America's Largest Catholic Newspaper
With candlelight glowing on the Eucharist in the golden monstrance atop the altar, surrounded otherwise by darkness, there was no ambiguity where the focus for the Catholic Underground was being placed—Jesus.
Another welcome guest was Pope Francis—who would be live-streamed from Vespers for Priests and Religious at St. Patrick’s Cathedral Sept. 24.
More than 1,000 young adults gathered at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church on Manhattan’s Upper East Side for a Holy Hour led by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal before the Papal Vespers.
The Catholic Underground, as the gathering is known, was organized by the Friars of the Renewal, Corazon Puro and the archdiocese’s Young Adult Outreach Office.
Another setup had to be put in place in the church hall to accommodate the large crowd.
During the Holy Hour, powerful music and singing included “Come, Lord Jesus” and “How Great Is Our God,” which created an almost palpable atmosphere of prayer and spirit. Some attending were moved to tears; others sang loudly proclaiming their faith.
Waiting on the long line to get inside was Megan Knape, a 23-year-old parishioner of St. Joseph’s in Greenwich Village, who said, “I’ve been hearing a lot about Pope Francis.”
“He has a warmth to him. I love what he is doing,” she said. She noted that she was especially drawn to him because of the global impact he has, and for his concern for the environment and for the poor and marginalized.
“To be with my friends and fellow New Yorkers and to see him together is really exciting,” she said.
Catholic musician Matt Maher opened his set—which closed out the night—with the song “All the People Say Amen” from his latest album “Saints and Sinners.”
Candice D’Cunha, 25, a parishioner of St. Ignatius Loyola in Manhattan, is a Catholic Underground regular. Speaking about the Holy Father, she said, “I like his approach towards everything. He gets people to look at the major social topics and issues in a less aggressive manner and in a more loving manner.”
