Reflection with the WYD Cross

Fionnuala O’Connor of CYC shared this reflection at the Taizé Prayer around the Cross on Sunday, 23 November, 2003.

Look at this simple wooden cross
It has travelled the world for 20 years
It has covered more distance than all of us here
It has seen places we will never see
It has been touched by people young and old, sick and healthy,
happy and sad, suffering and joyful,
rich and poor, black and white
Hundreds, thousands, hundreds of thousands of human people have touched it,
kissed it, looked at it carried it, venerated it.

In July 2002 a group of 174 young people from all around the world took turns in groups to carry this cross on the streets of Toronto during the celebrations of World Youth Day. They were my friends, as I was amongst them. Since that day our lives have taken many different paths.

Let me share with you the stories of some of these friends. In their lives you may find your own story.

Shannon lives in Queensland, Australia. She is a student. She is tall, blonde, intelligent and cheerful. After returning home from Toronto she discovered she had a malignant tumour in her throat. She had an operation to remove the cancer, which was successful. She felt the strength of the prayers of her friends from World Youth Day. Shannon touched and carried this cross that is before us now.

Butros is a Palestinian Catholic. He lives in Ramallah on the West Bank. He lives as a minority Christian amongst the Palestinian Arabs that are practically imprisoned in their homes. He cannot travel freely around his own country. He has witnessed many terrible things in the land he calls his home. Butros touched and carried this cross that is before us now.

Leanne and Ryan are a young married couple that live in Saskatchewan in Central Canada. Not long after returning home from World Youth Day they discovered that they were expecting their first child. Little Ella was born on 4 February 2003. She is a beautiful happy and healthy baby. Ella's parents Leanne and Ryan touched and carried this cross that is before us now.

Collins is a young man who lives in Uganda. He is a student of agriculture. He hopes to finish his studies and put his skills to good use in helping to develop his country. However, he finds it a struggle to pay for his education. He needs to work to support his family. His parents are getting old. His brother died recently, leaving young children and Collins feels he should support them too. Collins touched and carried this cross that is before us now.

Maria Elena is from Ecuador in South America. She is friendly and very attractive with dark features and a wonderful smile. Earlier this year she became pregnant and it was a shock for her. The father of her baby left her alone. She turned to her family, and they supported her, but it was a difficult time for her too when she realised she must be both mother and father to the little one. Her baby girl was born on 15 October 2003. She called her Maria de los angeles - Mary of the Angels. Maria Elena touched and carried this cross that is before us now.

Lawrence is from Malaysia and is half-Chinese. He was a deacon when he went to World Youth Day. He didn't like the crowds, he felt awkward. But with friends he feels happier. He has a great sense of humour and is very witty. In May 2003 he was ordained to the priesthood. Fr Lawrence touched and carried this cross that is before us now.

Vikram lives in a very poor village in north-eastern India. He could not afford to pay for his own journey to World Youth Day, but was assisted by some local charities. He spoke about how Catholics are a minority where he lives in India and it can be very difficult for them. He wore traditional Indian dress and a turban. Vikram touched and carried this cross that is before us now.

Andrea lives in a small Italian-speaking village in southern Switzerland. Through his local church and along with his wife Marianna he supports newly married couples by befriending them and helping them with any difficulties they might have. During his time in Toronto he learned that his wife was expecting their third child. Little Mauro was born in March 2003. One month later, the baby was diagnosed with a rare leukaemia. His older sister was chosen to donate bone marrow. The operation went well, and Mauro is recovering in hospital now. Mauro’s father Andrea touched and carried this cross that is before us now.

Elise is a young, intelligent American woman. She is tall and friendly and bright. She does lots of work for her local church. She spoke about her boyfriend who works with the church too. He brought a group of young people to World Youth Day. In May 2003 they were married. Elise touched and carried this cross that is before us now.

Sizwe is a 15-year-old African boy who lives in South Africa. Like most black people there, his family is quite poor. But Sizwe is lively and energetic and full of fun and jokes. Sometimes he pretends to be asleep until someone comes near to investigate and then he suddenly wakes up. Earlier this year his younger brother was climbing trees and he fell and fractured his skull. Sizwe touched and carried this cross that is before us now.

Karimova is from Turkmenistan - one of the new states formed from the former Soviet Union. She lived most of her life as a Muslim. She has dark features and is very attractive. Recently she converted to Catholicism. She took the Christian name Faustina because she liked the Divine Mercy devotions. Now she is a novice in the convent of Mercy where St Faustina lived in Poland. Karimova, now Faustina, touched and carried this cross that is before us now.

Niaz is from Iraq. He has typical middle-eastern features. He is a quiet and respectful man. He is a Catholic and worked with Christian charities in Iraq during the Gulf war of the early 1990s. They lived with and helped their Muslim neighbours and treated them as equals. Niaz suffered during the recent war because he was unable to return to Iraq to be with his family. Sometimes they did not have phone contact. His sister’s home was damaged in the bombing and her children were frightened. Recently his family find it difficult to live because food and supplies have become so expensive. A few weeks ago his relative was killed for doing translations for the American troops. Niaz says that he still thinks about the day he carried this cross in Toronto - he felt it so real for him because of the suffering in his life. He felt that it strengthened him and helped him. I told him I would remember him today when I was with this cross. Niaz from Iraq touched and carried this cross that is before us now.

Dear Lord Jesus, strengthen and help all those who look at, touch, kiss, venerate and carry this cross. Amen.

Further information about the Cross is available at www.cyc.ie