7th World Meeting of Families: My Reflection

The 7th World Meeting of Families held in Milan from 30 May to 3 June 2012 was a meaningful and moving, edifying and encouraging event. It comprised a Theological-pastoral Congress, Feast of Testimonies with sharings by families given in the Pope’s presence followed by his spontaneous response, a meeting between the Holy Father and 80,000 confirmation candidates at the Meazza Stadium, and a concluding Mass celebrated by the Holy Father in the Northern Park of the Region of Bresso. Official records have it that the Congress was attended by 6,900 delegates from 153 nations, the Feast of Testimonies by 350,000 people and the Mass by 1,000,000.

All these component functions of the 7th World Meeting of Families were simply too overwhelming to put into a brief sharing. In this instalment of my column, BITS AND PIECES, I would like to single out a few points for sharing.

First of all, the sight of 6,900 participants in the Convention Hall of the Fieramilanocity was awesome. Their interest in the Congress spoke loudly of their seriousness with regard to family life and desire to proclaim to the world God’s design for the family. It is possible in the present world, as always, to be committed to one’s marriage and family, even in the midst of problems, challenges and sufferings. Genuine love is ready to embrace one’s spouse and family and seek their good, whatever be the cost. Love was the hallmark of the Congress.

Secondly, on the second day of the Congress, before the programme began, a big group of delegates from Zimbabwe sang and danced to the drum beats orchestrated by a couple of men. That was delightful and entertaining. Needless to say, it attracted a huge crowd of spectators. Joy and gaiety filled the air. Despite the problems faced in their own country, these delegates could still sing and dance in joy, because they had faith in Jesus Christ. That was the joy that the world could not give but only Christ can and does give.

Thirdly, the whole roped in about 5,000 volunteers, many of whom were young people, to help delegates and participants to go to the right places, attend to their needs and so forth. I am sure even well before the event, these volunteers had to attend meetings and go through familiarization as well as training sessions. During the event, they were there the whole day long everyday to attend to delegates. Surely, these volunteers would have been tired. But they kept the fatigue to themselves and radiated smiles of joy as they went about serving the delegates. What love and commitment their gestures reflected! There are indeed countless young people who are committed to their faith in Jesus Christ and willing to be faithful disciples of His. Surely, they give hope to the world.

Fourthly, at the Pope’s meeting with the 80,000 confirmation candidates, a big group of choreographers staged a colourful, mesmerising and moving performance, couched in a meaningful prayer service. The performance that used up the whole football field of the Meazza Stadium featured a number of scenes. Among them was the descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove with His seven gifts poured out on the confirmation candidates. Following that, they were directed by the Lord to “put out into the deep” (Lk. 5:4). As they did so, they netted a large number of fishes. The Pope and the Archbishop of Milan, Cardinal Angelo Scola, were in the boat. The big catch was depicted by hundreds of actors dressed in silvery garments that glittered in the bright light of the hot sun.

Chapter 21 of John’s Gospel also presents the story of a miraculous catch of large fish by the apostles who followed the risen Lord’s instruction. The number of fish caught was 153. I cannot resist the temptation of mentioning this because of the number of nations participating in the 7th World Meeting was also 153. Some scholars interpret the number 153 of John’s Gospel as representing the number of nations in the known world then. Was it divine providence to bring in delegates from 153 nations to this World Meeting of Families and inspire the producers of the choreography to depict the story of the miraculous catch?

The choreography sent a powerful message to the assembly. The Church is sent out to the deep – that is, the world that is torn in so many ways by secularism, materialism and individualism. The goal is to proclaim the risen Lord and bring people to Him. This mission is far from easy. But with the Holy Spirit present and led by the Pope as Christ’s Vicar, the Church will have a miraculous catch.

This miraculous catch was in a sense already experienced at the concluding Mass of the 7th World Meeting of Families. One million is a huge number. The Holy Father drew this crowd. In an unending chorus, they called out his name in Italian – BE-NED-DET-TO. At the end of each function, the salutation “Viva il Papa!” echoed unceasingly until he disappeared from the scene. All these were clear signs of the love people have for the Pope. This went contrary to the negative opinion the press generally held.

More importantly, in the person of the Pope, the faithful gathered in the Northern Park of the Region of Bresso for the Mass, saw the Vicar of Christ. What could this be if not faith in Christ and fidelity to Him?

Archbishop John Ha

Easter

Photo: Hobart Kho

I was in Thailand for the Bishops’ Institute for Theological Animation IV from 24 to 26 April 2012. The theme was “Fundamentalism and Relativism – Their Impact on Young People”. Needless to say the input sessions were interesting and informative. They attempted to keep the participating Bishops abreast of contemporary issues. Clearly, concern for young people being influenced and drawn by unhealthy trends, including religious ones, in today’s world dominated the Institute. As commonly experienced in such institutes, problems were raised but solutions were far from sight.

I returned home affected in a mixed way – inspired yet feeling helpless, motivated to do something yet feeling somewhat lost as to how to go about it, imbued with a sense of solidarity with brother Bishops in Thailand yet returning alone to Kuching to shoulder the great pastoral responsibility of looking after the young in the Archdiocese. Hope was tempered with discouragement, a clear hearing of the pastoral call was hampered by an awareness of its magnitude, and a sense of urgency was hindered by a sense of incapacity on my part. Like Moses encountering the Lord in the burning bush (cf. Ex. 3), I heard the Lord’s call but was tempted to give a lot of excuses. Like the burning bush being not burnt up, the Lord’s call continued to burn in my heart without being burnt up.

I arrived in Kuching on Friday 27 April night – and the following day I went with two seminarians to Sri Aman where Fr. Patrick Heng had arranged for an Easter celebration with the parishioners of Our Lady Queen of Peace. The world brightened up for me as I saw so many young faces in Church for the Eucharist. After Mass there was an hour of games for families. Parents and young children participated in the games and they all enjoyed the fun. But there was more than fun. The community that gathered did so in their Christian faith and love. Yes, many were young people! They were there because of their faith in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. They were there as part of the community of Christians – the parish of Our Lady Queen of Peace, with Fr. Patrick their regular shepherd.

On 30 April I went to Saberkas. Coming down the descending escalator, I saw a resident of the Cheshire Home at the foot of the escalator on the first floor. He was on a wheel chair selling tidbits and mineral water. I stopped by to chat with him. A few minutes later two young men approached him – and without saying a word, slipped a few ringgit between his hands and left.

That touched me: here was a physically challenged young man doing a little business to earn himself something in an honest way – not hampered by his difficult physical conditions, not angry, not shy and so forthcoming in his conversation. Then two young men healthy turned up with a generous heart – sharing with this physically challenged young men part of what they had and then walking away unobtrusively.

I encountered two different categories of young men – the able-bodied and the physically handicapped. The latter was in no way inhibited by his physical condition; the former were caring youngsters. This encounter called to mind the many wonderful young Catholics in the Archdiocese of Kuching who are truly committed to the Lord. I thought of the Triduum Spirituality I shared with them last year – and the pre-event retreat the 160 young servants “demanded” from me. I thought of the KAYA 20 and the many previous KAYAs. I thought of the Empowered Ministry who went to deliver aid to victims of the floods in the Philippines a few years ago.

Wow, it was Easter for me – my spirit rose from the pangs of the potential death which could have fallen on me had I given in to the negative thoughts that were pounding on me as I returned from Thailand. Yes, there are still young people around who are good, honest, caring, courageous, faith-filled, alive and committed to the Lord! They reflect the presence of the risen Lord in our midst.

Young Christians, thank you for your commitment to your faith. Keep the light of the risen Lord burning bright. God bless you.

Archbishop John Ha