By Tom Tracy - Florida Catholic
Photographer: TOM TRACY | FC
Martha Campos, 17, of St. Brendan High School in Miami, takes a video during a Nov. 5 youth rally at St. Thomas University in Miami in honor of John Paul II.
MIAMI GARDENS | Catholic students and faculty gathered to venerate what is considered a �first-class relic� of Blessed John Paul II used the occasion to reflect on the life and impact of the pope who, along with Blessed John XXIII, will be raised to sainthood April 27, 2014, at the Vatican.
�I know the last bit of his life and a few years back before I was born � John Paul II called for the youth rally in the Philippines where my family is from and where over five million people came for that event,� said Keanu Orfano, 13, a student at St. Lawrence School in North Miami Beach.
�My grandparents were there, and they told many stories about John Paul II to me and what a great man he was and the things he did; he traveled to many countries in the world and my mom met him in the Philippines,� said Keanu, who was among 1,500 students from some 15 Catholic elementary and high schools in South Florida who took part in a youth rally and Mass Nov. 5 convened by the archdiocesan Office of Campus Ministry at St. Thomas University.
On display for the students to touch and pray with was the traveling relic of Blessed John Paul II � a vial of the late pontiff�s blood.
�It is wonderful and a privilege to see the relics of Pope John Paul II,� said Keanu, who added that his family had turned out at St. Mary Cathedral on Sunday to see the relics. �Sadly, I had not seen the pope in my life because he died when I was five years old, but if he had lived longer I would have been happy to see him.�
The Office of Campus Ministry along with the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary helped organize the youth rally as an educational and spiritual program in remembrance of John Paul II�s continuous concern for young people and of his overall legacy.
The event began with contemporary Christian music and a kind of pep rally as well as a documentary film on the pope�s life.
�He attracted so many people during his lifetime that even now he is still attracting youth,� said Father Luis Rivero, archdiocesan director of campus ministry.
He added that he hoped the Nov. 5 rally will have a lasting effect on the students by inspiring �young people to see a contemporary, modern-day saint who lived a life of holiness and simplicity in everyday life and hopefully it will attract them to do the same.�
Robert Merkel, 13, a student at Mother of Our Redeemer School in Miami, said he, too, was only five when Pope John Paul II died but that he has come to know about the late pontiff through films and media.
�He was like another version of Mother Teresa and in my opinion he was one of our best popes,� the youngster said. �John Paul II was a really nice guy who helped a lot of people. If I could have met him I would have thanked him for doing everything he does.
�I read about his missions to other countries and how he blessed the poor children and their families. I thought it was pretty cool that he would do that with people that he didn�t know,� Robert said. �He would just go and meet them and let them know that everything is ok.�
Religion teacher Denise Broughton from St. Lawrence School does remember both John Paul II and John XXIII. She especially remembers Blessed John Paul II for forgiving the perpetrator of his assassination attempt in 1981 � a Turkish man whom the pope later visited in prison and forgave.
�It is wonderful thing that both popes are becoming saints � popes that I knew in my lifetime and that is pretty extraordinary,� Broughton said. �I remember John Paul II for his open heart, his ability to accept all people, for being the most traveled pope, for his generosity, care and willingness to forgiveness. That was a pretty extraordinary thing that he did in going to the jail cell of his shooter and that he extended himself in such a manner,� she said. �That (incident) took a toll on his health.�
Juan Delsol, who teaches fifth and sixth grade religion classes at St. Theresa School in Coral Gables, said at the beginning of the school year his students were assigned to study the lives of John Paul II and Blessed John XXIII. �
The students researched their birthplace and parents, while other student committees studied their early life, priestly life, becoming a bishop, a cardinal and papacy.�
�Some did some role-playing, others made posters, games and crossword puzzles and it was very enriching and it edified me as a teacher to see them work,� Delsol said.
Bishop Fernando Isern, bishop emeritus of Pueblo, Colo., who now serves as pastor of St. Kieran Church in Miami, celebrated the Mass at St. Thomas University before the students came forward to touch the relic and receive a prayer card. �
He told the students that Blessed John Paul II believed deeply in young people and demonstrated that through his establishment of World Youth Day.
�No matter your age, you have a role to play in the faith,� Bishop Isern told the students. �You are the future of the Church but you are also the present because we know what a wonderful catalyst you are in your homes, and how your parents will bend over backwards to make sure you have the best they can offer you, and having a Catholic education is proof of that.�
�If that�s the case you have a mission to play right here and right now with the hope that John Paul II places in you right now wherever you find yourself because he knows you are called to make a difference, with your classmates, your families and in the world,� Bishop Isern said.
Photographer: TOM TRACY | FC
Father Luis Rivero, Miami archdiocesan director of campus ministry helps lead a Nov. 5 youth rally In Honor of Blessed John Paul II at St. Thomas University in Miami.
�My grandparents were there, and they told many stories about John Paul II to me and what a great man he was and the things he did; he traveled to many countries in the world and my mom met him in the Philippines,� said Keanu, who was among 1,500 students from some 15 Catholic elementary and high schools in South Florida who took part in a youth rally and Mass Nov. 5 convened by the archdiocesan Office of Campus Ministry at St. Thomas University.
On display for the students to touch and pray with was the traveling relic of Blessed John Paul II � a vial of the late pontiff�s blood.
�It is wonderful and a privilege to see the relics of Pope John Paul II,� said Keanu, who added that his family had turned out at St. Mary Cathedral on Sunday to see the relics. �Sadly, I had not seen the pope in my life because he died when I was five years old, but if he had lived longer I would have been happy to see him.�
The Office of Campus Ministry along with the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary helped organize the youth rally as an educational and spiritual program in remembrance of John Paul II�s continuous concern for young people and of his overall legacy.
The event began with contemporary Christian music and a kind of pep rally as well as a documentary film on the pope�s life.
�He attracted so many people during his lifetime that even now he is still attracting youth,� said Father Luis Rivero, archdiocesan director of campus ministry.
He added that he hoped the Nov. 5 rally will have a lasting effect on the students by inspiring �young people to see a contemporary, modern-day saint who lived a life of holiness and simplicity in everyday life and hopefully it will attract them to do the same.�
Robert Merkel, 13, a student at Mother of Our Redeemer School in Miami, said he, too, was only five when Pope John Paul II died but that he has come to know about the late pontiff through films and media.
�He was like another version of Mother Teresa and in my opinion he was one of our best popes,� the youngster said. �John Paul II was a really nice guy who helped a lot of people. If I could have met him I would have thanked him for doing everything he does.
�I read about his missions to other countries and how he blessed the poor children and their families. I thought it was pretty cool that he would do that with people that he didn�t know,� Robert said. �He would just go and meet them and let them know that everything is ok.�
Photographer: TOM TRACY | FC
A Catholic school student venerates a relic of Pope John Paul II Nov. 5 as part of a youth rally in honor of the future saint at St. Thomas University in Miami.
�It is wonderful thing that both popes are becoming saints � popes that I knew in my lifetime and that is pretty extraordinary,� Broughton said. �I remember John Paul II for his open heart, his ability to accept all people, for being the most traveled pope, for his generosity, care and willingness to forgiveness. That was a pretty extraordinary thing that he did in going to the jail cell of his shooter and that he extended himself in such a manner,� she said. �That (incident) took a toll on his health.�
Juan Delsol, who teaches fifth and sixth grade religion classes at St. Theresa School in Coral Gables, said at the beginning of the school year his students were assigned to study the lives of John Paul II and Blessed John XXIII. �
The students researched their birthplace and parents, while other student committees studied their early life, priestly life, becoming a bishop, a cardinal and papacy.�
�Some did some role-playing, others made posters, games and crossword puzzles and it was very enriching and it edified me as a teacher to see them work,� Delsol said.
Bishop Fernando Isern, bishop emeritus of Pueblo, Colo., who now serves as pastor of St. Kieran Church in Miami, celebrated the Mass at St. Thomas University before the students came forward to touch the relic and receive a prayer card. �
He told the students that Blessed John Paul II believed deeply in young people and demonstrated that through his establishment of World Youth Day.
�No matter your age, you have a role to play in the faith,� Bishop Isern told the students. �You are the future of the Church but you are also the present because we know what a wonderful catalyst you are in your homes, and how your parents will bend over backwards to make sure you have the best they can offer you, and having a Catholic education is proof of that.�
�If that�s the case you have a mission to play right here and right now with the hope that John Paul II places in you right now wherever you find yourself because he knows you are called to make a difference, with your classmates, your families and in the world,� Bishop Isern said.
Photographer: TOM TRACY | FC
Students from St. Hugh School in Miami examine a zucchetto worn by Blessed John Paul II during a Nov. 5 youth rally in honor of the future saint at St. Thomas University in Miami.
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