A special significance is attached to the privilege of being an Eagle Scout and when Michael Albanese learned that he would be attending the papal welcoming ceremony at the White House Wednesday with 29 of his fellow Eagle Scouts he understood that importance in a very profound way.
Albanese and his peers were teeming with excitement just days before the historic event when President Bush was to greet Pope Benedict XVI, the second day of the pope’s apostolic visit to the U.S.
According to White House staff, the invitation-only event was to draw up to 10,000 guests.
Calling it a “considerable accomplishment,” Jim Albanese, Michael’s father, said the Scouts were selected on the diocesan level.
Although they didn’t know what role they’d or how close they’ll get to the pontiff, the Eagle Scouts would be happy just to be present, said Albanese. Michael, 18, a senior at Paul VI High School in Fairfax, was  not be the only one from his school with the coveted opportunity to catch a close-up glimpse of the Holy Father and president together at the White House. Three faculty members and 52 students from Paul VI will also attend the event, said Eileen Hanley, assistant principal.
When the diocesan Office of Catholic Schools informed them 55 tickets were available for the ceremony, Hanley asked teachers to submit the names of students who they thought would be good candidates to attend the event.  
The students were overjoyed, she said. “They haven’t even left the building to go and they are thrilled.” Parents of the lucky students were just as excited, said Hanley. Many of them wrote notes thanking the administration for the opportunity.
Nancy Huether, mother of Gigi and Stephen, twins and seniors at Paul VI, said that it will be a life-changing experience for her children. When she was a youth she had the opportunity to see Pope John Paul II.
“I knew immediately when I saw him, I was in the presence of greatness,” she said of her encounter with the late pope. “I will never forget it. Being in his presence made me re-think my faith.”
“This is an incredible gift for them. To actually see Christ’s representative here on earth is the closest they will be to God while they are on earth.”
Several miles away at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington, principal Dick Martin made an announcement via the PA system that the first 74 seniors interested in attending the White House ceremony should make their way to the main office. The spots were filled soon after his notice, he said. Six faculty members were to accompany the students.
“They were just excited,” said Martin, noting that the students were serious about the opportunity and not just finding a way to get out of school.
When the Catholic schools office called Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria to tell them that the high schools in the diocese would be given tickets for the president’s papal welcome, Mary Kelly, director of campus ministry, approached the students who have shown leadership, been involved in student government, campus ministry, and student academic council to attend the event, she said. Students from all grades were chosen and were required to arrive three hours before the start of the ceremony.
“They are absolutely thrilled.”  The wait won’t matter, Kelly said. “This is a historic event. It’s awesome, and it’ll just be exciting to be there.”
Henrietta Gomes can be reached at hgomes@catholicherald.com.

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