JPII Beautification Pictures & Comments

Attending the beatification of Pope John Paul II was a once in a lifetime experience. JPII had a great love for the youth of the Church so being in Rome to celebrate as he became Blessed JPII was an honor. We're so thankful for the opportunity and we're thankful the staff in Gaming made the trip a possibility in the midst of finals! -Maria Deuchar & Brie Lund

There was a glorious moment in realizing the universality of the Church: At Mass, people from all ends of the earth were praying and singing together in the same language to honor God and His servant, John Paul II. -Emily Rolla

The trip was amazing. I hope it continues to become more special to me

as I reflect and reaize the signicance of it. It really was a great

opportunity. -Joe Stallings

JPII Beautification Super Trip: Testimonial

Written by MaryKate Ruminski, Spring 2011

However the trip was more of a blessing than anything else. Despite one of our buses leaking fuel on the way there, we made it safely and with the help of our professors were able to navigate the city which ,at 6am, was already overflowing. As we made our way towards St. Peter’s what became the most evident was the love of the Church for JP II. Millions of people were cramming and pushing and literally packed themselves shoulder to shoulder throughout the streets, just to show their love and respect for him.

As mass began and Pope Benedict gave the title of ‘Blessed” to JP II and unveiled his picture, the streets erupted with pure joy. People were crying, singing and clapping and as the relic of John Paul II ,a vial of his blood, was brought to the Holy Father and then placed on a stand for the whole world to venerate the crowds began to chant and cheer. Nevertheless I believe the most touching moment was when the Holy Father was giving him homily and spoke of John Paul as his dear friend, and that he would always be loved and now he was blessed, and you could see the tears streaming from people’s eyes.

The only word that could truly describe the trip to Rome for the Beatification of JohnPaul II would be ‘Adventure’. Taking a break in the middle of finals, spending all night on a bus, literally fighting through the crowds just to get a peak of the Holy Father, and riding a bus all night again to get back just in enough time to study for finals the next day.

It was such an incredible experience to be surrounded by people who love him so much, and who with us had traveled thousands of miles to their spiritual home on earth to honor him. It was such a mind-blowing experience, and I would like to thank the Gaming staff for allowing us to make such a great pilgrimage during our final week in here. I hope future students who come here will have the chance to experience what we were privileged to. Blessed John Paul II, pray for us!

Poland Trip: Krakow Pictures

The greatest citizen of Krakow Poland is by far the late Pope, John Paul II. Before having taken over the Holy See as Pope John Paul II, Karol Wojtyla had lived in Krakow for four decades – practically through his entire adult life until his assumption of the papacy. Here he spent his formative years as a student and then as a young priest, a theologian and a philosopher, a playwright and a poet. And here he made most of the breathtaking ascent from the position of a humble curate at Krakow’s church of St. Florian’s to university professor to Krakow bishop to cardinal to the Vicar of Christ.

The student's visited and toured Krakow on their excursion to Poland. Some pictures are below:

Forgiveness and the hand that never leaves

Austria has traditionally been thought of as the "crossroads of Europe" and indeed it is. So when the study abroad students come out to Austria, not only are they immersed in Austrian culture, but also the history, politics, traditions, culture, and ideas from all over Europe.

Moreover, each semester the students not only travel in Europe, but they also venture to other parts of Eastern Europe and former Soviet bloc countries. For example, each semester the students have the opportunity to participate on the school sponsored trip to Poland where they visit, the former Pope John Paul II's hometown, the concentration camps of Auschwitz, the famous Marian Shrine of Czestochowa, the city of Krakow, and the Shrine of Divine Mercy. On this pilgrimage, students have the opportunity to ponder and even touch, taste, and feel the life and work of the former Pope John Paul the Great.

In my readings about the life of John Paul II, I have always been fascinated by the story of his miraculous survival from the assassination attempt by Mehmet Ali Agca who short John Paul at 5 PM on May 13, 1981.

Why this time and date? 5 PM and May 13 seem insignificant when isolated, but if we travel to the other side of Europe, the puzzle becomes a little clearer. For this is the exact moment and day on which three shepherd children had first reported seeing the Virgin Mary in Fatima in 1917.

Agca's bullet missed John Paul's main abdominal artery by 1/10 an inch! Later Agca remarked that he was a good shot, he aimed true, and had his escape planned impeccably, and yet in the end, all was thwarted. What happened?

JPII said: "One hand fired the shot, and another guided the bullet." The other hand he said was the Virgin of Fatima, or Mother of Christ.

After the bullet was extracted from his body, he had it sent to Fatima where it was placed in the crown of Mary, the mother of God. Every semester, students go and pray in front of this statue where they recall God's Divine Providence, his tender loving hand, and the importance of forgiveness.

Ah yes, that fearful word, forgiveness.

JPII, in an example to the entire world, visited Agca in prison where he told him that he had forgiven him from his heart.

Many years later, in 2005 when he was hospitalized for difficult breathing JPII received many letters and notes. One was from Agca who wrote from the Rebibbia Prison wishing him good health and a quick recovery. Furthermore, when JPII died, one of the first requests to attend his funeral came from Agca. Naturally the prison officials turned him down, but it still a touching and moving story nonetheless.

As so you contemplate John Paul II (The Great), remember this story of forgiveness and of love, and of Divine Providence, it is good for us all to remember the hand and heart that never leaves you or any one of his beloved children.