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Pope Francis

A Preview Of The2015 Apostolic Journey Of Pope Francis

To The United States Of America

SEPTEMBER 18, 2015 A SUPPLEMENT TO THE CATHOLIC STAR HERALD

S2 — CATHOLIC STAR HERALD SEPTEMBER 18, 2015Welcome

The Clergy, Parishioners of

St. Simon Stock ParishMercy Sisters in Ireland

Our Lady of Mount CarmelRegional School

of Berlin, New Jersey

Joyfully Welcome Pope Francis

Here is the schedule for Pope Francis’ Sept. 2015Apostolic Journey to the United States of America asreleased by the Vatican on June 30, 2015. All times list-ed are Eastern Daylight Time.

Tuesday, Sept. 22 (Washington, D.C.)4 p.m. Arrival from Cuba at Joint Base Andrews

Wednesday, Sept. 23 (Washington, D.C.)9:15 a.m. Welcome ceremony and meeting with

President Obama at the White House11 a.m. Papal Parade along the Ellipse and the

National Mall (time approximate)11:30 a.m. Midday Prayer with the bishops of the

United States, St. Matthew’s Cathedral4:15 p.m. Mass of Canonization of Junipero

Serra, Basilica of the National Shrine of theImmaculate Conception

Thursday, Sept. 24 (Washington, D.C., New York City)

9:20 a.m. Address to Joint Meeting of the UnitedStates Congress

11:15 a.m. Visit to St. Patrick in the City andCatholic Charities of the Archdiocese ofWashington

4 p.m. Depart from Joint Base Andrews5 p.m. Arrival at John F. Kennedy International

Airport

6:45 p.m. Evening Prayer (Vespers) at St. Patrick’sCathedral

Friday, Sept. 25 (New York City)8:30 a.m. Visit to the United Nations and

Address to the United Nations General Assembly11:30 a.m. Multi-religious service at 9/11

Memorial and Museum, World Trade Center

4 p.m. Visit to Our Lady Queen of Angels School,East Harlem

5 p.m. Procession through Central Park (timeapproximate)

6 p.m. Mass at Madison Square Garden

Saturday, Sept. 26 (New York City,Philadelphia)

8:40 a.m. Departure from John F. KennedyInternational Airport

9:30 a.m. Arrival at Atlantic Aviation,Philadelphia

10:30 a.m. Mass at Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peterand Paul, Philadelphia

4:45 p.m. Visit to Independence Mall7:30 p.m. Visit to the Festival of Families

Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Sunday, Sept. 27 (Philadelphia)9:15 a.m. Meeting with bishops at St. Martin’s

Chapel, St. Charles Borromeo Seminary 11 a.m. Visit to Curran-Fromhold Correctional

Facility 4 p.m. Mass for the conclusion of the World

Meeting of Families, Benjamin Franklin Parkway 7 p.m. Visit with organizers, volunteers and

benefactors of the World Meeting of Families,Atlantic Aviation

8 p.m. Departure for Rome

2015 Apostolic Journey Of Pope FrancisTo The United States Of America

SEPTEMBER 18, 2015 CATHOLIC STAR HERALD — S3Pope Francis

Pope Francis U.S. Preview

The pope and ‘the queen,’ Aretha Franklin,will lift souls at Festival of FamiliesBy Matthew GambinoCatholic News Service

PHILADELPHIA — When PopeFrancis visits America, he’ll meet apresident, governors, Catholicprelates and ordinary folks. He’llalso meet a queen.

Aretha Franklin, the “queen ofsoul,” will belt out quintessentiallyAmerican music at the Festival ofFamilies the night of Sept. 26 on theBenjamin Franklin Parkway. She willlead a slate of entertainers offeringthe pope a glimpse of American popculture, in all its artistic diversity.

The World Meeting of Families,taking place at the PennsylvaniaConvention Center Sept. 22-25,announced Sept. 15 that Franklinand a host of other singers, dancers— even a comedian — will performon two stages all day and into theevening Sept. 26, plus more enter-tainers preceding the Sept. 27 papalMass on the parkway.

Hosting the Festival of Families asmaster of ceremonies will beAcademy Award-nominated actorand film producer Mark Wahlberg, aCatholic and a native of Boston. Alsoheadlining the slate of acts is theDenver-based, Grammy Award-win-ning rock band the Fray.

“When we first envisioned theFestival of Families, we could havenever anticipated such an extraordi-nary lineup of talent would be part ofthis once-in-a-lifetime event,” saidDonna Crilley Farrell, executive direc-tor of the World Meeting of Families.“We are deeply honored to have MarkWahlberg serve as our host and weare thrilled to have the legendaryAretha Franklin and the immenselypopular band, the Fray, join us inPhiladelphia for Pope Francis’ visit.”

Franklin, one of the most popularsingers since she helped define thesound of soul and rhythm-and-bluesmusic more than a half century ago,has won 18 Grammy Awards overher stellar career.

She will perform with previouslyannounced stars including Italiantenor Andrea Bocceli, Latin singerJuanes and the PhiladelphiaOrchestra, led by music directorYannick Nezet Seguin.

In addition, the Philadelphia-based production company ESMProductions released an artistic ren-dering and video animation depict-ing its designs of the small stage

Pope Francis will use for his Sept. 26address at Independence Hall andthe stage for the Festival of Families,which will be converted for the fol-lowing day’s papal Mass.

The stage at Eakins Oval on theparkway will be 100 feet across and60 feet high, open at the rear to showthe Philadelphia Museum of Artbehind it.

Before the big stars come out tothe Festival of Families, the event onthe stage will begin with AmericanDanceWheels, a group showcasingLatin and ballroom dance for peoplein wheelchairs; Jackie Evancho, theyoung classical music singing sensa-tion; Matt Maher, a popularChristian-music artist; Sister Sledge,the Philadelphia-based R & B groupthat had a megahit in 1979 with thesong, appropriate for the family-themed celebration, “We AreFamily’’; and Catholic comedian andauthor Jim Gaffigan.

Of course, the biggest guest ofhonor is Pope Francis. As the Festivalof Families begins around 5:30 p.m.(EDT), the pope will lead a motorcade

dubbed the “papal parade” throughthe Francis Festival Grounds. Theroute will take the pope past most ofthe expected 750,000 people attend-ing the festival, down one side of theBenjamin Franklin Parkway to CityHall then back up the other side ofthe parkway to Eakins Oval.

The pope is expected to take thestage at 7:30 p.m. (EDT), where hewill give an address and listen to thestories of six families from aroundthe world.

His stop in Philadelphia, whichwill cap his first visit to the UnitedStates after New York andWashington, begins earlier thatmorning. The day’s events willinclude celebrating a Mass at theCathedral Basilica of SS. Peter andPaul for the people of theArchdiocese of Philadelphia.

Afterward, he will depart for histemporary residence at St. CharlesBorromeo Seminary in Wynnewood,and the festivities will begin on theparkway at 12:45 p.m. (EDT) on asecondary stage across the streetfrom the cathedral.

Performers will include theSalvation Army Songsters, Dancingwith Students, Christopher Duffley,St. Raymond of Penafort ParishGospel Choir, Modero DanceCompany, Nigeria/Igbo Communityat St. Cyprian Parish, MutyaPhilippine Dance Company, St.Thomas Syro-Malabar Community,Oscuro Quintet, Everything Fitz, JoeCastillo and Osage Ballet Company.

The following day on the parkway,Pope Francis will return to celebrateMass for an estimated 1 million peo-ple. Prior to its 4 p.m. (EDT) start, thepope will again tour the area bypopemobile but on a shorter routethat has not yet been announced.

Before that second papal parade,another slate of entertainers willperform starting at noon (EDT) onthe Eakins Oval stage as hundreds ofthousands stream into the parkwayarea.

All the events during the weekendwill be broadcast on all 40Jumbotron large-screen televisionslocated throughout the Ben FranklinParkway and Independence Mallareas of Philadelphia’s center-city.

In New York, where the pope willarrive in the early evening Sept. 24,after two full days in Washington,well-known entertainers have beenlined up as well.

Before Pope Francis’ Mass atMadison Square Garden, Cuban-American pop singer Gloria Estefanand actor Martin Sheen will beamong the headliners, along withAcademy Award-winning actressand vocalist Jennifer Hudson andpop music stylist Harry Connick Jr.

Also on the bill are Tony Award-win-ning Broadway musical actress KelliO’Hara; Tony-nominated actor-singerNorm Lewis; Emmy-winning per-former-arranger Rob Mathes; musicaltheater actor James McElroy with theBroadway Inspirational Voices, a choirmade up from the six choirs at NewYork City’s St. Charles BorromeoParish and Chapel of the Resurrection;New York television news anchorRosanna Scotto; and James “D-Train”Williams, whose song “You’re the Onefor Me” topped the Billboard dancemusic charts in 1982.

Gambino is director and general man-ager of CatholicPhilly.com, the newswebsite of the Philadelphia Archdiocese.Contributing to this story was MarkPattison in Washington.

CNS photo/Paul Haring

Pope Francis waves as he leaves his general audience in St. Peter's Square atthe Vatican Sept. 16.


WASHINGTON (CNS) — U.S.Catholic Church leaders havelaunched the USA Catholic Churchmobile app offering exclusive cover-age of Pope Francis' visit to the U.S.Sept. 22-27.

“This is the most comprehensivevirtual connection to the Catholic faithavailable,” said Bishop Christopher J.Coyne, chairman-elect of theCommittee on Communications of theU.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops,which created the app.

“We understand many people arelooking for more ways to connectwith the church and incorporateCatholic living into their busy lives— that's exactly what this app isdesigned to do,” said Bishop Coyne,who heads the Diocese ofBurlington, Vermont.

He made the comments in a Sept.15 statement announcing the launchof the U.S. church's first mobile app.

The USA Catholic Church app,available for use in the U.S., is free todownload at Google Play and AppleiTunes in English and Spanish. Italso can be downloaded for free viathe site www.USACatholic.churchusing a smartphone or tablet device.

The announcement said the app is“designed to draw millions ofCatholics closer to their faith by pro-viding access to church informationon all screens and devices.”

“This is the only app that bringstogether information from allCatholic sources: parishes, dioceses,the U.S. bishops and even theVatican,” it said. “Not only will the appinclude religious news, dailyScripture readings and local parishcontent, it will feature exclusive, in-depth coverage of Pope Francis'September visit to the United States.”

Content is available in bothEnglish and Spanish and lets users:

— Follow Pope Francis with thelatest news and communications,including videos and photos.

— Access unique mobile features toview daily readings, make mobiledonations, receive news alerts, getVatican and Catholic News Serviceupdates, including videos and photos.

The app also will offer up-to-theminute coverage of Pope Francis ashe addresses a joint meeting ofCongress in Washington Sept. 24,the United Nations in New YorkSept. 25 and the public Sept. 26 in

Philadelphia at the Festival ofFamilies during the World Meetingof Families.

New parish and diocese function-ality will be released for the app inOctober. Users can stay in contactwith local dioceses and parishesthrough individual pages that willhave Mass and confession times,homilies, events, blog posts, videosand bulletins. Users also will be ableto locate local parishes at home orwhen traveling with a “ChurchFinder” tool that works by location,city, state or ZIP code.

“This is the first pope to address(both) Congress and the UnitedNations,” Bishop Coyne said. “It'struly a historic moment for the pope,and the USA Catholic Church appwill provide news and coverage thatpeople simply can't get anywhereelse.”

People around the world will beable to follow live coverage of thepapal trip via a video livestream atwww.usccb.org/live. The USCCBalso is launching social media pro-files on Twitter and Instagram, “PopeIn US” and “Papa En USA,” and willpost updates to Facebook at:

www.facebook.com/usccb andwww.facebook.com/USCCBEspano.In addition, #PopeInUS and#PapaEnUSA are hashtags beingpromoted with the visit.

New USA Catholic Church app offers exclusive coverage of papal visit

CNS

The U.S. Conference of CatholicBishops has introduced its firstmobile app, USA Catholic Church.This is a screen grab from the app.



By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY — People makespecial preparations for welcoming aspecial guest, and watching whatworked and did not work inEcuador, Bolivia and Paraguay mayhelp people preparing for PopeFrancis’ visit to the United States inSeptember.

Some of the plans, however, willrequire common-sense adjustments,especially because the U.S. SecretService is likely to frown on certainbehavior, like tossing things to thepope — a phenomenon that occursmuch more often with Pope Francisthan with any previous pope. At theVatican, the items tend to be soccerjerseys and scarves; in Ecuador, itwas flower petals — lots of them.

Watching the pope July 5-12 inSouth America it is clear:

— Pope Francis loves a crowd. Hewalks into events with little expres-sion on his face, then lights up whenhe starts greeting, blessing, kissingand hugging people. Persons withdisabilities, the sick and squirmingbabies come first.

— The pope does not mind beingembraced, but he does not like peo-ple running at him. As a nun in OurLady of Peace Cathedral in La Pazrushed toward Pope Francis July 8,the pope backed up and used bothhands to gesture her to calm downand step back. In the end, she did geta blessing from him, though.

— At Mass, Pope Francis tends tobe less animated. His focus and thefocus he wants from the congrega-tion is on Jesus present in theEucharist. At large public Masses onpapal trips, he sticks to the text of hisprepared homilies, although he maylook up and repeat phrases foremphasis.

— A meeting with priests, reli-gious and seminarians is a fixture onpapal trips within Italy and abroad;in Cuba and the United States, themeetings will take place during ves-pers services, Sept. 20 in Havana andSept. 24 in New York. At vespers, likeat Mass, Pope Francis tends to followhis prepared text. However, whenthe gathering takes place outside thecontext of formal liturgical prayer, henever follows the prepared text, evenif he may hit the main points of theprepared text as he did in BoliviaJuly 9.

— Pope Francis has said he needs a40-minute rest after lunch and hisofficial schedule always includes at

least an hour of down time. However,like his “free” afternoons at theVatican, the pope often fills the breakswith private meetings with friends,acquaintances or Jesuits. In fact, histrips abroad have always includedprivate get-togethers with his Jesuitconfreres, although in South Americaone of the meetings — in Guayaquil,Ecuador — was a luncheon formallyincluded in the itinerary. But he alsospent unscheduled time with Jesuitsat Quito’s Catholic university the nextday. In Paraguay, he made anunscheduled visit to 30 of his confr-eres in Asuncion and then went nextdoor to their Cristo Rey School tomeet with more than 300 studentsfrom Jesuit schools.

— In South America, Pope Francisspecifically asked that his meetings

with the bishops be private, informalconversations — similar to the wayhe handles the regular “ad limina”visits of bishops to the Vatican toreport on the state of their dioceses.For the “ad limina” visits, he handsthem the text of a rather general lookat their country and Catholic com-munity, then begins a discussion.But when he makes a formal speechto a group of bishops, his words canseem critical. But, in fact, the tonetends to be one of addressing his“fellow bishops” and his words aremore of a collective examination ofconscience than a scolding.

— Pope Francis’ speeches in gen-eral — whether to presidents, civicand business leaders, young peopleor even, for example, the prisoners inBolivia — acknowledge what is

going well and being done right,then seeks to build on that. It’s acombination of a pat on the back anda nudge forward. While Bolivia’sPalmasola prison is notorious for itsdifficult conditions and while thepope pleaded for judicial reform inthe country, he also told the prison-ers: “The way you live togetherdepends to some extent on your-selves. Suffering and deprivationcan make us selfish of heart and leadto confrontation.”

— Since the days of the globetrot-ting St. John Paul II, the nunciaturestakeout has been a staple of papaltrips. In fact, anywhere a popesleeps, people will gather — shout-ing and singing — in the hopes thatthe pope will make a special appear-ance. St. John Paul, retired PopeBenedict XVI and Pope Francis haveall obliged on occasion. Although inQuito, Ecuador, it seems that PopeFrancis was inspired at least partial-ly by the complaints of neighborsabout the noise. The three nightsPope Francis stayed there, he cameout to say good night. Increasinglyhis tone was that of a dad who hadalready told his children five times togo to bed.

CNS photo/Paul Haring

Pope Francis greets a woman as he leads a meeting with young people along the waterfront in Asuncion, Paraguay, July 12.

How to greet and understand Pope Francis

Pope Francis loves a crowd. ... Persons with disabilities, the sick and squirming babies come first.

“

”


Served By:

Reverend Raymond P. Gormley, Pastor Reverend John E. Bruni, Parochial Vicar

Deacon Joseph Lopes • Deacon Thomas O’Brien • Deacon Peter Traum

Welcome Pope Francis!!

Two parades will give most onlookers a glimpse of popeBy Matt GambinoCatholic News Service

PHILADELPHIA — Two papalparades will allow virtually everyonlooker a glimpse of the pope as hepasses by along the BenjaminFranklin Parkway, site of the Festivalof Families Sept. 26 and the papalMass Sept. 27.

The motorcade by Pope Francis theafternoon of Sept. 26 will take himfrom Eakins Oval in front of thePhiladelphia Museum of Art downthe parkway from 24th Street all theway to City Hall at Broad and Marketstreets, then back again.

Tickets to the Independence Halladdress became available onlineonly at www.worldmeeting2015.orgbeginning at noon Sept. 8, on a first-come, first-served basis. Within twominutes they were all gone, andaccording to the PhiladelphiaArchdiocese, 394,000 visitors hadcome to the website in just that peri-od of time.

The 10,000 tickets to the Sept. 26and 27 events on the parkway weremade available starting at noonSept. 9.

The roughly two-mile course eachway will enable people within thesecure zone along the parkway andthose beyond it nearer City Hall to

see the pope before the start of the 5p.m. Festival of Families, a culturaland musical celebration that willinclude an address by the pope.

The following day, he will embarkon another parade on the parkway,but this one on a shorter route to

ensure the 4 p.m. Mass at EakinsOval begins on time.

While officials did not confirmPope Francis would travel in thepopemobile, he had done so togreet crowds as recently as his Julyvisit to Ecuador. In that visit, he

used a converted Jeep Wrangler,painted white of course. The Vaticanconfirmed several popemobiles hadalready been shipped to the UnitedStates.

Once the pope settles into thestaging area at Eakins Oval, peoplein much of center city and particu-larly the Francis Festival zone will beable to watch all the events on large,elevated Jumbotron TV screens at 40locations.

On both days before he arrives,people will have preceded him bymany hours. Those with tickets willhave passed through checkpoints atseveral locations to enter the securezone.

A number of personal items willnot be allowed into that zone, amongthem bicycles, hard-surface coolers,balloons and backpacks larger than18-by-13-by-7 inches.

Some questions remained, such asbicycle access as a transportationalternative, whether parking maybecome available for those whoattempt to drive and the locations fordistribution of Communion duringthe papal Mass. But as the eventsdrew nearer, their details werebeginning to catch up with theexcitement that has been buildingamong people for most of the pastyear.

CNS photo/Bob Roller

A police officer stands outside his car near the Philadelphia Museum of Artalong Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia.


Packed with hundreds of color photos, this is the only offi cial book of the visit of Pope Francis – exclusively from the World Meeting of Families and The Inquirer. A once-in-a-lifetime photographic record of the historic visit by a fi gure admired by people of all faiths. Pre-order this must-have keepsake now for just $29.95 and save $10 off the retail price.

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The pope’s image has been appearing on everything from city murals to pizzaboxes. Top left, Camden Diocesan employees wear Pope Francis T-shirts on Sept.15. Pictured from left are Father David J. Klein, Deacon Felix Miranda, JaniceMoore, Luz Alcazar and Diane Gable. Above, Bishop Dennis Sullivan holds a T-shirt with an image of the pope wearing a Philadelphia Eagles jersey given to himby the seminarians of the Camden Diocese. Pictured with the bishop are Rev. Mr.Edward Kennedy and seminarian Adam Cichoski. Left, Pope Francis figurines areseen in a window display at a store along a street in Philadelphia.

Photos above and top left by James A. McBride; below left CNS photo/Bob Roller

Pope memorabilia


The Knights of Columbusis honored toWelcome

Pope Francisto the United States for the

World Meeting of Families

PhiladelphiaSept. 26 - 27



By Shannon BowenCatholic News Service

PHILADELPHIA — Works of artincluding paintings, sculptures andrare artifacts from the Vatican will beon display just in time for the WorldMeeting of Families and the visit ofPope Francis to Philadelphia thisSeptember.

More than 200 works of art, 40 per-cent of which have never beenshown publicly anywhere, are partof the “Vatican Splendors” exhibitopening Sept. 19 at Philadelphia’svenerable Franklin Institute andrunning through February 2016.

Philadelphia is the only East Coastdestination for the exhibit in a two-city North American tour.

“We are going to makePhiladelphia shine its brightest inSeptember,” said Donna CrilleyFarrell, executive director of theWorld Meeting of Families. “VaticanSplendors” will be “a showstopperfor visitors and Catholics in our

region,” she said. “This is a beautifulopportunity that will connect them.”

The nearly 10,000-square-footexhibit, organized into 11 differentgalleries, will consist of significantobjects collected by VaticanMuseums over the span of 2,000years.

The exhibit includes objects fromthe ancient St. Peter’s Basilica andtools used in the construction of the16th-century basilica and the SistineChapel; artwork by Michelangelo;historical maps, signed documentsand a bas-relief sculpture; works byBaroque masters such as Berniniand Guercino; intricately embroi-dered silk liturgical vestments; uni-forms of the papal Swiss Guard; art-work that dates to the first century;and bone fragments of SS. Peter andPaul as well as relics discovered attheir tombs.

From underground catacombs tothe sights and sounds of the grandSt. Peter’s Basilica, the goal of theexhibit is to make visitors to feel as

if they were transported to theVatican.

Organizers of “Vatican Splendors”hope to illustrate the evolution of theCatholic Church by highlightingimportant developments, peopleand events in history. After the tour,the items will return to the Vatican,from which they may not be absentfor more than a year.

The only object in the exhibit thatvisitors may touch is a bronze cast ofSt. John Paul II’s hand, which Farrellsaid she was looking forward to see-ing and suspects many families inthe city for the September eventswill also enjoy.

“The World Meeting of Familieswill bring Catholics closer to theirfaith in two ways — the celebrationof family and also the laser focuson the role of the family,” saidFarrell.

“Vatican Splendors” is a gift toPhiladelphia, Farrell said, becausevisitors will “have the ability to seefirsthand what you would normallyhave to travel to another continent tosee.”

CNS photo/Vatican press kit

This painting of the Madonna will beon display in Philadelphia when the“Vatican Splendors” exhibit opens inSeptember during the WorldMeeting of Families and the visit ofPope Francis.

Vatican exhibit to open during World Meeting of Families, papal visit

Several Philadelphia institutionsare honoring Pope Francis’ visit withspecial exhibitions or by highlight-ing some of their current holdings.Some examples:

The Art Museum of Philadelphiais promoting its images of Christianfaith from the Middle Ages andRenaissance, with a particularemphasis on depictions of St. Francisof Assisi. Among the holdings is “St.Francis Receiving the Stigmata” byJan van Eyck (right). For informationcall 215-763-8100 or go to www.phil-amuseum.org.

The Penn Museum is offeringSacred Writings, with a focus on theancient Near East, Egypt, and theBible Lands, with a limited-time-only display of rare artifacts from thecollections of the University ofPennsylvania, on view through Nov.8. It includes one of the oldest frag-ments of the Gospel of St. Matthew.For information call 215-898-4000 orgo to www.penn.museum.

The National Constitution Centerhas Religious Liberty and theFounding of America, an exhibit thatexplores the role of religious libertyin early America. For informationcall 215-409-6600 or go to constitu-tioncenter.org.

Franklin Institute: See story below.

Faith thatyou can see


The Knights of Columbus The 12,000plus T and our 12,000 Members of the

Councils and Assemblies

Of the Diocese of Camden

Offer our heartfelt congratulations to

His Holiness Pope Francis

Welcome to the United States. May your trip be fruitful and blessed.

Local Councils 405-Atlantic City, Atlantic City 3500-St. Nicholas, Egg Harbor City 6364-Incarnation, Mantua 8718-North America Martyrs, Collings Lakes

439-Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, Camden 3512-Immaculate Conception, Pennsauken 6469-Cardinal Cushing, Mt. Ephraim 9113-Msgr. James J. Zegers, Marmora

674-Gloucester City, Gloucester City 3532-Holy Child, Runnemede 6513-Msgr. Bulfin, Malaga 9193-Holy Crusaders, Blackwood

1443-Santa Maria, Haddon Twp. 3546-Stella Maris, Erma 6551-St. Jude, Gibbsboro 10220-St. Joseph, Somers Point

1778-Millville, Millville 3560-Madonna Maria, Sea Isle City 6621-Pope John XXIII, Vineland 10392-Dr. Laurence Devlin, Woodstown

1910-Liberty, Bridgeton 3784-Marian, Haddonfield 6735-St. Peter, Merchantville 11498-Sancta Familia, Sewell

1994-Msgr. McCorristin, Woodbury 4154-Queen of Heaven, Paulsboro 6760-Eucharistic, Cherry Hill 11713-Fr. Chas. McColgan, Westville Grove

2531-Vineland, Vineland 4211-Ave Maria, Pleasantville 6890-St. Catherine of Sienna, Clayton 12092-St. Jude, Bellmawr

2560-Father Thomas F Blake, Ocean City 5113-Father McGill, West Collingswood 7020-Brigantine, Brigantine 12184-Our Lady Of The Angels, Cape May CH

2572-Our Lady of the Rosary, N. Wildwood 5197-St. Matthew, National Park 7032-St. John Neumann, Glassboro 12503-Holy Name, Mullica Hill

2607-Father Cannon, Pennsville 6173-Cherry Hill, Cherry Hill 7316-Msgr. William F. Doyle, Margate 12833-Mater Ecclesiae, Berlin

2976-Nativity, Lindenwold 6202-St. Mary, Cape May 7429-Archangel, Berlin 12868-St. Katherine Drexel, Egg Harbor Twp

3352-Mater Christi, Williamstown 6247-Our Lady Queen of Peace, Pitman 7463-Shane's Castle, Waterford 13259-St. Margaret, Woodbury Heights

3397-Assumption, Glassboro 6277-All Saints, Northfield 7526-St. Francis, Swedesboro 13758-Immaculate Heart of Mary, Vineland

3451-St. Vincent De Paul, Mays Landing 6296-Msgr. Joseph Leary, Turnersville 7774-Fr. Harold Koeppen, Winslow Twp. 14191-St. Padre Pio, Hammonton

3471-St. Vincent Pallotti, Hammonton 6342-Villa Marie, Absecon 7800-Holy Family, Stratford 14291-Rev. Msgr. Robert Ervin, Woodbine

3485-Epiphany, Mt Ephraim

4th Degree Assemblies 652-Bishop Eustace, Haddon Twp. 671-Msgr. Moroney, Cape May Courthouse 1748-Bishop McCarthy, Cherry Hill 2843-Bishop Schad, Blackwood

654-Bishop John Carroll, Vineland 680-St. Vincent Pallotti, Egg Harbor City 1749-St. John Neumann, Millville 3093-Father Michael J. McGivney, Absecon

662-Rev. Dr. John T. Sheehan, Atlantic City 1309-Msgr. John S. Griffey, Carney's Point 1849-Msgr. Strenski, Woodbury 3294-Anima Christi Assembly, Berlin

1626-Archbishop Damiano, Williamstown 2021-Our Lady of Guadalupe, Waterford

* Charity * Unity * Fraternity * Patriotism *



Steps taken to ease concerns for papal event attendeesBy Lou BaldwinCatholic News Service

PHILADELPHIA — Sometimes,the folks in charge have to skip theplatitudes and listen to the people.

Take the visit of Pope Francis toPhiladelphia for the World Meetingof Families Sept. 26-27. Who doesn’tlove Pope Francis? Of course mostpeople want to be there, to be partof it.

The public Mass to be celebratedby the pope Sept. 27 will take placeon Philadelphia’s premier boulevard— museum-lined Benjamin FranklinParkway, which stretches northwestfrom Logan Square to thePhiladelphia Museum of Art. Thepapal altar will be located in a differ-ent area than was the case when St.John Paul II visited Philadelphia in1979.

But regulations and concerns,mostly because of conditions thatdid not exist in 1979, have arisen:How you should get there? How faryou should have to walk? How longyou would have to stand? Mostly theregulations have been dictated bythe security concerns of U.S. SecretService, which is charged withensuring the safety of Pope Francisas a visiting head of state.

Most people who wished to attendany of the papal events would haveto walk some distance and arrivevery early. Never mind that probablyhalf of the church-going Catholics inthe Philadelphia Archdiocese are atan age where they are collectingSocial Security and many are unableto do this.

It recently became clear that anumber of people seemed to havedecided they would sit this one out,and watch the television coveragefrom the comfort of their home.

Earlier, after the announcementthat Francis was coming to Philly,virtually every hotel within 50 mileswas booked solid for the days of thePope Francis Mass and for theFestival of Families the previousnight. The few rooms available wereat outrageous prices.

A quick check on Hotels.com nowshows 19 hotels within the city withrooms available during the papalvisit and some with reasonableprices. Ed Grose of the GreaterPhiladelphia Hotel Association saidSept. 3 that about one-third of thecity’s 11,000 hotel rooms are stillavailable.

Early in the process, the guesseswere 1.5 to 2 million would comedown to center city just for the

chance to see Pope Francis. Now thatnumber seems less likely.

The problem started when it wasannounced that a huge swath of cen-ter city would be closed to automo-bile traffic for security reasons.Anyone coming would have to travelby bus, on foot or by public trans-portation, at least that transportationwhich would be still running. Mostof the trains would have limitedstops and would drop passengers amile or two from the Art Museumarea of the Benjamin FranklinParkway. Tickets had to be purchasedin advance.

Probably the hardest hit were peo-ple from New Jersey who normallyuse the Benjamin Franklin Bridge toenter the city across the DelawareRiver. They were expected to walkacross the bridge, then continue tothe parkway a total distance of morethan four miles, stand for a good partof the day and then walk back.

The first wake-up call came inmid-July when SEPTA — theSoutheastern PennsylvaniaTransportation Authority — put itsspecial papal visit tickets on salethrough the Internet, expecting tosell them out almost immediately.After the website crashed a lotterysystem was put in place but the tick-ets didn’t sell out, and they stillhaven’t.

The number of buses registered tocome to Philadelphia, mostly to parkin the stadium lots in South

Philadelphia with passengers thentaking the subway to get to the park-way: From an early estimate of 5,000,the number of registered buses as ofearly September stood at 1,100.

Recently, the World Meeting ofFamilies has taken some steps toalleviate public concerns. A limitednumber of tickets have been given toall 219 parishes in the Archdiocese ofPhiladelphia that will entitle peopleto stand on the parkway between20th and 22nd Streets, which isbetween two to four city blocks fromthe papal altar on the Eakins Oval infront of the Philadelphia Museum ofArt, and the same for the Festival ofFamilies.

Tickets were also made availableto those who are attending theWorld Meeting of Families whichwill be held at the PennsylvaniaConvention Center Sept. 22-25, aswell as to the other dioceses inPennsylvania, the dioceses ofCamden and Trenton in New Jerseyand the Diocese of Wilmington,Delaware.

The World Meeting has not saidhow many tickets have been issuedfor that section or for the VIP sectioncloser to the altar. In addition, anumber of tickets have been issuedfor Pope Francis’ visit toIndependence Hall Sept. 26.

As a recent Philadelphia Inquirerarticle noted, the estimated stand-ing-room capacity on the entireparkway would be only about

400,000. It is clear most visitors willnot be able to see the altar or evenreach the parkway, so the WorldMeeting of Families organizers havearranged to have 31 Jumbotronscreens situated at various pointsdown the parkway and beyond.

More Jumbotrons will be scatteredaround the much more confinedIndependence Hall area, where PopeFrancis will give an address.

It was announced Sept. 3 that priorto the Sept. 26 Festival of Families, amini-parade that will take PopeFrancis from the Eakins Oval, downthe parkway and around City Hall,so people lining the streets will seehim. A shorter, similar parade willtake place before the Sept. 27 Mass.

The other papal events — St.Charles Borromeo Seminary wherePope Francis will stay during histwo-day visit, the Mass at theCathedral Basilica of SS. Peter andPaul for clergy, religious and layCatholics of the archdiocese and thevisit to Curran FromholdCorrectional Facility — are not pub-lic events, but will all be broadcaston the Jumbotron screens.

The biggest concern from the pub-lic point of view is transportation.For security reasons, the SecretService dictated what stops could bemade by the trains and subways todischarge passengers into the affect-ed area as well as the closure of theBenjamin Franklin Bridge. None ofthe bus routes that normally comeinto center city will do so during thepapal visit.

As for the decision by SEPTA andother carriers to limit the number ofstops the trains will make outside ofthe security perimeter and to limitthe number of tickets sold, that waspresumably for safety reasons. Thecommuter rail lines mostly will trav-el nonstop from their suburban ter-minus to a designated city rail sta-tion, with no pickups in between.

Full details train and bus trans-portation — including approximatedistances from the train stations tovarious stops — is available at theSEPTA website — www.septa.org.

On the bright side, none of thisaffects the Sept. 22-25 WorldMeeting of Families itself. To date,there are 17,000 registered partici-pants.

Because the pope will not be atthese sessions, the security regula-tions and travel restrictions do notapply, and the PennsylvaniaConvention Center where it will beheld can easily accommodate thatnumber.

Photo by Carl Peters

A view of Philadelphia from Camden. The World Meeting of Families organizershave arranged to have 31 Jumbotron screens situated at various points downthe parkway and beyond for the papal Mass.


The Parish Community of

St. Brendan the Navigator, Avalon/Stone Harbor, NJ

Joyfully Welcomes Pope Francis

The priests, deacon, staff andparishioners at

Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Linwood, NJ

Welcome Pope Francis on his visit to Philadelphia

Welcome Pope FrancisLove,

Our Lady Star of the SeaCape May, New Jersey

The Parish and Families of

St. Mary’s,Gloucester City, N.J.

Joyfully Welcome Pope Francis

CHRIST THE GOOD SHEPHERD PARISH

Our Holy Father, Pope Francis.

Father Mazzarella and the Parish Family of

Our Lady of Peace,Williamstown, NJ

Warmly WelcomesPope Francis

May God Bless Youon Your Journey

�

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By Peter G. Sánchez

One called the audition process“nerve-wracking”: sight reading,receiving a piece of sheet music andinterpreting and performing it on thespot, was required. As was joining along line of aspiring talent, hoping tojoin Pope Francis for Mass onSunday, Sept. 27, on Philadelphia’sBenjamin Franklin Parkway.

But five parish singers from theCamden Diocese made the cut, andare among the 350 whose voices willbe heard during the papal liturgy aspart of the English choir.

Joining the African-American,Hispanic, Vietnamese and children’schoir, the English choir will make upthe 500 singers on stage for the his-toric event.

“I was trembling (during the audi-tion), but I managed to do it,” saidEvaristo Fontanez, a music ministrymember of Camden’s Cathedral ofthe Immaculate Conception.

The native Puerto Rican has beeninvolved in music since his college

years. He came to the United Statesat the age of 18.

Auditions took place at the end ofJune, at the Cathedral Basilica of SS.Peter and Paul in Philadelphia. A fewweeks later, he learned he had madethe cut.

It turned out that auditioning wasthe easy part. The choir learned, attheir first practice at the basilica, thatthey’d have to learn 25 pieces in eightweekly rehearsals. Practice at homeis important, too, Fontanez said.

“I’m not singing for Pope Francis,but for Christ,” Fontanez said. “It is aprivilege to be selected,”

Fontanez is pulling double-dutyduring the Mass as a member notonly of the liturgy’s English choir butalso its Spanish choir, directed byDamaris Thillet, Camden Diocesanassociate director of Worship andChristian Initiation (she also is amember of the English choir).

Maria Nieva, director of liturgyand music at the Parish Shrine ofOur Lady of Guadalupe inLindenwold, planned to watch the

papal Mass at home before learningof the auditions.

Coming to the United States fromthe Philippines 25 years ago, she hasbeen a full-time director of liturgy ofmusic for the past 18 years.

Pope Francis will be the secondHoly Father she has seen, after wit-nessing John Paul II’s visit to thePhilippines.

For Josephus “JoJo” Jordan, liturgi-cal music director at St. CharlesBorromeo in Sicklerville, “music is inmy body.” Every Sunday at St.Charles, he leads the adult, children,and family’s choir.

Jordan has experience playing infront of large crowds. He has per-formed with the Diocesan Choirduring the Camden Diocese’s pasttwo pilgrimages to the NationalShrine of the ImmaculateConception in Washington, D.C.

Still, that’s nowhere near the num-bers expected for the papal Mass.

“It’s a once in a lifetime event,” hecalled it.

Doug Dash of Collingswood saidthe same thing. He didn’t evenknow auditions were being helduntil a friend, a Philadelphia nun,sent him an email, asking if he wasgoing to try out. “It is a privilege tosing for the pope in such an excel-lent choir,” he said. “Everyone in itknows this is a once in a lifetimeopportunity, and their dedicationshows it.”

By Peter G. Sánchez

As the Philadelphia area preparesfor Pope Francis’ upcoming visit,South Jersey Catholics have beenmaking plans to see him in whateverway they can, from crossing theBenjamin Franklin Bridge and walk-ing to the Parkway for the papalMass, to watching the extensivenews coverage on television.

Some are not waiting until hecomes to Philadelphia. At least onegroup of South Jersey Catholics,including a number of students fromthe Camden Diocese’s high schools,will be traveling to Madison SquareGarden in New York City for thepapal Mass on Sept. 25.

Some individuals and organiza-tions, notably Catholic Charitieswith its ongoing 40 Days of FrancisCampaign, have been inspired bythe pope’s upcoming visit to focuson his concerns.

To celebrate the pope’s arrival, aswell as his encyclical “Laudato Si’,”there will be a gathering at thepeace monument at Sacred HeartParish, Broadway and Ferry,Camden, on Sunday, Sept. 20, noon-1 p.m. There will be speakers givingtestimonies and reading from the

encyclical. Among the speakers willbe Msgr. Michael Doyle, pastor;Father Kenneth Hallahan; andMark Doorley, director, EthicsProgram, Villanova University, andchairperson, Board of Trustees, TheCenter for EnvironmentalTransformation.

For the Eucharistic Celebration tehpople will lead on the BenjaminFranklin Parkway, parishes arereadying their own plans for the day,be it via buses to the Mass or view-ing parties at their own sites.

At the Catholic Community of theHoly Spirit in Mullica Hill, four sold-out schoolbusses will transport 160pilgrims into Philadelphia for theSunday, Sept. 27 Mass.

“We’re looking forward to it,” saidthe church’s parochial vicar, FatherJoseph Cuong Pham, who addedthat the bus will leave at 11 a.m. thatday, and drop off pilgrims at an as-yet-to-be-determined location. Hehas told bus-goers to bring waterand snacks, wear a hat and comfort-able sneakers — and be prepared towalk and stand for long periods oftime.

Parishioners of St. Joseph theWorker in Haddon Township can seethe Mass closer to home, as Paul VI

High School, across the parking lot,will live-stream the liturgy in itsauditorium. Father Walter Norris,pastor, estimates that out of the 900seating vouchers available for theevent, 700-800 have already beenhanded out.

“Pope Francis has brought excite-ment and a breath of fresh air to theCatholic Church, in his spirit ofhumility and poverty, and his open-ness to discussing issues” importantto the faithful, Father Norrris said.

“He is relatable, and accessible,”he added.

In Gibbsboro, St. Andrew theApostle Parish is allowing its mem-bers to choose whether to join thecrowds in Philadelphia, via a 50-seatbus, or come to the parish for aFamily Faith Festival, to be held from12:30-6:30 p.m.

Consistent with the WorldMeeting of Families in Philadelphia,the festival will have events celebrat-ing and strengthening loving,Christian families, including a fami-ly blessing, a prayer wall to bringpersonal intentions, and food, enter-tainment and activities for all ages.The 4 p.m. liturgy will be live-streamed in the church on a 16-footscreen.

The day will “highlight the instrin-sic value of the family to society,” saidMsgr. Louis A. Marucci, pastor, and“allow our families to be visible wit-nesses of our love for Christ and toeach other. Furthermore, it’s also anopportunity … to invite all in atten-dance to respond to Pope Francis’challenge to be charitable agents forthose in need and to extend mercy inthe world around us.”

And its not just parishes. TheNewman Club at StocktonUniversity, for example, will be host-ings its own viewing of the papalMass on a big screen at the CatholicCampus Ministry Center.

Mary Lou Hughes, co-director ofthe Office of Faith and Family Lifefor the Diocese of Camden, seesparish events such as those at St.Joseph the Worker, St. Andrew theApostle, or other parishes, as perfectevangelization opportunities forthose who’ve never understood theCatholic faith or have fallen away.

“They might see the crowds pass-ing by, and stop in,” she said, addingthat the festive gatherings will givethe curious “a more full view of whatparish community is, and under-stand the universal Catholicchurch.”

Planning to see the pope, one way or another

Local Catholics will be singing for the pope

Photo by James A. McBride

Doug Dash of Collingswood is one ofseveral local Catholics who will besinging at the papal Mass.


The Parish of Notre Dame de la Mer,

Wildwood, NJ,

Welcomes the HolyFather to the

Delaware Valley

By Jenn Drees

It sounds simple enough: Go intothe city and see the pope becausethis is a momentous, perhaps once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Whilemany of my friends are making thetrek from South Jersey, seeking towitness history being made, joiningin the company of millions ofCatholics wanting to share thisexperience, I have decided to fol-low a different path. I will be vol-unteering in Camden on a specialmedical reserve corp assisting theN.J. Task Force to provide emer-gency medical services to the thou-sands of buses and pedestriansexpected to populate the city forthe papal visit.

I will not be even within twomiles of the Holy Father, andalthough I am a bit sad to miss whatwill be the most populous Americanpublic gathering in modern history,I am saying yes once again to mycall to serve, to heal, and to love mybrother and sister. In Matthew 25,Jesus teaches the disciples throughparables, one of which includes myfavorite quote from the Gospel: “ForI was hungry and you gave me food,I was thirsty and you gave me drink,a stranger and you welcomed me,

naked and you clothed me, ill andyou cared for me, in prison and youvisited me. … Amen, I say to you,whatever you did for one of theseleast brothers of mine, you did forme.” It is with this desire to servethat I say yes.

My story is framed around what Icall my “package” of vocations,pieces of a puzzle not really fitting,until the glue of my Franciscancharism brings them all together.Years ago I stumbled upon stories ofSt. Francis of Assisi, opening him-self to the mission God placed inhis hands, which was to rebuild hischurch. He cast off what held himback, his possessions and family’swealth, and set out to serve the bro-ken and needy. Many saints fol-lowed in his shoes, including con-temporaries such as the late RichMullins, whose music is steeped inScripture and Christian brother-hood.

When I became a secularFranciscan, I said yes to puttingmyself into service, casting awaywhat holds me from true union withGod, and serving through the vari-ous professions I have. I work fulltime as an EMT for a large organi-zation, as well as use my gifts as anorganist, choir director and music

therapist in my parish and commu-nity.

I silently ask God to work throughme in all the healing situations inwhich I am placed. Some nights I maybe listening to the cries of a familydisplaced in a house fire, or respond-ing to a medical emergency and help-ing to provide what my patient needsin the moment. Another day I may beplaying at a funeral, empathizing witha family mourning a loved one takentoo soon. Whatever the setting, I try todo what is laid before me, being thevery hands and heart of Christ, andtrust that this is my faith-in-action.Our work in the secular world is noless important than the clergy or sis-ters: we lay persons are called to carefor our brothers and sisters in oureveryday world, soldiers of an army,making a difference one act of love ata time.

This is why I am proud to attendto the tour buses filled with pil-grims, all walking miles over abridge to see the one man whoinspires them in this modern world.Some visitors may fall sick orrequire services they hope they willnever need. Perhaps lives will besaved by our presence. Perhaps liveswill be changed by what we do forthe smallest and weakest. We first

responders will not be looking foraccolades or thanks. We are volun-teers taking time from our lives,some of our families rather unhap-py with our choice to spend fourdays away from the business of kidsand spouses and activities. We arestepping up in service to make thisholy visit the best it can possibly be,and we know by being a part of it, itindeed shall be.

Many of my peers I will ride with inbike EMS operations are notChristians or share my spiritual moti-vations for being a part of this. Othershave privately shared that they feel aduty to live their faith by working inthe EMS operations. Nevertheless,Pope Francis’ visit will be one bring-ing many together for many reasons,for many missions, and I feel blessedto respond to the call.

If you will be among the millionsjourneying to take part in the WorldMeeting of Families week in Philly,smile and wave at the many in pub-lic safety personnel giving of theirtime and talents, and pray that thisbe a week of transformation for all.

Jenn Drees is a parishioner of Churchof the Incarnation in Mantua. She ismarried to Mike Drees and mother toEmily, Elizabeth, Dominic, and EJ.

The Parish of Our Lady of Hope,Blackwood NJ,

Welcomes the Holy Father to Philadelphia

Many ways to respond to ‘the call’


By Michael M. Canaris

It’s not an exaggeration to say thatthe upcoming visit to our country islikely the most highly anticipatedevent of Francis’ pontificate thus far.Nor is such a claim merely the usualcharacter flaw of the United States tothink we are the unrivaled center ofthe world (a Brazilian friend not sojokingly told me it was offensive torefer to myself as American in thepresence of others from the WesternHemisphere. “We are allAmericans,” he said. “You are estado-unidense.” Perhaps our lack of a par-allel adjective — “United-States-ian”— speaks volumes.)

But the global influence of the U.S.is undeniable, and so every gesture,jot, and tittle of the trip will haveenormous consequences.

What will our American pope findin these United States, a nation thathe has never visited and is reported-ly a bit “nervous” to see?

First, he will find a country that isstill vibrantly spiritual, a fact surpris-ing to many people abroad — and insome cases even at home.

It is also a nation in a process ofmassive hemorrhaging of thosedescribing themselves as practicinginstitutional religion, a fact less sur-prising to many. Statistics make clearthat even in the last 10 years, reli-gious affiliation in the U.S. is plum-meting at an alarming rate. Thisincludes all groups, but is particular-ly noteworthy among Latinos, whomake up almost 40 percent ofCatholics in this country. Their disaf-filiation rates, not only in terms ofjoining other denominations(notably evangelical, Pentecostal, andMormon worship communities), buteven more so in terms of entering thegrowing number of “nones,” are mas-sive and rapidly skyrocketing.

He will find a bitterly gridlockedand dysfunctional political system,and one in which each side will beeager to tap into the Holy Father’sown incredibly high approval rat-ings, but also braced for criticism ofsome of their most firmly held ideo-logical positions. He’s likely todemonstrate continuity with his

predecessors in explicit critiques ofchoice and “progressive” sexualmores as envisioned by the left. Buthe will also undoubtedly rufflefeathers on the right in his views onimmigration, climate change andincome inequality. He’ll in somesense come to bring not the peace ofthe status quo but the sword of achallenge to conversion, probablyoffend everyone at some level, andlikely be incredibly popular whiledoing it.

He will find outlets to continue tomodel the direct and unmediatedcontact with his flock that he sees asindispensable for ministry. His visitsto Catholic charities, underprivi-leged schools, correctional facilities,and Ground Zero will provideopportunities for memorable

glimpses into the “human touch” forwhich he has become so famous.

He will find opportunities to workon his English, which he has admit-ted is not strong. It’s still unclearwhich portions of the events will bein Spanish and rely on the aid of atranslator. But he will undoubtedlystretch his own linguistic capabilitiesto their limits in order to dialoguewithout filter with those Americanswho do not speak the nation’sfastest-growing language.

He will find a people excited to seehim. Notwithstanding the logisticaldifficulties, he will be seen by anenormous number of people atevery step of the journey. This is notunusual for him. The numbers at hisgeneral audiences and scheduledpapal events in Rome are nearlytriple that of his predecessor. He wasalso the focal point of what could bethe largest Christian gathering inhistory, a crowd of over 6 million inthe Philippines.

He will find healthy options toreplace cheesesteaks, cream cheese,soft pretzels and crab fries. He is

notably austere in his choice of food,reportedly enjoying skinless chickenbreasts, fruit and salad, with an occa-sional glass of wine, and sometimesindulging in the ubiquitous Italianpasta. This is less the case after hisdoctors encouraged him to losesome weight since becoming popeand living a more sedentary life inthe offices on a day to day basis; hispast is then hard to imagine whentrying to keep up with his currentbreakneck, vacation-less work pace.

He will find a new articulation ofthe “teologia del pueblo,” the theologyof the people” that is so important tohim. The pope will meet with anincredibly diverse and literateCatholic body, one with people fromall over the theological spectrum,and one that will at differing levelsembrace and critique the new sainthe will canonize, Junipero Serra — afervent missionary, albeit with ties tothe controversial colonization effortson the West Coast.

One thing is certain. He will findand provide a genuine and fascinat-ing encounter with American cultureat large, and one that could haveeffects here and around the world fora generation. Neither side will likelycome out of the exchange unaffected,or without to some degree being sur-prised by the other. Buckle up.

Collingswood native Michael M.Canaris, Ph.D., Loyola UniversityChicago.

UnderstandingPope Francis


CNS photo/Brendan McDermid, Reuters

The U.S. flag flies in front of a mural of Pope Francis in New York City, Aug. 28.Pope Francis’ 10th foreign trip will be the longest of his pontificate and, withstops in Cuba, three U.S. cities and the United Nations, it also will be a “verycomplex trip,” the papal spokesman said.

He’ll ... probablyoffend everyone at

some level, andlikely be incredibly

popular whiledoing it.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — PopeFrancis asked for prayers for his tripto Cuba and the United States, call-ing it “a mission” he had high hopesfor.

He said while the main purpose ofhis 10th apostolic journey abroad,Sept. 19-28, was to attend the WorldMeeting of Families in Philadelphia,he also highlighted his planned visit

to the United Nations in New York asit marked its 70th anniversary.

“I greet with affection the Cubanpeople and the people of the UnitedStates, who, guided by their pastors,

have spiritually prepared” for thevisit — “a mission I'm preparing forwith great hope,” the pope said at theend of his weekly general audiencein St. Peter's Square Sept. 16.

Pope has high hopes for his ‘mission’ to Cuba-U.S., asks for prayers

“

”

‘Global influences, enormous consequences’


Holy Angels Parish64 Cooper Street

Woodbury, NJ 08096

Welcome,Holy Father!

“Le damos la bienvenida al Papa.”

“Dios bendiga a nuestro Papa!”

Welcome, Pope Francis!

The Priests, Sisters, Deacon, Staff & Families of

St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Parish And

St. Joseph Regional Elementary School Hammonton, NJ

The Parish and Families of

St. Thomas the Apostle ChurchBrigantine, NJ

Joyfully Welcome Pope Francis!

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta welcomes the Bishop of Rome,

Pope Francis with deep affection and with gratitude for his stellar leadership.

We rejoice with Pope Francis in this Jubilee Year of Mercy.

Welcome Pope Francis to our neighborhood!

Fr. John Bohrer and Staff and the People of

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Parish

s 18, 2015 a s pope francis - catholic star...

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