Pilgrim Blog 26 - Catechesis Session 3

6/8/2023

The third and last session of catechesis, otherwise known as Rise-Up 3, on Friday 4 August, was thankfully held in a church. And not just any church, the Coléginho de Santo-Antão-o-Velho, a.k.a. College chapel of St Anthony, was the first Jesuit church in the world. St Francis Xavier spent 6 months here before going out on his missionary voyages to India and other places in Asia.

The college operated from 1553 until the Jesuits were expelled from Portugal in 1759 by none other than the statesman/diplomat whose bronze image with the lion adorns the big pillar in the huge roundabout next to the park where all the big WYD events happen, except for the vigil and the Closing Mass.

While the Jesuits were there, this college was the first free educational institution in Portugal, and "all qualified children who knew how to read and write and were willing to go to confession once a month could attend the College without further conditions."

The theme for this catechesis session was Mercy. To teach us that morning, we were given the bishop of Dallas, in Texas, Bishop Edward ‘Ed’ Burns. He won our hearts.

Because we had a roof, chapel-specific audio, and pews, it was easy both to hear him, and to take notes.

He began his catechesis by returning to when he was a newly ordained priest, in the parish of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, 40 years and 40 lbs ago.
(At which the whole church erupted in laughter with him.)

A priest who used to minister to the nearby prison moved on from the parish, and in the hubbub of celebrations the ministry to the prisoners was forgotten. It took a prisoner making a formal complaint that his religious rights were not being met to remind the parish and Diocese of their responsibility.

When the other priests made arguments for why they couldn't go and do it, the then, Fr Ed Burns willingly put himself forward, and said, "I'm here, I'll do it." (my paraphrase)

And so he went and introduced himself to the prison governor, a man who only expected this new priest to "show the collar around", shake hands and say hello.

Fr Ed said he'd like to start a bible study, have Eucharist with the inmates, and Reconciliation. That last word was foreign to the governor until the guard in the room with them both, a lapsed Catholic like the governor, translated: "He means Confession."

The governor responded, "These prisoners aren't going to want confession, Padre. This is the County Jail. They've not gone to court yet! If you start mentioning 'confession', they'll think you're working for the D.A!" (District Attorney, the prosecution team)

To the incredulity of the governor, the Lord God provided 18 prisoners seeking Confession to Fr Ed who readily wrote down their names as proof to the governor.

Bishop Ed has what he calls "a handkerchief ministry."

When in confession, he hands out his handkerchief whenever the tears start flowing. That’s what happened in that prison to a huge burly mountain of a man who came in and confessed every ill deed he had ever done.

When the man tried to give back the handkerchief, Fr Ed said, "Trust me. It's yours!"

Later, the cellmate of the burly man came up to Fr Ed asking about confession. The burly man had been still crying after his reconciliation; and had placed the handkerchief upon a cross on the cell wall.

When the cell mate asked him what it was about, the burly man told how to him it was a symbol of the forgiveness he had received through reconciliation.

Bishop Ed said that this burly tough guy was giving testimony of healing to his fellow prisoner - a testimony of healing through the gift of reconciliation. A gift that we are all called to receive, and to then go and tell to others what God has done for us through reconciling with Him.

(Then we went into a time of Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, and then time for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, followed by time for healing ministry – if desired.)

In his homily during Mass, Bishop Ed told us “That confusing moments always come. Keep searching for Jesus, as Mary Magdalene kept searching for Him when she found His tomb empty”.

Bishop Ed encouraged us to be still and listen, in order to awaken the realization of God’s presence, and to then go awaken your mission to speak of His presence to others.

Do you remember those taxi rides in Assisi? This seems a good time to share a story Bishop Randazzo told us while we were waiting for one of those taxis.

He mentioned that we (the Church members as a whole) tend to overcomplicate the message of evangelisation. It’s good to read up and understand our faith, but evangelisation is more often than not something simple. As an example, he told us that one of our tour guides in Florence was ‘evangelised’ by us saying the Angelus in front of an icon of Mary and Jesus. Afterwards the tour guide walked up to Bishop Anthony and thanked him because the guide had never noticed the wall shrine/s above the shop fronts.

The Angelus is a prayer, often said at noon, to remember the visit of the Angel Gabriel, and Mary’s Yes, and the incarnation of Jesus in her womb. Before each of the three Hail Mary’s there is a brief responsory based on Gospel passages, and then a closing prayer. It takes about 3 minutes to pray.

There were many other beautiful artworks in this college chapel, but this one seems appropriate to share; since after World Youth Day finishes on Sunday we will spend a few days in Fátima from Monday before beginning the long journey home.

Vincent Cavanagh #bbwyd
#wydlisbon #wyd2023 #lisboa2023
4 Aug 2023, 2.39pm Portugal | 4 Aug 2023, 9.39pm Sydney

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