{"id":6285,"date":"2011-08-20T12:40:10","date_gmt":"2011-08-20T16:40:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/news\/?p=6285"},"modified":"2011-08-20T12:48:52","modified_gmt":"2011-08-20T16:48:52","slug":"world-youth-day-the-journey-from-my-armchair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/2011\/08\/world-youth-day-the-journey-from-my-armchair","title":{"rendered":"World Youth Day: The journey from my armchair"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Barry Doss in a crush of humanity<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Editor’s Note:<\/strong> Connie Doss is the mother of Clare Doss,\u00a0one of the 2 million kids expected to attend the final session of World Youth Day in Madrid, Spain. While Connie’s husband, Barry, is helping chaperone the group of teens and young adults from Green Forest and Berryville, Arkansas, Connie watches the event from her armchair.<\/em><\/p>\n

by Connie Doss
\n<\/strong>special to Beliefnet<\/em><\/p>\n

I started earning my front row-center armchair ticket to\u00a0World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid\u00a0almost a year ago when several teens came racing out of the classroom of their high school religious education class at\u00a0St. Anne\u2019s Catholic Church here in Berryville, Arkansas.<\/p>\n

They were excited about the possibility of traveling to Spain to attend\u00a0— and see\u00a0Pope Benedict XVI.<\/p>\n

Of course, now thinking back,\u00a0their teacher, Father Shaun Wesley played it well — because what parent can resist the goo-goo eyes that their son or daughter can deliver ever so well?<\/p>\n

We capitulated, which didn\u2019t take much effort, and plans began right away to get organized and come up with ways to fund a nine-day trip to Lourdes and Toulouse, France, and Montserrat and Madrid, Spain.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
In Madrid, the kids wave the Stars & Stripes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Little did any of us realize the impact that this trip would have and will have on St. Anne\u2019s young people and their parents left behind hoping for a phone call or text.<\/p>\n

In October of 2010,\u00a0the event\u00a0seemed a very long way off.<\/p>\n

The kids, with a lot of parental involvement, held raffles, and sold fresh Christmas wreaths and hot chocolate.\u00a0They served as\u00a0waiters\u00a0at a formal Christmas Madrigal Dinner at St. Elizabeth Church in Eureka Springs. They\u00a0held fish fries during Lent.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Barry keeps an eye on his kids<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The job of fundraising seemed endless.\u00a0\u00a0Father Shaun, a gourmet chef in his own right, prepared\u00a0a fabulous Italian dinner for a St.\u00a0Valentine\u2019s Day\u00a0dinner and dance\u00a0— one of so many\u00a0fundraisers, almost\u00a0too many to remember!<\/p>\n

Each\u00a0young pilgrim had to come up with half of the cost of the trip on their own. Clare, my 16 year old daughter, earned every dime\u00a0on her own\u00a0with the generosity of a few people who couldn\u2019t resist slipping her some money.<\/p>\n

Yes, I am very proud of her effort. She stepped up and just did it. She saved her winnings from the county fair, she \u201cslaved\u201d herself out to parishioners doing odd jobs, she started teaching piano to an eager young man and a sweet little girl. She also\u00a0earned a scholarship by spending the year reading the Bible and the Catholic Catechism. No small feat, I assure you.<\/p>\n

Last Sunday,\u00a0August 14 , finally arrived. Our family got very little sleep that night as I\u2019m sure was the same with most of the families. Father Shaun\u00a0celebrated mass before our pilgrims and their chaperones\u00a0boarded a bus\u00a0for the three-hour ride\u00a0to the Tulsa, Oklahoma,\u00a0airport. Goodbyes were said. Hugs and kisses abounded and the group was off after a quick group photo. Many parishioners were there to send the little band of travelers on their way.<\/p>\n

Those of us left behind have found ways of keeping track of our pilgrims — tapping websites tracking their flights, being one another\u2019s \u201cfriend\u201d on Facebook, and finding free international texting\u00a0services.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
From amid the vast the crowd: "Thinking of you, Mom! See, we're all right!"<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Of course, the kids are much better at the game — using every means at their disposal to make sure we know they are doing fine. Father Shaun, Blanca Beas and others\u00a0have been sending lots of pictures!<\/p>\n

I feel like I am there celebrating with them when I see the great shots he has been sending. I crave those daily photos of their fun and adventure!<\/p>\n

I have three from my family on the trip — my sister-in-law, Eileen,\u00a0is a\u00a0chaperone along with my husband, \u201cLaid Nack\u201d Barry as\u00a0Father Shaun recently called him. Barry\u00a0has a quiet faith that is often quite palpable and I\u2019m sure he has had many moments in Madrid as have many in the group.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I also wanted Barry to experience being on foreign soil and to see our Holy Father as I had seen John Paul II in 1984 when I was 18 traveling with a choral group in Rome. I still talk of my experience frequently. I encouraged\u00a0Barry to go and spend this time with his beautiful daughter.<\/p>\n

After all, Clare will be off to college and on her own before we know it and I didn\u2019t want him to miss this chance to have this experience with her.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Pope Benedict XIV greets World Youth Day pilgrims<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In Lourdes, Clare called me and I asked if her Daddy was around.<\/p>\n

She said, \u201cI haven\u2019t seen Dad all day!\u201d<\/p>\n

At least I know he\u2019s not lost because I have seen him in pictures! While they may not be spending a lot of time one-on-one, I know they\u2019ll remember and cherish this shared experience.<\/p>\n

From my armchair, I know that Barry, Clare, and all of the St. Anne\u2019s group will not come home the same as when they left.<\/p>\n

God is doing wonderful things in their hearts right now. I\u00a0sense it and it is hard not to feel changed myself as I watch the coverage and see the kids\u2019 posts and pictures.<\/p>\n

God will indeed impact their lives in ways that the group may never perceive. I gave up a new computer so my family could go, but look at what they are receiving from God in return!<\/p>\n

Even here in my armchair,\u00a0I am blessed.<\/p>\n

Photos by Ulises Rangel, Blanca Beas and Shaun Wesley<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Editor’s Note: Connie Doss is the mother of Clare Doss,\u00a0one of the 2 million kids expected to attend the final session of World Youth Day in Madrid, Spain. 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