Focus on His Presence

As you read this, I will be heading home from my most recent mission pastoral visit to Asia, specifically to Indonesia. During the entire journey, I was struck by the hope-filled presence of our Lord -- in the people I met, in the Religious Sisters, priests and missionaries who served the poor.

On Nias, an island off the western coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, I saw the site of a nearly complete Catholic school. That island was devastated both by the earthquake and tsunami of December 2004, and the subsequent earthquake of March 2005. The school was built with the help of children of the United States through the Holy Childhood Association. What joy greeted me on my visit! Besides the children, eager and grateful to return to school, there were the growing numbers of young men and women on this island who had answered the Lord's call to serve him as priests and Sisters. In their vocations is great hope, indeed, as these local men and women prepare for a lifetime of being our Lord's presence among their own people.

You may recall my speaking about my March 2005 visit to Banda Aceh a couple of weeks ago in this blog. The 150-foot long ship that was carried in by the tsunami waters and which literally pulverized homes in the area remains there today, as a memorial to the devastating event of that day after Christmas. The only Catholic parish, Sacred Heart of Jesus, has now been restored -- church and convent buildings -- thanks to your help through the Pontifical Mission Societies. What a privilege to celebrate Mass at that church, marking its 82nd anniversary on this predominantly Muslim island. The people here are truly heroic. And the missionaries serving among them are as well, as they continually reveal, day after day, no matter the circumstances, the love of our Lord. It was inspiring.

When I telephoned in these thoughts from this Asian mission visit, I spoke with members of our national office family who, on Friday, October 3, had been at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, along with hundreds of children for the Children’s Worldwide Eucharistic Holy Hour sponsored by the World Apostolate of Fatima. This annual event, which was broadcast live on Eternal Word Television Network, brings together children to pray in front of our Lord's presence in the Blessed Sacrament for peace in the families of the world. This year's event featured as presider the international secretary general of the Holy Childhood Association from Rome, Italy, Father Patrick Byrne, SVD. The young people gathered in the Basilica in Washington, D.C. -- along with those joined with them through EWTN's coverage -- also pray the World Mission Rosary. This Rosary -- envisioned by the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, former national director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith -- calls to mind the continents of the world where the Church continues her evangelizing mission. Remembered especially in this Holy Hour as an intention of the World Mission Rosary are families throughout the world -- for peace in their lives and in their hearts. I want to offer my personal thanks to members of our mission office family who helped to fill that Basilica with young people and who assisted the World Apostolate of Fatima in the many details of the day: Father Patrick Posey, Director, and Sandy Bertini, HCA Coordinator, from Arlington, Virginia; Sister Marie de la Trinite Siopongco, SSVM, Director, and Sister Maria de la Revelacion Castaneda, SSVM, HCA Coordinator, from Washington, D.C. Many moments from that Holy Hour were captured on video that day; please go to our YouTube site to view these.

A visit to our mission family in Asia. A Holy Hour in Washington, D.C. Both marked by the life-giving, hope-filled presence of our Lord. There's no better focus in the world.