WYD pilgrimage starts in Sioux City for one group dedicated to the two hearts
By RENEE WEBB
Globe associate editor
Posted July 25, 2002

Two busses left Trinity Heights in Sioux City shortly before 1 p.m. on July 21. They carried about 100 pilgrims who were about to make a pilgrimage to Toronto for World Youth Day.

The spiritual journey didn't start with the bus ride, however; it began on Friday night as about 100 youth and adults participated in a retreat led by the Alliance of the Holy Family International. This order started in the Philippines in 1993. It centers its spirituality on the two hearts - the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary. In the United States, they have a formation house in Dover, Del.

Dr. Paul Wolpert, a board member at Trinity Heights, pointed out that they became familiar with the religious order in their search for information to promote devotions to the two hearts as the development has a large statue of both. Three years ago, representatives from the Alliance of the Holy Family led a retreat at Trinity Heights.

"There is such a spiritual growth that you see on these pilgrimages. Based on that fact, we wanted to extend the experience of World Youth Day from the five days in Toronto. The brothers of the Alliance of the Holy Family had mentioned that the Holy Father wanted one of the fruits of World Youth Day to be a mingling of cultures," noted Dr. Wolpert. "We wanted to have time for the pilgrims to mingle and bond so that when we go to Toronto, the experience will be more fruitful."

Since Trinity Heights has a two-heart shrine, the brothers suggested starting the pilgrimage in Sioux City with a pre-World Youth Day conference.

"We have pilgrims from several states and four or five countries," explained Dr. Paul Wolpert, organizer of the pre-World Youth Day retreat and trip to Toronto.

Pilgrims came from Florida, Missouri, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota and California. Others came from San Salvador and Philippines. Most of them are young adults, ages 16 to 22.

One priest, six brothers and three sisters from the Alliance of the Holy Family International were among the pilgrims that came to Sioux City for the gathering.

The conference not only helped the pilgrims get to know each other but also set the spiritual tone for the rest of the trip.

One of the highlights of the pre-WYD gathering featured 9 a.m. Mass on Saturday morning celebrated by Bishop Daniel N. DiNardo, followed by a pilgrimage walk from the cathedral to Trinity Heights. The walk was mainly used as a test run for the WYD vigil in Toronto when the pilgrims will have a 3-to-6 mile walk. It gave them an idea if they had the right equipment.

With temperatures hitting more than 100 degrees in Sioux City, Dr. Wolpert acknowledged that it was a strenuous walk.

"The walk was a real bonding experience," he said. "There was a lot of shuffling of the ranks and natural mixing."

Another highlight of the conference was a balloon rosary on Saturday evening. They used helium balloons as the beads - blue for Hail Marys and white for Glory Be and Our Fathers. When the rosary, which was prayed on the Mound of Mary, was complete the balloons were released.

"The balloons ascended skyward in the perfect form of the rosary," said Dr. Wolpert.

The conference also featured numerous inspirational talks, a spiritual video and adoration.

Laci Sahlfeld, a member of the tri-state youth group called the Marian Youth Crusade, said she liked the conference because it enabled her to meet the other pilgrims so they could form friendships and prepare for the trip to Toronto.

Ann Wolpert, a 2001 graduate of Heelan High School, pointed out that Trinity Heights was a great meeting point because it was home to the shrines of the two hearts.

"It was a great chance to bond and unify us for our trip," she said. "It is always exciting feeling when you have youth from all over believing in the same thing you do."

Boa Vo, a seminarian of the Diocese of Sioux City, was among the pilgrims.

He was glad to be a part of the group because he said there is always much to learn from the experiences of others.

"The activities here help us to realize how God cares for us," he said. "We can learn from one another - learn and share in our faith experiences."

After leaving Sunday afternoon, they drove all night to New York.

On Monday morning, they stopped in Buffalo, N.Y. for Mass celebrated in the cathedral. That night, they planned to meet up with a group from Dover, Del. at Niagra Falls. A group from Toronto who are also affiliated with the Alliance also planned to meet up with them at Niagara Falls.

Dr. Wolpert pointed out that two years ago about 15 others from the Sioux City area attended World Youth Day in Rome, traveling with religious brothers from the Alliance of the Holy Family International. That year they also met up with a group from Dover, Del. for pre- and post-World Youth Day travels and activities."We were able to witness the response of the youth to the message of the brothers and priests. The fact that you are traveling as a pilgrim group, there are all kinds of benefits that accrue to this type of travel," he explained.

Like in Rome, there will be catechetical sessions at World Youth Day in Toronto. One of the Alliance priests has been asked to lead three days of catechetical sessions in Toronto. He has asked the help of the others in the group to lead action songs with him on stage.

"With all of the fear of terrorism and all of the things that are going on in our church today it is very helpful for the youth to see the vibrancy of this international community," said Dr. Wolpert.