Youngest traveler eager to see pope

Being personally invited to participate in youth ministry activities led Matthew Engel, 18, to take a bigger role in his parish.

Now, the parishioner of Blessed Sacrament Church in Albany is taking another step: He is the youngest person traveling from the Albany Diocese to New York City to see Pope Benedict XVI at Yankee Stadium on April.

He said he probably would have never had an interest in going to see the Pope if he hadn't been invited to participate in youth ministry.

Doors opened

"The youth minister at my parish invited me to attend" the Christian Leadership Institute, he said. "If I hadn't been to CLI, I wouldn't be involved."

CLI, sponsored by the diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, trains Catholic teens to take leadership roles in their parishes.

A freshman at The University at Albany, he is looking forward to seeing the Pope. "Obviously it's going to be very cool to see him," he said. "It will be a new experience and a new environment."

Indians fan

This will be Mr. Engel's second visit to Yankee Stadium. As a Cleveland Indians fan, he is not overly excited about being at the home of the Bronx Bombers.

"The location doesn't matter," he said, "although it is weird to see a pope at Yankee Stadium."

When his friends and family found out he would be going, "they were amazed," he said. "They're very supportive, surprised and happy for me."

Plans

As a high school student, he was a member of his school's National Honor Society and track team. Now majoring in social welfare, he finds much of his time is devoted to study.

"There is definitely a huge difference between high school and college," he said. "You can get really behind quickly if you don't stay on top of things."

He is not sure what he would like to do after college, but he hopes to help people and wants to volunteer in oppressed areas. He is also considering a career in counseling.

"The only thing I can picture myself doing is helping others," he said. "I feel compelled to it."

(Mr. Engel doesn't think that age matters when it comes to being active in a parish: It doesn't depend on your age. It's what kind of person you are.")

(04/10/08) [[In-content Ad]]