Local Catholics attend Mass with pope JACKSON — Over 100 people from all over the Diocese of Jackson traveled to Washington and New York this week hoping to celebrate Mass with Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to the United States April 15-20. Among them was a group of students and faculty from the University of Mississippi in Oxford..
Bishop Joseph Latino and retired Bishop William Houck planned to be concelebrants at both Masses as well as to participate in several meetings with the pope during his stay.
Father Ricardo Phipps, pastor of Christ the King and St. Mary parishes in Jackson, will be helping with the distribution of Communion at the Mass in New York at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, April 20.
According to Mary Woodward, diocesan director of communications, the Archdiocese of New York allotted the Jackson diocese 100 tickets for the Mass. Tickets were distributed to people on a first come first serve basis. The diocese did not coordinate any travel arrangements for those going.
“We had to have our final list of names turned in to the archdiocese on Feb. 15. The security measures they are taking are very strict,” said Woodward.
“Through the generosity of several people in the diocese, we were able to provide tickets for five New York-based Missionary Sisters of Charity (Mother Teresa’s order), who were unable to get tickets in New York. Those five Sisters will be sitting with our people in the right field bleachers on Sunday at Yankee Stadium,” Woodward added.
About 25 people from the diocese were scheduled to attend the Mass in Washington on Thursday, April 17. Fewer tickets were offered to the diocese for this Mass and originally it was not known if any would be available due to final construction on the Washington Nationals Stadium.
“The response of the people going from our diocese has been very inspiring. Many of them see this as a once in a lifetime opportunity and are making a real pilgrimage out of their trip,” said Bishop Latino. “As a Catholic, it is not everyday you get to participate in a Mass celebrated by the pope. It is my hope and prayer that this will be a unique and beautiful spiritual experience for them,” he added.
The Mass in Washington, was to be celebrated on Thursday at 10 a.m. at the new Nationals Park, which is expected to accommodate 46,000. In tune with the season of Easter and Pentecost, the readings were to speak about hope and the Holy Spirit.
New York’s Yankee Stadium will accommodate about 57,000 participants for the Mass on Sunday, April 20, the last day of Pope Benedict’s visit.
Mass is set to start at 2:30 p.m. and it will have an especially celebratory tone as it commemorates the bicentennial anniversary of the foundation of four U.S. dioceses, including Boston, Louisville, Philadelphia and, the host, the Archdiocese of New York, as well as the 200th anniversary of Baltimore’s designation as the first U.S. archdiocese. These dioceses as well as those immediately neighboring the Big Apple will have the largest representation at the Mass.
The readings for the Mass will be those corresponding to the Fifth Sunday of Easter. They will be proclaimed in English and Spanish and the Prayers of the Faithful will be offered in several languages. More than 550 priests and clergy will distribute Communion at Yankee Stadium.
and retired Bishop William Houck planned to be concelebrants at both Masses as well as to participate in several meetings with the pope during his stay.