Diocesan youth will pray with Pope Benedict this weekend

Peter Pofahl and Lauren Strainge can't imagine anyone not wanting to see Pope Benedict XVI during his upcoming visit to the U.S.

"It's the Pope, and I'm Catholic," Peter explained matter-of-factly. "To me, it's an extremely great honor" to be participating in the youth rally to be held April 19 at St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers.

Approximately 200 youths and chaperons from all over the Albany Diocese will make the trek to the day-long rally, which will feature music and other entertainment in addition to a special liturgy with the Pope.

Excitement

"I'm really excited about it! It's really neat to have a chance to see the Pope," enthused Lauren, who will be making the trip with her younger brother, Dennis.

She is a senior and he, a freshman at Maple Hill High School in Schodack; they attend Sacred Heart parish in Castleton.

Because both siblings wanted to go on the trip, Lauren noted, "it would have been tricky" for her family to cover the cost. But both siblings applied for and were chosen to receive scholarships through the diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.

Curiosity

"We're both really looking forward to going," said Lauren, who wrote in her scholarship application essay that the Pope "is a fascinating and interesting world leader....I am curious about his views and positions about current world events, and the role faith has played in his life."

She wrote that she also wanted to attend the youth rally because "I have loved all the youth ministry-oriented events I have attended in the past, especially those with people from outside my parish community. Such events always make me feel like part of a global Catholic community."

Eager to go

Peter heard about the youth rally during an assembly at Saratoga Central Catholic High School, where he is a freshman.

When the principal offered flyers about the trip to any student who was interested, Peter said, "I grabbed one."

A parishioner of Sacred Heart Church in Lake George, he thought the trip would be "a great experience for any Catholic person" -- but especially for a young person who, like himself, is considering a vocation to religious life.

Possible vocation

Peter started thinking about entering the priesthood because of the influence of his former pastor, Rev. Joseph O'Brien (now pastor of Holy Spirit parish in East Greenbush).

The priest invited him to become an altar server; now, the teen is a Eucharistic minister and sacristan for his parish.

All those ministries "just sparked" an interest in becoming a priest, he said, noting that he's hoping the youth rally "helps me in my future decision about taking a vocation."

He also sees the trip as an opportunity to get to know fellow students from Spa Catholic, where he plays football and baseball and works on lighting for plays.

Youth on the go

Lauren, an altar server at her parish and a peer retreat leader, will be traveling with several people from her youth ministry program.

If she could speak with Pope Benedict XVI, she said she would tell him one thing about her fellow teens: "We just want to be involved in the Church."

Peter was more focused on listening than addressing the pontiff.

"If I did have a chance to talk with him, I'd probably be speechless," he said.

(04/17/08) [[In-content Ad]]