Diocesan parishioners represent Midwest at international meeting
Wolperts attend family meeting in Spain, Pallium Mass

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
August 27, 2006

Hundreds of thousands of people converged on Valencia, Spain in early July to participate in the Fifth World Meeting of Families. Among the huge crowd were two parishioners from the Diocese of Sioux City.

Dr. Paul Wolpert pointed out that he and his wife, Carolyn, are associated with the Alliance of the Holy Family International. That group was asked by Cardinal Lopez Trujillo, head of the Pontifical Council for the Family, to host a pre-congress.

"We were asked by the leaders of the Alliance of Holy Family International (AFHI) - which is an international organization - to be delegates from the United States," he explained. There were other representatives from the coastal areas of the U.S. to attend, but the Wolperts were the only ones from the Midwest.

He mentioned that they had become involved with the Alliance of Holy Family through his work with Trinity Heights in Sioux City. The Queen of Peace charism is the two hearts - Immaculate Heart of Mary and Sacred Heart of Jesus - which is the same charism of the alliance.

Dr. Wolpert mentioned that on July 2 and 3 representatives of the English-speaking nations participated in the pre-congress, which centered on a variety of talks. In all there were about 85 delegates along with clergy - 13 priests, 3 archbishops and one cardinal.

"We had daily Mass with the cardinal and archbishops and had sessions during the pre-congress," he said. "The chance to mingle with delegates from English-speaking countries from around the world was wonderful."

The Wolperts were able to speak to one priest from Kenya, Africa, and learn about that region's struggle with AIDs and poverty. They spoke to others from Ireland and England and learned of the struggles faced by many.

Some of the topics addressed in the pre-congress were the family today, healing and transforming families, sanctifying youth in the family, the mission of the family and holiness in family life.

Dr. Wolpert offered some comments during one of the sessions.

"Ninety to ninety-five percent of the congress was in Spanish," noted Dr. Wolpert. With that in mind, the meeting was not heavily promoted in North America. "For the most part, it was Latin America, South America, Spain and the French and Germans represented and others from Europe, Africa and Asia with the Philippines."

Some of the themes and topics addressed in the congress were the family and bioethics, the family and economy, the family and ecumenism, the family and demography, the family and judicial aspects and others. He estimated that there were 12 talks a day. Most of the time, there were several presenters for one particular theme.

"They issued all of the delegates an FM radio and earphones. Then, when there was someone speaking in another language, they would announce which channel was the English translation," explained Dr. Wolpert. "You would hear the talk as it was translated - just like at the United Nations."

Because there were so few of English-speaking delegates, only the talks that had been presented in Italian and Spanish were translated. Presentations in French and German and a few others were not translated. He estimated that he had missed about 30 percent of the talks. Eventually all of the talks will be posted in English on the Vatican Web site.

"Even the majority - about 65 percent - of our English-speaking delegation were bilingual," said Dr. Wolpert.

The Wolperts enjoyed being able to attend Mass several times while in Spain. He especially liked the homily of Cardinal Richardo Vidal who said, "These days in Valencia remind me of our own world encounter of families three years ago (hosted in the Philippines) ... since then, our own celebration has been overshadowed by many attacks against the family in our country especially in the legislation of laws that promote promiscuity and devalue the family."

One of the highlights of the family meeting was Mass with Pope Benedict XVI.

Catholic News Service reported that organizers estimated that 800,000 people attended the weeklong meeting and close to 1.5 million people saw the pope in the city over the July 8-9 weekend.

"It has become apparent to me that the family is under attack and that there are so many things that the church has to deal with," said Dr. Wolpert. "Our leaders must focus on what they feel is going to preserve and pass on the faith. I think they are starting to figure out that to focus on strengthening the family is one of the areas that will help preserve the faith for future generations."

The Wolperts found the family meeting to be reinvigorating of the faith.

Other family meetings have been held in Rome (1994), Rio de Janeiro (1997), Rome (2000) and Manila, Philippines (2003). Dr. Wolpert said he believes that the late pope, John Paul II, had selected Spain for the location of this family meeting because of the nation's increasing socialist tendencies. They have passed new abortion laws and gay marriage laws.

Dr. Wolpert pointed out that they were not aware that the Holy Grail was located in Valencia prior to their trip to Spain.

In addition to the family meeting, the Wolperts went to Europe early and attended the pallium Mass in Rome where Archbishop Daniel DiNardo was among the 27 to receive a pallium.

"It was a marvelous experience to be there," said Dr. Wolpert. "He did a lot for Queen of Peace and I thought he was an outstanding churchman. When he was installed in Houston, I was able to attend."

The doctor described it as quite moving to see all of the archbishops and cardinals as well as the love that the people have for the Holy Father.

The day after the pallium Mass, they were able to attend Archbishop DiNardo's Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Paul Outside the Wall and a reception for the archbishop.