In the Media: A meeting with the Prelate of Opus Dei

September 19, 2006

Tags: Understanding, Peace, Opus Dei prelate

September 19, New York Sun

Exactly What Is a Religion Of Peace?
BY ALICIA COLON

When I received the invitation from Opus Dei's communications director to attend a meeting with Prelate Bishop Javier Echevarria, who was visiting from Rome, my first thought was: "Uh oh, they're trying to recruit me." Even though I knew this lay organization was nothing like the sinister sect depicted in Dan Brown's "The DaVinci Code," I had convinced myself that the prelature was too heavy-duty religious for an imperfect Catholic like me.

Bishop Echevarría shares a moment of laughter with the crowd.

The meeting turned out to be a jam-packed gathering of more than 3,700 faithful at the Hammerstein Ballroom. No tickets were needed, no collection was taken.

The crowd was a melting pot with representatives of every continent and every age group, including those in strollers and wheelchairs. The relative lack of clergy was not surprising, as Opus Dei is a lay organization. These were just ordinary people gathering, like at a family get-together, which is what it turned out to be.

People just call him "Father," and the man who worked with a saint for 22 years came on the stage to greet what he calls his children. There was no singing, no choir — just chit chat that began with Father explaining that Opus Dei was founded by St. Josemaria Escriva, who was canonized by John Paul II in 2002, to teach us how to seek God wherever we are — in our jobs, in our family, with our friends.

That's essentially the message of Opus Dei — including God in every phase of our lives, no matter where we are, and inviting Him to share our daily existence. How many of us take time to do that? After this brief explanation, the Father took questions from the audience, made a few jokes, and that was it. There were no ushers signing up potential members. It was all quite lovely. I'm sure that as we exited the ballroom on 34th Street the passersby wondered who we were. All of us were Catholics, coming peaceably from a sweet yet spiritual hour.

See complete article: http://www.nysun.com/article/39897