Young Catholics in Diocese loved late pontiff

Pre-teen, teenage and young adult Catholics in the Albany Diocese were impressed by Pope John Paul II and mourn his passing:

* Bill Valosin, a young adult from Corpus Christi Church, Round Lake: "It's shocking. As all of the media are saying, it was inevitable, but it's still a blow to all of us -- Catholics, non-Catholic Christians, and other denominations as well. He will be sorely missed.

"Knowing the support and enthusiasm that he had for young people was incredible. He was the first pope to really make such incredible use of the mass media, which was where we, as young people, stay in touch with what's going on in the world. And he was always there.

"He was a man that was very faithful to his relationship with God, and would not waver from that. Yet, at the same time, he was always a man open to whoever needed the love of God.

"He said to the young people of the world: 'You are the light of the world, you are the salt of the earth.'"

***

* Connie Beeman, young adult, Corpus Christi Church, Round Lake: "We've known he was ill for a long time. Mentally, you try to brace yourself for that. Going to the World Youth Day pilgrimage [in Toronto in xxx] was certainly eye-opening to me about how holy the Pope is and how his words are so strongly felt by those who there.

"He really affected the world. I remember his message at World Youth Day was so focused on the Beatitudes. In my Bible study group at church, we just got done looking at the Beatitudes. I can't read those or hear them without thinking of the pope's message about believing and following them.

"When you can find a human being that exudes qualities that Jesus had, you recognize it. And that's what the pope was."

***

* Dan Keefer, 18, parishioner at St. James Church in Albany: "I don't know anyone who can really succeed him. He was amazing. He's been Pope since before I was born!

"He made Catholicism easy to understand and to reach. I knew where he was coming from, and I liked him a lot. He understood how kids felt, and he cared about that.

"He helped make Catholicism into something that shouldn't be shunned. He made it much more accessible to youth. It's so easy to be brought up [a Catholic] and to give it up when you turn 18. Thanks to him, I'm 18, I'm in college, and I serve my church as a Eucharistic minister."

***

* Meg Hannan, 18, Christ the King Church, Westmere: "I'm sad that he passed away. At the same time, I think he's going to be more at peace in heaven than he was here on earth, being sick.

"I like history, and what really struck me the most was his accomplishments that weren't necessarily Church-related: bringing down communism and healing between the different faiths."

***

* Kate Leathem, 18, Our Lady of Victory, Troy: "It's such a big loss for everyone. He did so much for so many people, and changed so many things. It's a weird feeling, that he's gone. He's always been there. He's always been pope for me. I've never known anything different. He was like someone you always knew was going to be there."

"I think of him as a role model and a leader. I get ideas from parents and friends; but, as a Catholic, he was in charge of what was being taught and what was going on. I always wanted to know what his thoughts on something were."

***

* Melissa Jeffers, 17, St. Pius, Loudonville: "He reached me, because he always insisted that people my age aren't the generation of the tomorrow, that we're the generation of today. He was so energized by young people; it touched me and made me want to be involved in youth ministry.

"His biggest accomplishment was when he forgave the person who tried to assassinate him. That was a huge accomplishment. That showed the world that forgiveness is important and possible."

***

* Steve DeBonis, eighth-grader from St. Francis de Sales, Troy: His message "was a good message, coming from someone with such authority as him, and many people listened."

***

* Mollie Heiser, 12, St. Francis de Sales, Troy: "He made you feel special, that he actually thought of us and considered us people that mattered. He takes you in instead of pushing you away."

(Reported by Karen Dietlein, staff writer.)

(4/7/05)