蜜桃交友

On Saturday night, after the Festival of Families in Croke Park Stadium, Dublin, our correspondent, Lydia O鈥橩ane, spoke with families, to get an insight into the effect that the celebration and the Pope鈥檚 presence had on them.

No shame in saying 鈥淚 love you鈥�

One of the members of the audience, Fr. Alan Neville, MSC, said he was struck by the 鈥渟ense of authenticity鈥� at the event. He told Lydia that seeing everyone 鈥済athered in prayer, in hope and joy鈥� was 鈥渏ust wonderful鈥�. He noted that the Irish word for church literally means 鈥渉ouse of the people鈥� and spoke about the acceptance of everyone into the Church. 鈥淭he stained glass windows are not enough鈥� he said, stating that when we say 鈥測ou are welcome here鈥� we need to mean it.

One of the main ideas he took away from the Pope鈥檚 visit was the idea of 鈥減resence鈥�. Fr. Alan asked how we are present to one another, replying to his own question by saying that the words that Pope Francis encourages us to use more - 鈥減lease鈥�, 鈥渢hank you鈥� and 鈥淚鈥檓 sorry鈥� - help nourish harmony among people. We are 鈥渕eant to be a people of love鈥�, he says, and yet as we grow, we are 鈥渁lmost ashamed to say 鈥業 love you鈥欌��.

Another witness was a mother of Polish origins who sees her family as a 鈥渟upport鈥�, and describes Pope John Paul II as her 鈥渋dol鈥�. She recalled St John Paul II鈥檚 visit to Ireland, and said she was thrilled that she and her family were able to be present in this new, historical, event. 鈥淭here鈥檚 nobody like family鈥�, she said and she told Lydia how thrilled she is for her daughter who, after having performed on her violin during the Festival, 鈥渋s on cloud nine鈥�. Her daughter, she said, was at the stadium 鈥減racticing until 11pm last night and [was] back at 10am this morning鈥�, in anticipation of the Pope鈥檚 arrival. 鈥淭he Pope is amazing鈥�, she said 鈥渓ook around you, everyone鈥檚 just come together.鈥�