Recalling Pope Francis and the World Meeting Of Families
-------Original Message-------
From: John Rogge
Date: 10/9/2015 1:04:21 PM
To: amy
Subject: Re: Papal Mass - STE Spirit Newsletter
Here is the same story I tell my Grandsons;
As part of the effort organized by the Knights of Columbus, I and several others, participated in the World Meeting of Families for the opening Mass Sept 22 at 4pm. From that we were all registered to be Communion Assistants for the Papal Mass and given the Gold and White Sash.
St Elizabeth Knights For Mass, William Schell, Mike Kasper, Steve Puccino, and John Rogge from St Elizabeth were part of the Knights Honor Procession leading the Priests into the Mass on Sept 22. The Picture WMOF is cropped to only show St E parishioners. From Left to Right are Steve Puccino, William Schell, John Rogge, Mike Kasper. James McNally was our wheel man who drove us down and back from the Mass.
At the Papal Mass about 525+ people assembled to be Communion Assistants, we formed at the base of the Art Museum, of course we were to be there by 10 for a 4 o'clock Mass. At about 4pm we were moved into a position just outside the seated area with a view of the Mass and a Jumbotron. We had a very good position.
Our task was to align with a priest and escort him to a communion station, act as the visible sentinel with the umbrella, and direct the line of those receiving the host. We were told that all this had to be done from start to finish in under 10 minutes and return. The time started from the moment the Our Father started, the priests left the stage, we picked them up and preceded to find a location to stand. I had to position him between 23 and 22 streets along with 75 other communion assistants. Another group of 75 had to get between 22 and 21 and third the farthest to travel 21 and 20. This was done on both sides of the Parkway. Another group of 75 went into the ticketed area infront of the Alter to serve that area. Lastly, I think another 75 were at the Cathedral to assist the Deacons in this task at that end of the parkway. From our staging area behind the Alter, (on the Art Museum Steps) we had a view of the popes arrival and departure.
After returning with the Priest I was approached by a reporter and that is how I made the paper. Only thing is I never said much of what got printed. I told him the priests were from many countries, mine spoke Spanish and that I was from St Elizabeth Parish in Chester Springs. You can read the article here. Click here for pictures!