We continue to offer a monthly morning of recollection where we focus on the Sunday Mass readings. People’s faith and hunger for God are so palpable and sincere that at times I feel put to shame.

We hosted the RCIA Retreat for those about to enter the Church (two men and two women). The main thrust of the retreat was the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and on Friday evening, Maureen shared reflections on confession from both Catherine’s writings and the Catechism.

Cynthia gave her witness of returning to the Church, and Pat led us in Night Prayer which included an examination of conscience.

We joined Raleigh and Roanoke for our annual retreat. Fr. Pat McNulty was our retreat master, and he spoke about union with Christ, sacrificial soul, and the priesthood of the baptized. We all came away renewed and with something to think about.

Among our many visitors was a very special one—Pope Benedict XVI! Well, he didn’t exactly visit our house, but he did visit our city. We’d been praying for his visit as well as for Archbishop Wuerl.

On Wednesday, we went down to Pennsylvania Avenue to catch a glimpse as he passed in his popemobile. Though we arrived early and the crowds were already lined up, we were able to get a place very close to the barricade, and we all had a clear view.

Many of the new communities had signs and were singing, and you could feel the excitement mounting in the air. At 12 noon on the dot, the popemobile came down the street, and as Pope Benedict passed, he smiled and waved; and everyone cheered. It did one’s heart good to be a part of such a gathering.

We were thrilled to be able to attend the Mass at Nationals Stadium. When we arrived at the stadium, the security was tight, but all went smoothly and we were in. The excitement was palpable. Later, when the pope arrived in his popemobile, the crowd went wild; we were so excited to see our "Papa."

The liturgy was beautiful. It was powerful to experience 46,000 people with one voice make the responses at Mass and sing the Our Father. We felt so deeply united.

During the liturgy, there were many touching moments—like when Archbishop Wuerl welcomed the Pope to Washington and the Pope lifted him from his knees and gave him a warm handshake. Or, when the Pope, during the recessional, stopped to kiss an infant on the forehead.

After Mass, we sat for a while as the crowds dispersed and soaked in the enormity of the event. As we made our way out of the stadium, we encountered demonstrators, many of whom were not at all pleasant. Most of us managed to go another route and circumvent that scene.

But Fr. Denis and a friend of the house took forty-five minutes to get through the tangle. Fr Denis said that none of the pilgrims responded in kind to the demonstrators. One man started singing "Holy God We Praise Thy Name," and everyone around him joined in and drowning out the demonstrators.