Among those in the audience for Pope Francis’ historic liturgy in New York’s Madison Square Garden on Friday, Sept. 25 were 12 students from the Diocese of Camden’s high schools. The youth traveled from their homes to a train station in Hamilton, N.J., and caught transportation to New York’s Penn Station, a stone throw’s from Madison Square Garden.
Winding around city blocks, and waiting in line to gain entrance into the arena for more than four hours in some cases, the youth understood the palpable energy around them.
“To see others like me from around the world, who have a hearty and meaningful faith, come to see Pope Francis, was humbling and inspiring,” said Taryn Slattery, a senior at Holy Spirit High School, Absecon.
The multi-lingual liturgy created an “unbelievable” experience for Gloucester Catholic junior Dan O’Shea.
“I saw the connection between the universal church, people from all different countries participating in the same liturgy,” he said.
P.J. Bogle, a freshman at Wildwood Catholic, felt “overwhelmed at being able to share such a once in a lifetime experience.”
To be in the presence of a “humble, holy man” such as Pope Francis “was an unforgettable, inspirational event that I will be able to share
my memories of for the rest of my life.”
For Taryn, it was the joy on the altar, and the joy on the faces of those in the Garden’s seats, that she will share with those back home.
“The joy on our faces, and Pope Francis’ face” was evident throughout the Mass, she said.
“We wanted to be there. He wanted to be there.”
Written by Peter G. Sánchez