PHILADELPHIA — When Pope Benedict XVI called Archbishop Charles Chaput two years ago to ask him to consider hosting the 2015 World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, his first thought was to refuse the offer.

The Philadelphia Archdiocese has endured difficult times in recent years — a sexual-abuse scandal that led to the conviction of several priests, as well as parish and school closings, dwindling Mass attendance and an operating deficit reportedly at $17.4 million. An event the magnitude of the World Meeting of Families seemed to the shepherd of Philly’s 1.5 million Catholics the “last thing we needed,” said the archbishop.

But Archbishop Chaput did say “Yes” to the Holy Father’s call, and he now considers the event an “undeserved grace” and “a great opportunity” for his beleaguered archdiocese.

“The place to start again is the family,” said Archbishop Chaput at Mass on Sept. 7, as he unveiled the icon of the Holy Family created especially for this event. “When our family is renewed, it means the whole Church is going to be renewed.”

Philadelphia’s World Meeting of Families — to be held Sept. 22- 27, 2015, in the Pennsylvania Convention Center — is expected to attract thousands of attendees from more than 150 countries for the conference during the week — and more that 1 million for the highly anticipated, but as of yet unconfirmed, papal visit and Sunday Mass.

At a press conference Sept. 16 in Rome, Archbishop Chaput rolled out the official catechesis, image and prayer for the monumental meeting with the theme of “Love Is Our mission: The Family Fully Alive.”

The catechesis, created by Villanova University professor Chris Roberts, aims to “help parish and diocesan leaders, catechists and other interested persons prepare Catholics across the globe for next year’s meeting,” said the archbishop.

“It starts with the purpose of our creation and moves into the nature of our sexuality; the covenant of marriage; the importance of children; the place of priesthood and religious life in the ecology of the Christian community; the Christian home as a refuge for the wounded heart; the role of the Church; and the missionary witness of Christian families to the wider world,” Archbishop Chaput explained.

“The text gives us a foundation for all of the different programming that will go into the World Meeting of Families, from major talks to panels and breakout sessions to family entertainment throughout the event.”

Mary Beth Yount, director of content and programming for the event, said, “The document — and the entire event — looks at what Catholics believe about human purpose, marriage and the family.”  

Those beliefs, said Yount, provide “a road map for how we can live fulfilling and joyful lives.”

The preparatory document includes children’s lessons and other educational tools. Yount said her family has already begun to use the catechesis: “We are working on cultivating the virtues in our hearts and reflecting this in the way we live our lives.”

 

Philadelphia Prepares

Along with catechetical preparation, there are also many logistics to address for the largest Catholic gathering of families in the world, ranging from safety and security precautions to lodging arrangements and technological issues.

“It’s a very significant undertaking, but also an extraordinary opportunity,” said archdiocesan spokesman Ken Gavin. “We are highly confident that we are prepared to provide a successful event — global in scope — that will highlight the importance of the family as the cornerstone of society.”

The meeting will also “serve as a platform for showcasing the archdiocese, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the surrounding region and the United States on an international stage,” said Gavin.

State and city leaders seem intent on doing all they can to entice Pope Francis to attend the event. Earlier this year, a delegation that included Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett and Archbishop Chaput traveled to Rome to invite Pope Francis to the first World Meeting of Families to take place in the United States.

The three met with the Holy Father during his public audience in a rain-drenched St. Peter’s Square to offer an invitation to the Holy Father. They came bearing gifts, including sports jerseys and locally made textiles.

Nutter, who attended the Jesuit St. Joseph’s Preparatory High School in Philadelphia, said, “This is way beyond anything I could have ever imagined, whether as a kid or even as a public servant.”

Corbett, a Catholic, reportedly described it as “one of the biggest honors I’ve ever received.”

While the archdiocese has not announced an official fundraising goal for the World Meeting of Families, local media outlets have estimated the costs to the city and state to be in the tens of millions of dollars. Last April, archdiocesan officials met members of the Philadelphia business community to discuss fundraising efforts.

“From large and small businesses alike, we have seen a keen eagerness for involvement in the World Meeting of Families,” Gavin said. “Business leaders of all faith traditions understand the transformational nature of this event for the city of Philadelphia.”

The archdiocese will also require thousands of volunteers to manage crowds, assist visitors and provide translation services, as well as serve on welcoming committees, among other responsibilities. Families in the region are being asked to consider opening the doors of their homes to visiting families as an affordable alternative to hotel accommodations.

 

Blessing Families

The last World Meeting of Family took place in Milan, Italy, in 2012. The event attracted 350,000 people, with more than 7,000 attending the daily Masses and programs. More than 1 million people gathered for the papal Mass with Benedict XVI. 

Pope St. John Paul II created the World Meeting of Families — in 1994, in Rome — to explore the critical role the family plays in society and to give families opportunities to talk about the challenges and blessings common to all families. Since then, the gathering has been held every three years.

 For the 2015 World Meeting of Families, Sts. John Paul II and Gianna Beretta Molla were chosen as the two patron saints to guide in the preparation and participation. Earlier this year, Pope Francis declared St. John Paul II “the pope of the family” upon his canonization, and St. Gianna, a pediatrician and mother who gave her life to bear her fourth child, is the patron saint of mothers, physicians and unborn children.

Additional intercessors for the gathering include the Holy Family, whose image dons the oil-on-canvas meeting icon that measures four feet by five feet. It was commissioned by the Philadelphia Archdiocese and was unveiled and blessed by Archbishop Chaput at a Mass celebrated earlier this month at the Cathedral-Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul.

In the painting, Mary and Joseph appear to be focused on the Child Jesus, touching one another and touching the Lord. Sts. Anne and Joachim, Mary’s parents, stand in the background of the painting.

Father Dennis Gill, the archdiocese’s director of the Office for Divine Worship, called the iconic painting “another type of catechism.”

“It is like a stained-glass church window that constantly instructs and fills the viewer with religious thoughts,” Father Gill said.

“At first glance, it appears that the painting is a representation of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.  However, after spending some time with the painting, it becomes clear that Jesus — Jesus blessing us — is the centerpiece.”

It’s that blessing that Archbishop Chaput hopes many families will receive through the World Meeting of Families.

“With the focus on enriching and re-energizing the spiritual life of families — both Catholic and non-Catholic alike,” said the archbishop in a statement at the icon’s unveiling, “I’m hopeful that this prayer and image can help all of us to examine our minds and hearts and deepen our relationships with God and our families in meaningful ways.”

Matt Archbold writes from Philadelphia.

 

For more information about the 2015 World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia visit WorldMeeting2015.org.

2015 World Meeting of Families Prayer

God and Father of us all, 
in Jesus, your Son and our Savior, 
you have made us 
your sons and daughters 
in the family of the Church. 

May your grace and love 
help our families 
in every part of the world 
be united to one another 
in fidelity to the Gospel. 

May the example of the Holy Family, 
with the aid of your Holy Spirit, 
guide all families, especially those most troubled, 
to be homes of communion and prayer 
and to always seek your truth and live in your love. 
through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, pray for us!