it. “I pray that it will continue to grow, under
great leaders,” he said.
Father Joseph C. McLoone, the bicentennial chairman and pastor of St.
Katharine Drexel Parish in Chester, said the day demonstrated to him that
“the Church is alive, and well, and young.
“As we’re celebrating 200 years of history,” he added,
“it’s really good to see that the Church has such a big future,
and a strong future.”
For more information, including a complete listing of bicentennial events,
access the archdiocesan Web site at www.archdiocese-phl.org, then click
the icon “The 200th Anniversary of the Church of Philadelphia.”
Call the Office for the Bicentennial at (215) 587-5634. Send correspondence
to the Office for the Bicentennial, 222 N. 17th St. #801 or e-mail the
bicentennial chairman, Father Joseph C. McLoone, at frjmcloo@adphila.org.
CS&T Staff Writer Christie L. Chicoine may be reached at (215) 587-2468
or cchicoin@adphila.org.
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