Archbishop Buechlein discusses importance of World Youth Day
By Brandon A. Evans
Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein responded to questions about the archdiocesan pilgrimage he led to World Youth Day 2005 in Cologne, Germany, on Aug. 17 at the request of The Criterion.
More than 170 youth and adults from central and southern Indiana participated in the pilgrimage to Rome, Assisi and Cologne from Aug. 10-22.
The archbishop was able to be with the pilgrims until he returned to the archdiocese to celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial for Father Clarence Waldon, the longtime pastor of Holy Angels Parish in Indianapolis, on Aug. 18 at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis.
Q. Have you attended World Youth Day before?
A. I attended World Youth Day in Denver and I attended World Youth Day in Toronto. At the latter, I functioned as a bishop catechist.
Q. Why did you wish to go this time?
A. I wanted to go to World Youth Day in Cologne because I am convinced of the impact these days have on youth. I was especially motivated to encourage our youth to participate in Cologne after visiting there a year ago and after a meeting with Cardinal Joachim Meisner, the Archbishop of Cologne.
Q. Besides the sorrow you must feel over the death of Father Waldon, were you saddened to have to leave the group early?
A. I am saddened by the death of Father Waldon, a seminary classmate of mine since 1952. I visited Father Waldon the night before I left for the pilgrimage and I promised him that I would preside at his funeral.
It was difficult to leave our young pilgrims as we left the Rhine River Cruise on Monday, Aug. 15. It was especially hard to leave our seminarians. By this point on the pilgrimage, there was a bonding with youth and chaperones, seminarians and priests. I was deeply impressed by the positive spirit of all of them at our Masses, meals and sightseeing. Traveling with 170 other people requires a patient “give and take” attitude. Our folks met the challenge consistently.
Q. What was the highlight of your time with us?
A. Unquestionably, the highlight of the pilgrimage up to the time of my departure was the morning Mass at the Altar of the Chair of St. Peter in St. Peter’s Basilica. The meaning of that particular Eucharist was clearly poignant for all of us. I don’t think I ever expected to preside at a Mass at that altar. It was a profound experience of faith as we professed our Creed together at the altar that symbolizes the unity of our faith.
A second highlight for me was to pray at the tomb of Pope John Paul II.
Q. Are you encouraged by the faith of these young people?
A. I am encouraged by the faith of our young people even more than I could have hoped that I would be. Being with the group hours on end on the buses and in our Masses assured me that our youth were not making a pretense of their faith.
Q. The theme of suffering always comes up on pilgrimage. How do you hope our pilgrims deal with the difficulties of the trip?
A. I was pleasantly surprised how quickly most individuals on the pilgrimage adjusted to the inevitable complications that come with moving with a group of 170 pilgrims. The acceptance of inconvenience, complications of travel in Italy, etc., surprised me. I think, for instance, of 170 of us boarding the trains in Rome and Milan amidst the general pandemonium of Italian travelers who wanted our reserved seats.
Q. What do you hope our young people take with them from this pilgrimage?
A. I truly hope that the blessed opportunity of spending two weeks on a pilgrimage of faith with like-minded peers will stimulate a new pride in the Catholic faith of our youth and young adults.
I hope that the interaction of youth with our 28 seminarians also helps to increase “a culture of vocation” among the youth. I know that it caused some of them to become vocation conscious—not just about religious vocations—but also of their Christian call to make a difference in our Church and our world.
Q. In your opinion, was this group taking the pilgrimage seriously?
A. I was deeply impressed by the serious demeanor of the pilgrims and at the same time by their ability to have an appropriately good time. I was impressed by the manner in which the pilgrims looked after each other, especially those who were challenged by the rigor of being a pilgrim in a foreign land.
Q. Is there anything else you want to mention?
A. I am grateful to Father Jonathan Meyer, who coordinated much of the planning for the pilgrimage along with Carolyn Noone. I am grateful to Father Eric Johnson, Father Robert Robeson and Father Rick Eldred, who went out of their way to lend a pastoral hand.
I was particularly pleased and proud of the manner in which our seminarians stepped up to the plate to help make things work along the way. It was good for our seminarians to share the pilgrimage as a common experience. I know that this was a boost to their faith and to their vocational discernment. I trust that their visit with Pope Benedict will be a lasting and encouraging memory.
A final word of thanks to the chaperones, understanding parents and all who made this possible. I commend the Grueninger Tours for their brave and generous facilitation of a fine pilgrimage. †