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From Rudy Schlosser on Wed, 31 Jul 2002 10:32:33,
Summarizing his adventures & ministry of teens during World Youth Day 2002
Here's what I did last week:
July 22. arrive at church to vanpool with teens and adult to airport.
There are 18 of us - 15 teens, 3 adults. We arrive at airport, check in, fly, arrive
in Buffalo, see thousands of other WYD2002 pilgrims including Manal and his
wife from All Saints. We met another pilgrim, Fran from Seattle. Keep this name
in mind. We vanpool to Toronto, Fran is a great navigator. We arrive at high
school, our "hotel" - at least it had showers and washrooms ( but no
mirrors in washrooms. Must be a Canadian thing). Our room is the floor of a
high school classroom. We settle, and decide to check out Toronto. Walk around,
make it to top of CN Tower, the largest structure of its kind in the world (
that's like saying I am the tallest person born on 11/22/62 at 8am in LA who
had foreign parents who lived in Inglewood...) Actually, it really is tall.
This was a fun night. Some teens did NOT sleep that night because they were so
amped meeting other teens and getting to know one another
July 23. started off with a run for me and Mark Tolcher, the St Philip
LifeTeen minister. We drove to downtown Toronto. Experienced a
prayer/meditation session with Taize' from France. Made it to Exhibition Place
( where most events occurred). Had to wait 3 hours for lunch because the
Toronto food group had NO CLUE there would be this many people. Finally got our
food. Then we and 375,000 of our best friends had Mass with Archbishop of
Toronto. Believe it or not, communion service went quickly due to many
Eucharistic ministers. After, we went to LifeTeen USA where Fr Dale led
adoration and Tom Booth and Matt Smith led singing/praising. After, the teens
met Matt Smith. Some were surprised that I knew him ( from TEC retreat). We got
home about 1am
July 24. started with a run. Then we drove to a neighborhood church for
catechesis conducted by Archbishop of Minnesota and then Mass. Very cool.
Lots of singing/dancing /clapping/hand movements. I let one teen borrow the key
to my van, but he locked it in the van. So while everybody else went to THE X (
Exhibition Place), this teen, Brian, and I waited for CAA ( the Canadian AAA)
to unlock van. By the way, Wally of the church let us use his CAA card for the
unlocking service. Canadians are VERY COOL. So Brian and I walk to THE X. I was
just a little disappointed that Brian locked the key in his car, so I pushed
the walking pace. He didn't complain, but he was SO RELIEVED when we stopped.
The rest of the group was not there. So Brian and I went to get lunch. But it
was closed. But I was VERY HUNGRY and when I am very hungry, something has to
give. So I spoke to a volunteer who said "we're closed" Of course, I
asked in a VERY CHRISTIAN WAY, "who's your boss". Well after asking 5
volunteers who they reported to, you know, working up the escalation process, I
got to Linus who was in charge. And Linus could sense I was very hungry, so he
hooked us up. Provided a meal of 6 for just Brian and myself. Then Brian and I
saw Steve Angrisano perform ( he wrote "go make a difference). That was
very good. We walked around more and finally caught our group at Island Park -
part of THE X. We were happy to reunite. So we left THE X and went to see
Crispin. A very Catholic band. THEY JAMMED. The teens fell in love with
them.After, many teens met them. We got home about 1.
July 25. Of course, my day started with a run. Then we went to our
parish church for Mass. At 3pm , we saw Tom Booth perform. Really awesome. I
also talked to Matt Smith, Fr Dale, and Randy Raus of St Ann's. All cool people
who I have known for a while doing LifeTeen stuff. The teens met Tom Booth.
He's really cool and yes I also know him from lifeteen stuff and St Ann's
performance. So now it's THE TIME. The Pope will drive by and we need to get
ready. So we rush to secure a place. Well so did 375,000 other people.
Fortunately, we still were within sight distance of the altar and fortunately
there were HUMUNGOUS tv monitors all over ( like the concert ones). So we saw
the Pope and heard his message. He loves youth who are the "salt of the
earth, light of the world". The teens were PUMPED about this meeting. Well
some teens were too pumped so I had to take some of them home. So I and 4 teens
departed. The others planned to go to a dance. So we walked, subwayed, bused,
walked and right before I got home, I got a call from Fran. Remember Fran from
Seattle. He called to tell me that he found Taylor ( Taylor is my daughter). I
tried to seem calm and said "you found Taylor. I didn't know she was
lost". Well somehow Taylor was left behind and she started to panic (
remember she lives in Fayetteville which if you don't know Fayetteville think
Mayberry RFD) and then started looking all over and then found Fran. She lept
into his arms and started crying ( so I was told). So anyway, I told Fran that
I am on my way after dropping off these other teens who were at our
"hotel" ( I can laugh as I look back on this). So I got the van and
as I was driving to get Taylor, I got a call from Mark who said that he was
with Taylor. All was ok. So I met them at the dance. They had so much fun. Too
much fun. Taylor and I drove home. Not only did I not want to lose Taylor but
how was I supposed to tell my ex-wife that the only good thing we produced was
lost. Fortunately, that nightmare did not happen.
July 26. early that am, Mark Tolcher had to leave to LA for a wedding.
So now Kelly Whittier, the other adult and I, were in charge. Of course I
started the day with a run. And then we went to Mass. After Mass, one of the
teens, Corinne, started vomiting, then started having stomach problems and then
started cramping. And then I pulled out her medical sheet ( Mark left me with
that ) and read that she has asthma. Great I thought. Not being a doctor, I
said, call the ambulance. Sorry but that's what I thought needed to be done.
Well you know what, that IS what needed to be done. The ambulance was there in
2 minutes and Kelly went with Corinne to hospital. And then it started to rain.
So here I was with 14 teens. We prayed and I told them basically "the show
must go on". They felt bad and didn't want to go, but had to. The rain did
not help. Fortunately, I was able to secure a ride to the subway stop via
another group's busdriver. We went to the OCP (Oregon Catholic Press ) concert
where we saw Tom Booth, Steve Angrisano, and Matt Maher. They actually knew
some of our teens by name. I mean we have now seen them 3 or 4 times PLUS these
teens love to dance sing and sit in the front. That was cool how our teens got
into Catholic performers. So again, that was great. After, after all the events
of today, we went home. Still no word from Corinne. We arrived about 9pm and I
called the hospital. Corinne was released. All ok. She saw us about 10. Our teens
were so happy for her. But she stayed that night not at our "hotel"
but at a home - The Canadians are so nice!!!
July 27. Yes. A run in the morning for me. Do you see why I run? I mean
with all the goings on, I need some stress release! We hop on a bus and start
our pilgrimage walk. It's about a 10 mile walk to Downsview Land ( this is
where the airplanes on 9/11 got diverted to when FAA stopped USA flights). It
was hot and the teens were tired but we did it. You know I pushed them. We made
camped and relaxed. Waiting for the Pope. At about 7pm, the Pope arrived. The
crowd of 500,000 went crazy ( the Beatles in their heydays had nothing over
this Pope, in my opinion). The Vigil was spectacular. All loved the Pope's
message and it's amazing how somebody so physically weak is so mentally sharp.
This was awesome. Mark Tolcher called and asked how things were. I told him no
need to worry. It was the usual teen to ambulance, teens getting tired, teens
getting lost day. No big deal. No cause for concern. ha ha
July 28.We fall asleep about 2am after more concerts. About 4am we're
awakened by rain. No fun to sleep in the rain. It rained for 2 hours and then
was just wet. You know I had to do my exercise, but today I couldn't run. So I
did some stretching and then did some pushups. While I was doing pushups, there
was laughter. I looked up and these Italian girls were laughing at me. So I
thought, so you want a show, so I will give you a show. So after about 200
pushups, the Italian girls started counting and then when I finished, they
applauded. Hey, I need fans, too. And then about 9am it started to rain again,
but the show must go on. So at 9:30 we started Mass. Again, the crowd goes
crazy with the Pope's arrival. During the Alleluia, the rain stops and the sun
appears. It's sunny the rest of the Mass. Again, the Pope is amazing. Teens
just love him. It so cool how popular he is. At the sign of peace, that Italian
girl, Azzenzia, gives me a sign of peace, but since she's Italian, it was the
cheek-to-cheek kiss on both cheeks. Don't you just love Italians.The Mass ends
and EVERYBODY yells to JPII how we love you "JPII we love you" was
chanted numerous times. We pack up. Eat. Walk to bus stop. Subway home. Walk
back and relax. When we arrive, Mark Tolcher was there to greet us. He was at
the Mass in the rain, but could not find us. I mean, Mark, how could you NOT
find us amongst 800,000 of our closest friends. We shower - much needed after 2
days without. And then we have dinner of real food. After, we have a wrap up session
where we talk about the week. Taylor said that her main experience was getting
lost and when she got lost, she prayed. Prior to this, she always thought other
people's prayers were more important, but this time she needed God to help her.
So she said she bowed her head and prayed and as soon as she stopped praying,
she saw Fran and her prayer was answered. That was powerful. I loved hearing
that.We try to sleep by 12
July 29. We awaken at 3am. Yes. Only 3 hours. Pack, get in vans, drive
to Buffalo, wait for plane, board plane, sleep on the plane, arrive in Atlanta.
Hug, depart. I take Taylor home. She's so happy. I am happy for her. I head to
work, but before, I go to Mass thanking God for all he has blessed me with.
Mass is always great.
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