Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai, India, unexpectedly celebrated
Mass April 21 at St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Clifton.
The cardinal was traveling in the United States when he missed
his April 21 flight from Dulles Airport to Rome. His American friends contacted
St. Andrew the Apostle Church to ask if he could celebrate Mass Sunday morning.
Parishioners at the 8:45 a.m. Mass were surprised to have Cardinal Gracias as
the celebrant on Good Shepherd Sunday.
The Mass was concelebrated by Father Robert L. Ruskamp, parochial
vicar, and Father Justin O. Puthussery, who is from India, and in residence at
St. Andrew. He celebrates an Eastern Rite (Syro-Malabar) Mass at St. Andrew
every Sunday afternoon.
Cardinal Gracias rescheduled his flight for Sunday afternoon.
