Bar-coded ticket to Papal Mass at Nationals Park — free.
Time spent waiting for the pope — as many as four-and-a-half hours.
Roundtrip parking and Metrorail fare from Vienna to Navy Yard — $9.
Chance to concelebrate Mass with the head of the Catholic Church — priceless.
Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde and other priests and bishops from across
the country will concelebrate Mass with Pope Benedict XVI April 17 in an expression
of their unity with the pope as bishop of Rome and head of the Church. It’s
possibly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“It’s a unique privilege. It’s not something that I guess I
expected because this pope is a little less inclined to travel,” said Father
Gregory Thompson, parochial vicar of All Saints Parish in Manassas. For Father
Thompson, who was ordained a priest in 2006, the Mass in Washington will be his
first opportunity to concelebrate with the pope. He said the liturgy will be
a “great opportunity” to be with the pope and listen to his message.
Amid the ocean of commentary about what the pope’s message to the Church
in the United States might be, local priests said they’re looking for an
example of servant leadership more than any kind of political statement.
“When we can follow our Holy Father with good example and great love, others
will see that and come to know Christ through our example,” said Youth
Apostles Father Michael Kuhn, chaplain of Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax,
who will also concelebrate with the pope for the first time. “In Scripture,
people were saying (of the Apostles) ‘see how they love one another.’ Priests
are supposed to continue that love for one another so people can see that love … and
hopefully be open to the Holy Spirit.”
In a variety of ways, Pope Benedict’s visit could be a unique time of renewal
for the Church in the United States.
“I think it’s going to be fantastic because this Holy Father is really
following up with Pope John Paul II,” Father Kuhn said. “He knows
the importance of youth, and being able to travel throughout the world visiting
his Church shows what he really is — the vicar of Christ.”
Pope Benedict’s five-day visit to the United States will also be the first
papal trip to this country since the clergy sexual abuse scandals broke in 2002.
“I think it’s an important visit because I think it’s a time
when the U.S. Church has taken some hits,” said Father Thompson. “This
gives (Pope Benedict) an opportunity to speak specifically to the Church in the
United States and give us a shot in the arm.”
Though Father James Gould, pastor of St. Raymond of Penafort Parish in Springfield,
previously concelebrated Mass with the late Pope John Paul II and with then Cardinal
Joseph Ratzinger (the future Pope Benedict XVI), the excitement of a papal Mass
in the United States is no less intense.
“Pope Benedict offers every example of courage and intellectual insight
that fosters a great sort of renaissance,” Father Gould said. “I
loved his response to the Muslims … there’s not a human being on
the planet who’s been more courageous. The Church has an obligation to
present itself academically, socially and spiritually (to the world). The modern
age gives us that privilege … to catechize on a wide scale … and
Pope Benedict is the synthesis of that action.”
Stephanie Tracy can be reached at stracy@catholicherald.com.
