Pilgrimages require Adjustments to Plans

As I write, the Holy Father is distributing Holy Communion to the deacons at the Mass at Quatro Vientos - the site for the vigil last night and the closing Mass this morning.  You may be wondering how I can blog from the Mass.  Well, I´m not at the Mass - nor is anyong from the Harrisburg Group.  Let me explain.

Stories from different parish groups continue to come in, but the simple explanation is (not necessarily in order of importance):

1. Space.  Some members of our group arrived at the site by 1pm - and our section was already too full.  Those of us who left the hotel later to avoid the extrme heat arrived to find a sea of humanity and no room even to stand, much less spread out and sit or sleep.  At 5pm I heard them announce that there were already 1 million people - and more to come.
2. Heat.  Yesterday was a record setting day here in Madrid: 44 degrees centigrade (about 112 farenheit).  HOT!  I´ve often seen them ¨hosing down a crowd.¨  Now I´ve been in one of them.  On top of the heat, in an old air field, no shade anywhere.  Which led to the next issue...
3. Water.  Water stations had been set up, but many were not working - so people would stand in line for 40 minutes or more only to discover that there was no water there.  With that extreme heat and sun, water was a necessity that we could not find.
4. Bathrooms.  Not enough.  Enough said.
5. Security.  People were not sufficiently screened and assigned to their sections.  When the authorities realized the situation they began turning pilgrims away at the gate.  Well, that didn´t go over very well.  A group of pilgrims, angry at being turned away, joined hands and stormed the gate - totally overwhelming volunteers and police alike.  So for a time, this gate was totally unprotected and vulnerable.

When we arrived at the site about 5pm, we could not find any place to be in our assigned section - we literally stepped over, and on, people trying to walk through the section.  We tried to find another place to go to spread out and spend the night, but there was nothing to be found.  I shared with our pilgrims my disappointment and how much I wanted to celebrate Mass with the Holy Father today, but I was concerened for our safety in those conditions.  I made the call that we were going back to the hotel - a call which was later confirmed by Bishop McFadden who, when he came onto the stage and saw the situation, ORDERED everyone from Harrisburg back to the hotels out of concern for our safety.

Some members of our group did stay behind until after the vigil service and they spoke of the tremendous storm that pounded the area: lighting and rain and WIND.  Bishop McFadden said that the wind was so strong that it blew over the World Youth Day Cross - right onto a bishop´s head (who had to be taken away for medical treatment).  In fact one of the adoration chapels (a tent) completely collapsed with pilgrims inside.  Bennet Smith, from our group, assisted in pulling people out from under the collapsed tent.

I´ve got to prepare to get my luggage packed, so I´ll continue with some more stories of last night a bit later today.  But let me just say we are disappointed to not be at Quatro Vientes right now with the Pope, but Peter has none-the-less gathered us together here in Spain for a wonderful, spiritual experience that strengthens us and has made us ¨Firm in the Faith.¨