‘Krakow in the Capital’ has Baltimore influence

By Paul Dykewicz

Special to the Review

WASHINGTON – Bishop Denis J. Madden and a local ChristLife Young Adults (CLYA) leader told attendees at “Krakow in the Capital” July 30 that building a Catholic community among younger people often requires venturing beyond traditional parish or neighborhood boundaries.

The need for young adult Catholics to strengthen their faith and to support each other increasingly has spurred them to travel to where larger numbers of their peers gather, said Bishop Madden, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

“If you can’t find it (community),” he said, “look around and pursue it.”

The result, added Juan Rodriguez, a local CLYA leader, is bigger and more spiritually powerful experiences that can deepen connections to God.

Rodriguez and Bishop Madden offered their observations during a panel discussion at The Catholic University of America, during a domestic alternative to World Youth Day 2016 in Krakow, Poland.

The Ojczyzna Polish Dancers, based at Holy Rosary in Fells Point, perform at the campus at The Catholic University of America in Washington July 30 as a way of being in unison with World Youth Day pilgrims in Krakow, Poland. (CNS photo/Brian Searby, Catholic Standard)

Co-sponsored by the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Krakow in the Capital attracted more than 1,000 young adults 18-39, who enjoyed Polish food and a performance by the Ojczyzna Polish Dancers, who are based at Holy Rosary Parish in Fells Point.

Bishop Madden highlighted several examples of successful young adult communities in Baltimore, such as St. Casimir in Canton, where the young adult group has grown from 20-30 members to more than 150.

Young adults, he said, played a meaningful role in the aftermath of the April 2015 riots in Baltimore, where St. Peter Claver Church became an epicenter of the cleanup effort, which included a visit from Baltimore Archbishop William Lori.

When young adults join local community efforts, Bishop Madden said, it makes a “project a success.”

While in the Holy Land with Baltimore-based Catholic Relief Services, Bishop Madden said he witnessed firsthand young adults from different faiths pursuing common objectives, such as improving health care for the people in their community.

Young adults who are interested in taking leadership roles in their parishes can become extraordinary ministers of holy Communion ministers, ushers and lectors, he said.

“Enthusiasm is a strength,” said Bishop Madden, who told the audience that they may find a pastor receptive to offers to pursue new activities.

Rodriquez is a leader of CLYA, a community of young adults18-35, which encourages members to follow Jesus as “missionary disciples.” The group meets from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Shrine of St. Anthony in Ellicott City each Wednesday, with the exception of the last Wednesday of the month.

Before joining ChristLife, Rodriguez said he found it a challenge to develop his faith life.

After graduating from college and becoming a NASA engineer, Rodriguez enjoyed an active social life but still felt a “deep loneliness.” To find life’s “fullness,” he was granted a one-year sabbatical from work in 2013.

“It is quite a miracle that my boss allowed me to do this,” Rodriguez said.

He made a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France, then walked 600 miles in 40 days on the Camino de Santiago to the northwest tip of Spain.

“It was a powerful experience,” said Rodriguez, who added that he wept while praying before the Eucharist prior to leaving home for Europe.

Rodriguez later traveled to World Youth Day 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and stayed with a young adult Catholic community for two weeks afterward that “lifted” him spiritually.

While with the community in Brazil, Rodriquez changed his view about possessions.

“I think when we have too much stuff, we are too concerned about things,” Rodriguez said. “When we do away with that stuff, we have more time for people.”

Also see:

Pilgrims in Krakow: Baltimore World Youth Day blog