It’s been a month since the Beatification of Bl. John Paul II

It’s hard to believe that it has already been over a month since the Beatification in Rome. After a long flight back I was reminiscing the thoughts and emotions that went through my mind seeing Pope John Paul II beatified after just 6 years after his death. I can still recall the many Wednesday audiences that I was blessed to attend during my time in Rome in 2000 and the World Youth Day that year. I was blessed to have been able to study most of his writings, particularly his many encyclicals. I was even able to bring my wife, then fiancé, to see John Paul II during a New Year’s Eve ‘Te Deum’ prayer service in 2004, just months before he would pass away. I still have vivid memories of the time I was able to meet him after a private mass in his chapel in the apostolic palace. He will always be the model teacher that I will look up to and strive to imitate.

Coming home wasn’t easy. I love Rome! But coming home to my wife and back to the classroom excited me. While I was in Rome, I purchased over 1400 Bl. John Paul II medals, which I got blessed by Pope Benedict XVI at the Beatification Mass, to give out to friends, family, and the entire school community at Kennedy Catholic High School. I even purchased Kinder chocolates for my students, it was the chocolate that I enjoyed growing up, and seeing their reaction made my day. It’s awesome to hear how many people followed my blog entries and posted videos, some shared that they felt like they were there and experienced it first-hand.

My students loved the Kinder chocolate and appreciated the medals brought back for them. This past week I have been slowly distributing them especially since the seniors are drawing close to their graduation. I hope all of them realize that as they received their tickets for graduation that they will find their Bl. John Paul II medals brought back from Rome for them. I am sure they will be able to use Bl. John Paul’s intercessions as they prepare for college and beyond. Now that John Paul II is beatified, we can definitely ask him to intercede on our behalf, especially with all of our prayer requests. He was a man of great holiness who showed us how to be human and be holy!

I want to end with a challenge to all of you:


‘Do not be afraid; do not be satisfied with mediocrity! Cast out into the deep, and let your nets down for a catch’ –Bl. JPII

Cast out into the deep! Every desire of our human heart can be satisfied resting in the presence of Jesus in the most holy Sacrament of the altar, now let’s meet there my dear friends, for it is in the Mass that we truly experience authentic love and are immersed in grace. Let us always remember that we are blessed with the communion of saints as models to the life of holiness, Bl. John Paul II now one of them. I look forward to celebrating his feast of October 16th of this year. All of the intentions and prayer requests that I brought with me to Rome haven’t gone unheard. I will continue to keep all of you in my prayers. May God bless you and may you be inspired to be a witness to the Gospel of life in the vineyard of the Lord. As the summer draws near, make a new plan, open your heart to Eucharistic heart of our Lord and may he guide you in all of your adventure! Do not be afraid! - O, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

The new location of Bl. JPII's tomb

Check out this article and video!

First images of John Paul II’s new tomb CatholicHerald.co.uk

Vatican Visit - Relics of Bl. John Paul II

Monday, May 2, 2011

Today, after the Mass of Thanksgiving for the Beatification of John Paul II, I was blessed to have an opportunity to visit Bl. John Paul II's relics! Over 1 million people have come from around the world to celebrate his awesome life and now as blessed, we can defenetly count on his prayers for all of us from the Father's house!

Kennedy Catholic @ The Vatican

The Banner that was made for this occasion has been given to the Prefect of the Papal Household. Since he doesn't like to be in photos, he did allowed me to take some his office and assured me that it will be delivered to the Holy Father's office.On my way out of the Prefect's office, I ran into one of the Swiss guards who I asked if I could get a picture of... GO LANCERS!!!The rest are of just random shots of St. Peter's Square, I even got a random person to help me, enjoy!

Day 4 - Sunday, May 1, 2011

‘Open the doors, rather open wide your doors for Christ!’ These were the first words spoken in his homily as Pope on October 22, 1978. Now, Pope John Paul II has been beatified and the world will be able to celebrate his feast day on October 22nd of every year! May 1st, Divine Mercy Sunday, a day that was filled with lots of emotions and joy seeing the image of Blessed John Paul II being unveiled and hearing millions cheer! Just hour prior to the Mass, I joined the many that had already lined up waiting to enter the square. I never imagined that I would get in a line to go to a mass 12 hours early but being one of the many in St. Peter's square was priceless. I brought the banner which represented the Kennedy Lancer family with me through the mess of the crowds..At the start of the Mass, crowded with mainly Polish pilgrim, the emotions of many, including myself, was running in our minds. John Paul II, the Pope whom majority of us have grown to know, has now become ‘Blessed’. Not too many people know how much John Paul II radiated holiness. As Pope Benedict XVI said 'I felt his holiness when he was in my midst, he truly indeed was a rock, as Jesus wanted him to be... Holy Father continue to bless us from above'. Bl. John Paul II was indeed a rock of faith that not only moved thousands but also the youth! I was moved with joy and tears when the veil covering the image of Bl. John Paul II was removed. As I looked around where I was standing, people were cheering and some even crying with tears of joy. John Paul II taught us many things but the most important thing, I think, was how to be holy in a world of darkness.

On a day that was supposed to be filled rain and thunderstorms, the sun was out and we truly felt God pouring out his Divine Mercy to all those who came from all the parts of the world! Bl. John Paul II was indeed the People's Pope. As the mass proceeded, all that was on my mind was my wife, whom I left in Seattle, and all of the Kennedy Lancer Family which I had the privilege to bring all of their intentions with me to this occasion. I truly feel blessed to have represented my family, my school community, and the Archdiocese of Seattle. I hope that the pictures and videos have helped you experience this Beatification weekend celebrating John Paul II. I look forward in sharing with all of you more when I return on Wednesday. God Bless...

John Paul II officially Beatified!

This video was taken from where I was standing at the Beatification Mass. Our Holy Father officially declares the Venerable Servant of God, John Paul II, Blessed! What a beautiful day it was! Blessed John Paul II, Pray for us!