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20 years after ‘an encounter with Christ’
Hundreds gather to celebrate John Paul II’s lifelong impact
By Rebecca Bostic, The Catholic Sun
October 4, 2007
Just over 20 years ago, Pope John Paul II preached the “victory of the cross” to 75,000 faithful Catholics gathered for Mass at Arizona State University.
He spoke before a painted backdrop that featured a mystical Phoenix bird rising over the Arizona mountains at sunset.
That same imagery adorned the stage at a dinner celebrating the life and 20th anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s visit to Arizona Sept. 15 at the Phoenix Convention Center.
Mass at St. Mary’s Basilica — where the late pontiff prayed and gave an address in September 1987 — kicked off “An Encounter with Christ,” a night remembering the pope’s visit to the Valley.
Following the celebration of the Eucharist, several hundred Catholics crossed the street to the Phoenix Convention Center to listen to reflections on experiences from the visit of Pope John Paul II.
“I was deeply moved by the witness talks at the dinner,” Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted said. “It was uplifting to see how God worked through John Paul II to restore hope and inspire love.”
The bishop gave the keynote address at the celebration, sharing his memories of working in the Vatican alongside the late pontiff.
Focusing on a story regarding the assassination attempt of John Paul II in 1981, the bishop shared the conversation he had following the shooting with the cardiologist he and the pope shared.
“She told me that it was impossible for her to figure out how the bullet went in him as it did, missed every vital organ and came out of the back of his body leaving him not paralyzed to survive as he did,” the bishop said.
Bishop Olmsted explained that the pope later attributed his survival to Our Lady of Fatima, on whose feast day the assassination attempt occurred, by saying, “One hand fired the bullet and another hand guided it.”
Although he was in Rome during Pope John Paul II’s visit to Phoenix, Bishop Olmsted recognized the “need to commemorate events like this in order to strengthen our confidence in God’s goodness, to help us see how His loving providence is at work in our world today,” he said.
Sharon Barr is one person who felt that providence working in her life 20 years ago. Barr and her husband, a deacon, accepted a position on the committee for vestments.
During her first meeting, Barr became head of the committee and led the process of sewing 800 stoles and 40 chasubles for the papal Mass. She sewed the garments worn by Pope John Paul II and Bishop Thomas J. O’Brien.
“Of everything that was made for that day, everyone knew their work was going to be used,” Barr said. “I did not know until I saw Pope John Paul II walk out that he was wearing my vestment, because he had the last decision of whether he would wear it or not.”
Barr said seeing Pope John Paul II in the vestments she made was a sign of God’s hand in her life.
The evening remembering the pope’s visit moved Barr.
“I was in tears,” she said. “To bring back some of the wonderful memories and to see people that I met during that time was really very special to me.”
Barr’s experience is one that Anne Wuycheck, who chaired the event alongside her husband John, hopes many of the evening’s participants felt.
During the planning process, Wuycheck enjoyed hearing the multitude of stories about the pontiff’s visit.
“The celebration itself was so incredible because it was so much more than anything we could have planned,” Wuycheck said. “We took care of the details, yes, but the true impact of the Mass and program came from those gathered there and from the Spirit.”
Before Bishop Olmsted’s talk, representatives from the Native American community performed the same ritual dances performed for the pope 20 years ago. The Native Americans were a major focus during his visit.
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