Carroll area group takes trip, to Mother Teresa's beatification

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
November 13, 2003

CARROLL - A group from the Carroll area took a pilgrimage to Italy with Father James McCormick for the beatification of Mother Teresa.

"The idea of being a pilgrim these days is very common among the Hispanics, but for us we are used to touring," said Father McCormick. "I think a pilgrimage adds that spiritual dimension so that you don't have to be having fun every minute because you can be praying and expecting something that is supernatural. I always like that kind of an experience because you can have a lot of fun but at the same time it is a serious faith endeavor."

The group consisted of 24 people from Carroll, Boone, Fort Dodge, Denison and Arcadia. Also there were a couple of people from Omaha and Minneapolis who were originally from Boone. Their entire trip lasted 10 days with time spent in Tuscany, Florence, Sienna and Assisi on their way to Rome.

"I thought it was a real act of faith for all of us," said Father McCormick. "When you would look at this whole thing with the eyes of the world, you would say, 'what does this old man have to say about this strange lady who had lived such a radical life.' We were there because we believe that this is the pope of Rome, the Vicar of Christ, and he is pronouncing that this woman has heroic sanctity and is to be a model for Catholics throughout the world."

One traveler with the group, Mary Jane Berger, experienced Italy for the first time.

"It was very special being there," said Berger a parishioner at Holy Spirit in Carroll. "We got up early in the morning so we could go down early with our tour guide. She got us a very good position so it was right along the railing."

There were large screens so that each person there could see what was taking place. People could see what was going on regardless of their position.

About 320,000 people were at the Vatican, when Pope John Paul II beatified Mother Teresa on Oct. 19 including the group from the Carroll area.

"Mother Teresa has always impressed me because she always showed others her kindness," said Berger. "I always felt that that was a result of her works that were done through faith and prayer. I have always look up to her, and that was my reasoning for wanting to go."

She commented that considering the large amounts of people that the festivities were fairly orderly. On top of that, the night before the beatification it had rained, but the day of the beatification was beautiful.

"It was really an inspirational ceremony, with many tributes to the life and works of this holy woman," said Cathy Greteman, the groups tour guide from Star Destinations, Inc. in Carroll. "The crowd was so peaceful, courteous, quiet and calm - except when the pope left the ceremony in his car. The crowd cheered for him."

Father McCormick felt God's presence "in experiencing this great demonstration of faith in a world where we think of huge crowds at football games. This was a huge crowd focusing in on a faith experience. For me it was an affirmation of faith."

Father McCormick has been to Rome several times, but this was his first beatification ceremony. He has been there for different papal Masses including the millenium celebration in 2000.

"This was much different because this really had a focus that was in everybody's mind," Father McCormick explained. "They said it was one of the biggest crowds that they have had in Rome - airport, trains, in and out of the Vatican museum, everywhere we went there were crowds of people."

Before arriving in Rome, the group visited Assisi and other places in Italy. The pilgrimage group didn't arrive in Rome until the Friday before the beatification so they missed Pope John Paul II's anniversary Mass. Then again the main focus of their trip was to be on Mother Teresa, added Father McCormick. They were in Rome from the evening of Oct. 17 until the morning of Oct. 20.

After they were in Rome the group ventured to Giovanni de Rotondo, the birthplace and tomb of Padre Pio.

"If people didn't have faith, then I think that they would look upon this as a lot of foolishness," said Father McCormick. "For me, it was a real faith experience to be with those people and say yes that we believe, believe, believe in these awesome events."