Today marks the 20^th anniversary of the death of Pope Saint John Paul II. I was at a friend’s wedding reception in the St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church parish hall in Phoenix, AZ, when the news of his passing into eternal life was released. After the reception ended, I drove home and turned on the television to watch what was being said live from Rome. I listened intently for a few minutes, and then tears started to flow from my eyes. I began to weep as one does when one loses a family member (the same way I cried when my father passed away 10 years later).

Although I knew he was entering eternal life, and the years of living with Parkinson’s had ended, it was still sad to know that he was no longer on Earth with the rest of us. Even though I never met him in person, he was such an influential figure in my life. It was his writings and his witness to the Gospel that brought me into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church. Growing up during his papacy was a huge blessing and something I remember even today.

I was blessed to see him three times during his lifetime. The first was in September 1987 when he made his pastoral visit to Phoenix, AZ. I was thirteen years old. I can remember the event vividly in my mind. I still have a framed picture commemorating his visit.

The second opportunity I saw John Paul II was in Denver in 1993. Our young adult group organized a trip from Scottsdale. Just like the visit to Phoenix, I have clear memories of the entire trip, especially the entrance to Mile High Stadium. Read my World Youth Day reflection here.

The last and final time I saw the great Polish Pope was for World Youth Day 2000 in Rome, Italy. I was a Director of Youth Evangelization at the time. Our pastor and I made a pilgrimage with 22 teens and young adults, including my younger sister and her college friend. The pilgrimage included a visit to Turin, where we were able to see the Shroud of Turin. Read my World Youth Day 2000 reflection here.

As I said today on the EWTN radio show, Take 2 with Debbie Georgianni, everything that I do regarding my faith – my prayer life, family life, the years of working for the church, the writing on my blog, the years of studying, the dedication and love for Our Lady, all stems from the witness of Pope St. John Paul II. I am definitely a JP2 super fan! I could go on and on about the many ways this great man and saint has influenced my life and the lives of many my age, but instead, I hope that you will read about him from my posts from the past and follow me for future writings.

I am and will always be – the JP2 Generation.

POPE SAINT JOHN PAUL II…PRAY FOR US