By Nicole Falco
Reaching Out was formed about a year ago and is made up of members of the parish's folk group. It is one of about 50 music groups worldwide that was selected to perform during World Youth Day 2002 in Toronto.
World Youth Day is expected to attract as many as a quarter million Catholics, particularly those aged 16 to 24. From July 18 through to Pope John Paul II's scheduled Mass on July 28, the many thousands in attendance will hear local bishops and cardinals speak, enjoy Christian Rock concerts and theatrical presentations on Christian themes and participate in prayer services. The event will culminate with a pilgrimage from downtown Toronto to the park where the Pope is scheduled to offer Mass.
Cannistraci is joined by Renee Socci, Nicole Zambuta, Fran Caracappa and their families. Reaching Out began its journey on July 21. In addition to Reaching Out, Blessed Sacrament Church is represented by 14 teens from its youth group and four adults. The Valley Stream churches are also joined by hundreds of parishioners from churches throughout the Diocese of Rockville Centre. Bishop William Murphy accompanied a caravan of parishioners as they made their way to Canada this week.
Reaching Out was asked to attend World Youth Day after Larry Curran, Youth Minister for the Diocese, heard a copy of a CD they had made to raise money for organizations including St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. The CD features liturgical music in the style of inspirational jazz.
"The response was so beautiful. I think [making the CD] was a way of giving back to the community and students and to share our gifts and talents. Being in music all my life, teaching and playing in church, I was inspired to take another step," Cannistraci said. "I asked my friends to join me and they jumped right in to give me their time and talents."
So far the group has sold 200 CDs through word of mouth and has been encouraged to make a follow-up CD. Besides Cannistraci, Socci, Pat Mayler, Rita Vella and Brendan Caputo appear on the CD.
"Definitely exciting. This has been something that has been a dream for all of us," said Socci, who has been singing at Holy Name for 15 years.
Reaching Out had to compete against 500 other bands from all over the world before they were selected to perform during World Youth Day. Their CD was actually played in the Vatican.
"That was a thrill to know my music was played in the Vatican. We were up against professionals. ... We are just starting out and to get this kind of response is tremendous," Cannistraci, a music teacher at St. Ann's in Garden City, said.
The Blessed Sacrament pilgrims are being led by Jim Daniels, the church's youth minister. Daniels and his group began their journey on the 5:43 a.m. Long Island Rail Road train Monday morning.
Daniels previously attended World Youth Day in Denver in the early 1990s and suggested to the church's pastor, Father Greg Cappuccino, that Blessed Sacrament send a group this year.
"It is hard to put into words the refreshing thing about World Youth Day. There is just an incredible amount of positive energy from the young people who come from all over the world," Daniels said.
To gear up for the bi-annual event, Daniels' group held a pancake breakfast and asked local residents and businesses to sponsor them as they make their trek to the park to hear the Pope speak. The community responded with over $6,000 in donations.
Patrice Tortorelli leads a Wednesday night youth group at Blessed Sacrament and a Thursday night junior youth group. A senior at Central High School, Tortorelli has been a youth group member for four years.
"Over the past four years, especially from going to youth meetings, my Catholic faith became stronger and stronger. I feel going to World Youth Day will only make it stronger. I'll get to meet thousands of kids who share the same faith I do. Kids around here aren't exactly religious," Tortorelli said.
Joanna Lockspseiser is also a youth group leader at Blessed Sacrament who said, "I've practically been raised by Blessed Sacrament." Lockspseiser said she looks forward to seeing the Pope, but also to reaffirm her faith.
"We are going to show the world we care about our faith, we care about our community. ... I'm very excited it is finally here. This reminds me that it is a worldwide thing and I'm not the only one out there who is proud to be a Catholic," Lockspseiser said.
