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June 2008 Issue
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to Feature Articles
A family's reflection on the Papal visit to
New York
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Jason and Christa Morris
stood in awe as they and their
children looked down on the
Yankee Stadium infield where
Pope Benedict XVI celebrated
Mass before a crowd of 60,000 people.
It was an experience their entire family
described as incredible.
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However, for the family of eight from Prince of Peace Parish
in North Muskegon, just getting to New York to see the pope
had proven to be almost as remarkable as the experience of
attending the papal Mass at Yankee Stadium.
Against all odds
Prior to their trip to the Big Apple, and
before being awarded tickets to attend the Mass, the Morris
family had endured financial and medical hardships that would
seemingly put any trip, let alone one to New York to see the
pope, out of reach. Jason, 35, had been unemployed from his
job as an electrician for so long that his unemployment benefits
had run out. Bills were adding up and the family's car needed
repair. Despite financial challenges, Jason and Christa let
faith be their guide and the family began making plans to
visit New York.
Following their decision to proceed with planning,
a series of extraordinary events occurred that seemed only
to affirm the choice that Jason and Christa had made. Upon
request, Bishop Walter A. Hurley was able to provide the family
with eight tickets to attend the pope's Mass in New York.
"Either we all went, or none of us were going," Christa said.
"We never expected to get eight tickets. I just prayed to
God and said, 'If it is your will to make it happen, then
I will do my part.'"
Next, Jason received a call from his former
employer, Aktion Electric in Muskegon, offering him a few
days work during the week before the family's trip, which
he eagerly accepted. On the day that the Morris family was
to leave for New York, Jason's boss, Bob Baker, called him
in to the office. Jason became worried that his family's trip
might be in jeopardy, but when the two met, Baker handed Jason
a paycheck that included his time that week and back pay.
And then Christa's parents, Manfred and Gisela Edrmann, stepped
in and gave the family a financial gift for their trip. "We
had hoped to see John Paul II and even Mother Teresa, but
it didn't happen. This time, with all the odds against us,
without actual hope of going, everything came together," he
said.
Christa's German connection
Christa was born in Wuerzburg, Germany, about
200 miles from the birthplace of Pope Benedict XVI. She had
always hoped to see the day when a German-born cardinal would
be named pope. On April 2, 2005, the day Pope John Paul II
died, Christa learned she was pregnant with her sixth child.
Shortly after, Pope Benedict XVI became the first German-born
pope in almost 500 years.
When the couple's son was born later that
year, they knew what they would name him. "We always had difficulty
in choosing names for our other children, but this one we
knew would be Benedict," she added. When Christa heard Pope
Benedict XVI speak, it reminded her of her family when she
was growing up in Germany. "To me, to see and hear him, it
was almost like being with my family in Germany," she said.
"His voice reminded me of my grandmother's - a soft voice
that radiates peace."
A glimpse, and then an experience
of a lifetime
Upon their Saturday arrival in New York, the
Morris family took time to familiarize themselves with the
route to Yankee Stadium where the Mass would be celebrated
the next day. As they walked the route, they had an unexpected
opportunity - the Holy Father, en route to an event, passed
by them riding in his specially designed car. "There were
thousands of people trying to find every inch of space, standing
on things, holding cameras in the air," Jason recalled. "The
crowds were pressing against each other, but they were friendly.
They allowed our children to get up front so they could see
the pope come by. There was a feeling of astonishment. That
it's really him and not a picture on a television set. It
was incredible!"
On Sunday, as the Morris family awaited the
start of the papal Mass, the huge crowd began stirring, then
cheering the pope as he entered the stadium, creating an aura
of excitement - and an anxious moment for their 10-year old
daughter, Teresa. "I was pretty scared," Teresa said. "But
once I saw the pope, I was not scared anymore." As Mass began,
joy overcame Christa as she saw the reactions of her family.
"I saw how the experience of the Mass touched my entire family
and I was very happy. For all of us to be there as he actually
celebrated the Eucharist, it was one of the highlights of
my life," she said.
The pope's message
During his homily, Pope Benedict XVI urged
Catholics not to "lose heart in the face of adversity." As
he spoke about the day's gospels, the pope reminded Catholics
of their call to obedience, which is not easy, "especially
in a society that places a high value on personal freedom.
True freedom, rather, is found only by losing ourselves in
Jesus." True freedom blossoms when we turn away from the burden
of sin, ... and find the source of our ultimate happiness
in him who is infinite love, infinite freedom, infinite life."
The growth of the Catholic Church in the United
States over the last 200 years has been impressive, the pope
said, but not without challenges brought about by the diversity
of its members. The unity of the church, however, has shown
God is truly at work, he said, and the power of the word of
God is to "create a unity which transcends the divisions arising
from human limitations and weakness." In speaking of the history
of the church in the U.S., Pope Benedict noted the many spiritual
sacrifices, pleasing to God, that have been offered up in
these two centuries by our ancestors: parents who have passed
the faith on to their children, and the steady ministry of
priests and other religious who have inspired in future generations
the desire to know God and to serve him. "In this land, Catholics
found the freedom to practice their faith," he said. Today
this should "challenge us to a greater fidelity to purify
our hearts, renew our baptismal promises and be people of
joy and unfailing hope."
Past generations, he said, have left an impressive
legacy for us here in the U.S. "On these solid foundations,
the future of the church in America must even now begin to
rise!," he directed. Lastly, Pope Benedict XVI described how
moved he was "by the joy, the hope and the generous love of
Christ which I saw on the faces of the many young people assembled
in Dunwoodie (at the youth rally on the previous day)...
They are the church's future."
The message hits Home
The pope's message resonated powerfully with
the Morris family, particularly Jason, who converted to Catholicism
and was baptized 11 years ago. "He asked us to pay attention
to what we say, what we do, everything matters," Jason said.
"Everything we learn, we need to pass on to our children,
so they can pass on to their children and the church can continue
to grow." He also challenged Catholics to live their faith
so that others will learn from it, Jason added. "He wants
us to stand up and show our faith outwardly and not to hesitate
... don't allow it to be influenced by the ways of the world
or our sinful nature. He said stand up and pass on God's word
and be an example to others," Jason said. "He asked us to
embrace our faith, to trust and surrender to God so that we
can find peace in his will," Christa added.
A lifetime of memories
For the Morris family children, attending
the papal Mass in New York had a profound impact, one that
will last for some time to come. "I told my friends how incredible
and unforgettable the experience was," said Jesse, 13, "It
will stay with me for the rest of my life. And if I ever have
children, I certainly am going to make an attempt to take
my family to see the pope." Luca, 12, agreed. "It was incredible,"
he said. And the entire experience for the Morris family may
have best summarized by Teresa. "When he came into the stadium,
and I saw him, I felt so joyful and my heart was filled with
joy," she said. "And at Communion, it was so nice to be near
him. And then when he was leaving, I said, 'Goodbye Pope Benedict,
we love you.' And it was true, we all did love him."
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