After the historic
announcement by Pope Francis that he will visit Philadelphia next
September, the reality of the challenges and joys of the event is
sinking in for planners, civic officials and ordinary Catholics in the
Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It will be a "once-in-a-lifetime chance for
Philadelphia to shine," Daniel Hilferty called the 2015 World Meeting
of Families, which will be capped by the papal visit to the city.
Chairman of the meeting's Executive Leadership Committee, he said the
event will require unprecedented coordination and support. During a news
conference at the Philadelphia Art Museum Nov. 17, the day the pope
confirmed his visit at the Vatican, Hilferty called on the region's
business community to contribute financial and corporate support to the
event. He said the fundraising effort was "more than halfway toward the
goal," which he did not state. Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput
has said he plans to announce the status of fundraising efforts early
in 2015. That is just one of the issues facing organizers before next
fall. One thorny issue had been the inability for people registering for
the families' meeting also to secure hotel rooms for the three days of
the papal visit -- because it was unconfirmed, the rooms were not made
available. Now they can be booked.
In the quiet, dusty corners of our hearts, we often harbor blueprint drafts of how we think our lives should unfold. We carefully map out our timelines, hoping for a smooth path, and it is only natural to feel a bit lost or weary when a sudden storm alters our course or a door we prayed would open remains closed. Yet, our Lord does not stand at a distance during these moments of uncertainty; He is a tender Shepherd who walks beside us, gently whispering, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" ( Jeremiah 29:11). When our own plans crumble, it is not a sign that He has abandoned us, but rather an invitation to fold our hands, release our grip on the pen, and offer our own quiet fiat—letting Him guide us into green pastures we could never have found on our own. Placing our trust in His loving providence allows us to breathe deeply and find rest, even when the road ahead is shrouded in mist. E...