World Meeting of Families 2018 - Dublin
The World Meeting of Families started in 1984 by Pope St John Paul II who envisaged an international event of prayer, catechesis and celebration that that would draw families from around the world and that would help to strengthen the bonds between families and bear witness to the crucial importance of marriage and the family to all of society.
In August 2018, the ninth World Meeting of Families took place in Dublin. People came from all over the world to take part in the event and to greet Pope Francis who was due in Dublin to witness the Festival of Families and to celebrate Mass for the pilgrims in Phoenix Park at the end of the week. A small group of pilgrims from our own Diocese took the opportunity to be part of this global event.
The week began with opening ceremonies taking place in churches all over Ireland. Then there was a three day pastoral congress at The Royal Dublin Society entirely based on Amoris Laetitia: On love in the family, the apostolic exhortation written by Pope Francis after the two Synods on the family. The daily themes were – The Family and Faith, The Family and Love and The Family and Hope and delegates could choose from many inspirational talks and panels from a wide range of speakers. Popular speakers included Bishop Robert Barron and Fr James Martin also both spoke to packed out audiences, and Bishop Barron gave an engaging teaching on Amoris Laetitia, which was the overall theme for the event. H.E. Cardinal Tagle of the Philippines spoke about ‘The Throwaway Culture’ and H.E. Cardinal Vincent Nichols whose keynote speech looked at marriage preparation in the light of Amoris Laetitia. It wasn't all serious though; Fr Leo Patalinghug from America had his audiences in stitches as he spoke on the importance of food, family meals, and God's desire to provide for us - and all of this whilst cooking himself! And yes, for those of you wondering, he was a good cook. Each afternoon, Mass was held in the outdoor arena of the venue which proved tricky due to the unpredictable Dublin weather meaning the ponchos supplied with the pilgrim packs were called into action on several occasions. Talks and panel discussions went on into the evening for those who still had the stamina to join in and the large Exhibition Hall was open all day, full of stands promoting a myriad of different products, books and organisations for ministry to families.
The Festival of Families that took place on the Saturday was a celebration of family and of Irish culture. In a full Croke Park stadium along with Pope Francis, we were entertained by dancing and singing (including Riverdance and Andrea Bocelli) interspersed with testimonies to his Holiness from all sorts of families to the challenges of being faithful families in today’s world. The testimonies included themes such as welcoming migrants, balancing technology, traveller ethnicity and the family as a source of life and hope. We all left feeling uplifted by the whole evening’s experience.
On the Sunday, we rose early to grey skies and pouring rain with the promise of a long day of walking and waiting to enable us to be at Mass with the Holy Father in Phoenix Park that afternoon. It was indeed a long way to walk due to the traffic restrictions and exclusions around the Park, but we chatted along the way and shared our experiences of the whole event. Mass proved to be a moving experience and the rain kept off sufficiently long enough for us to focus on the words, prayers and actions of His Holiness as he concelebrated Mass with the Cardinals, Bishops and Priests that were present.
Then it was all over, a whirlwind of a week of learning, fellowship and prayer, and so to Rome for the tenth World Meeting of Families in 2021!
In August 2018, the ninth World Meeting of Families took place in Dublin. People came from all over the world to take part in the event and to greet Pope Francis who was due in Dublin to witness the Festival of Families and to celebrate Mass for the pilgrims in Phoenix Park at the end of the week. A small group of pilgrims from our own Diocese took the opportunity to be part of this global event.
The week began with opening ceremonies taking place in churches all over Ireland. Then there was a three day pastoral congress at The Royal Dublin Society entirely based on Amoris Laetitia: On love in the family, the apostolic exhortation written by Pope Francis after the two Synods on the family. The daily themes were – The Family and Faith, The Family and Love and The Family and Hope and delegates could choose from many inspirational talks and panels from a wide range of speakers. Popular speakers included Bishop Robert Barron and Fr James Martin also both spoke to packed out audiences, and Bishop Barron gave an engaging teaching on Amoris Laetitia, which was the overall theme for the event. H.E. Cardinal Tagle of the Philippines spoke about ‘The Throwaway Culture’ and H.E. Cardinal Vincent Nichols whose keynote speech looked at marriage preparation in the light of Amoris Laetitia. It wasn't all serious though; Fr Leo Patalinghug from America had his audiences in stitches as he spoke on the importance of food, family meals, and God's desire to provide for us - and all of this whilst cooking himself! And yes, for those of you wondering, he was a good cook. Each afternoon, Mass was held in the outdoor arena of the venue which proved tricky due to the unpredictable Dublin weather meaning the ponchos supplied with the pilgrim packs were called into action on several occasions. Talks and panel discussions went on into the evening for those who still had the stamina to join in and the large Exhibition Hall was open all day, full of stands promoting a myriad of different products, books and organisations for ministry to families.
The Festival of Families that took place on the Saturday was a celebration of family and of Irish culture. In a full Croke Park stadium along with Pope Francis, we were entertained by dancing and singing (including Riverdance and Andrea Bocelli) interspersed with testimonies to his Holiness from all sorts of families to the challenges of being faithful families in today’s world. The testimonies included themes such as welcoming migrants, balancing technology, traveller ethnicity and the family as a source of life and hope. We all left feeling uplifted by the whole evening’s experience.
On the Sunday, we rose early to grey skies and pouring rain with the promise of a long day of walking and waiting to enable us to be at Mass with the Holy Father in Phoenix Park that afternoon. It was indeed a long way to walk due to the traffic restrictions and exclusions around the Park, but we chatted along the way and shared our experiences of the whole event. Mass proved to be a moving experience and the rain kept off sufficiently long enough for us to focus on the words, prayers and actions of His Holiness as he concelebrated Mass with the Cardinals, Bishops and Priests that were present.
Then it was all over, a whirlwind of a week of learning, fellowship and prayer, and so to Rome for the tenth World Meeting of Families in 2021!
|
|
