By Mary Frances McCarthy
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 4/7/05)

As soon as the death of Pope John Paul II was announced on April 2, area Catholics headed to their churches to not only mourn and pray for the pontiff, but also to celebrate his life.

In a remembrance book placed under a portrait of the pope at Blessed Sacrament Church in Alexandria, people had written their thoughts throughout the day — "He was a great man," "You will always be in our hearts," "A pontiff for all ages," "Your faith is my strength," "JPII, we love you."

Father John Cregan, pastor, said the atmosphere in the church throughout the day was a mixture of solemn reverence, silence and hope.

"People came and there was a real spirit of silence and reverence in Mass," he said, "but people are sure he will be welcomed (into heaven)."

"It is a sad but glorious day for the Church," said Father Joel Jaffe, parochial vicar.

David White had a particular affinity for John Paul II because he grew up attending a predominantly Polish parish. Now a member of St. Mary Parish in Alexandria, he said when he heard of the death of the pope, he experienced great sadness. "My wife cried and I shed a few tears," he said before a Divine Mercy holy hour held Saturday night at Blessed Sacrament Church.

"He was a great man, a great teacher and not afraid to be forthright and teach the faith and morals of the Church," White said. "I think he’ll be our next saint."

Father Jaffe also praised the accomplishments of John Paul II. "It will not surprise me one day to have him called John Paul the Great, not John Paul II," he said.

"For somebody as young as I am, though I’ve been alive for three popes, he is all I know," Father Jaffe said. "To me there is no person on earth who embodied the spirit of St. Peter on earth as well as John Paul II. Without a doubt, John Paul II inspired me to truly long to serve others."

Aside from inspiring men to serve as priests, Father Jaffe said, John Paul II inspired non-Catholics to join the Church. "So many people have come back to the Church because of him. He will live on in Catholics inspired to join because of his witness to the truth."

Father Cregan also is convinced that although he has left this world, John Paul II’s legacy will continue.

"His work will bear fruit," Father Cregan said. "He will continue to guide from another place."

Father John T. O’Hara, parochial vicar at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Arlington, spoke about the pope in his homily at Sunday’s standing-room only 6 p.m. Mass.

He said there would likely have been three great mothers awaiting the pope in heaven. First, would have been John Paul II’s mother, who died when the pope was 9 years old; second would have been the Blessed Mother, who raised him after his own mother went to heaven; and third would have been a 4’9" missionary, Mother Teresa, who was his great friend in this life. "Who had a greater devotion to the Blessed Mother than the Holy Father?" Father O’Hara asked rhetorically.

Before the 9 a.m. Mass at St. Michael Parish in Annandale, Father John De Celles, parochial vicar, led prayers for the repose of the soul of the Holy Father.

"Today, the world mourns the loss of perhaps the greatest man of our time," Father De Celles said in his homily. "He lived to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The best way to honor him is by remembering what he taught us, nothing less than the Gospel of Jesus."

One of the pope’s greatest legacies will be his teaching on the "Theology of the Body," Father De Celles said, specifically the notion that through the simple actions of everyday life, a persons body expresses what is in their heart and soul.

Pope John Paul II fought the "Culture of Death" his whole life, Father De Celles said. "He united his sufferings with Christ, with all its joys and pains."

Noting that April 3 was Divine Mercy Sunday, Father asked the congregation to pray for God’s Divine Mercy on Pope John Paul II. "Let us also pray for ourselves, that we may devote our lives to the teaching of the Apostles from St. Peter to John Paul II."

During the evening youth Mass on April 3 at St. Mary of Sorrows Parish in Fairfax, Father Paul Grankauskas, parochial vicar, said he believed that the pope would tell the faithful, "Be not afraid." He also noted the pope’s teachings on the family and his opposition to the culture of death.

When remembering John Paul II, he said, "I’m going to think of someone who was a great prophet for the ages.

"This is a man who suffered greatly at the end of his life," Father Grankauskas said. "He saw his suffering as nothing more than sharing in the sufferings of Christ. This is the message we need to hear."

After the Mass, many stayed to view a slideshow of images from the pope’s life.

During the regularly scheduled youth group activities, Father Grankauskas addressed the young people about the pope and the history of the papacy.

"When we look at John Paul II, this man was the successor of Peter. This man is the steward of Christ’s Church," he said. "In these upcoming days, as the cardinals gather in Rome for the conclave … pray that God will lead the cardinals in choosing a worthy successor of John Paul II and of Peter, himself."

Maria Bakowicz, from St. Joseph Parish in Herndon, said John Paul II has always been a pillar of faith for her.

"His death surprises me because he’s survived so many miracles before," she said. Bakowicz said John Paul II has left some "big shoes to fill," by the next pope.

Mary Acosta, a member of St. Clare of Assisi Parish in Clifton, said that when she first heard of his death, she thought about the last time she saw the pope at World Youth Day in Toronto.

"I was happy to participate in that. He had a great love for the youth," she said, adding that he has been the spirit of the World Youth Day gatherings. "I’m sad he won’t be in Germany" for the upcoming World Youth Day, she said.

"People realize more and more now the deep love he had for all people, particularly for the young," Father Cregan said. "In a time where the world needs real heroes, he has been a hero for the whole world."

Staff writers Angela Pometto, Ann Augherton and Michael Flach contributed to this report.