Yankee Stadium

'Pope-arazzi'

This David Dupnik photo from the Mass at Yankee Stadium captures the atmosphere that permeated each of the sites the Holy Father visited: Even the acolytes and priests couldn't help themselves in commemorating the momentous occasion. -- Tom Wehner

'No Darting Out After Communion Today'

Perhaps what was most surprising about the papal Mass at Yankee Stadium was what wasn’t present -- if there were protesters, I saw none; neither did I see peddlers on the streets outside trying to sell every “pope” item possible. I didn’t witness any loud or rowdy participants. People were peaceful and respectful; there was little to no talking during the Mass itself. Winds were such that it was possible to catch a whiff of incense from time to time. As they have been doing at papal events all week, several groups of Spanish-speaking participants began chanting, “Be-ne-dic-to! Be-ne-dic-to!” and “Al-le-lu-ia! Al-le-lu-ia!” They even tried to start the wave -- before Mass began.

There were a few single shouts of “Viva il Papa!” and one “I love you, Benedict!” loud enough for the whole stadium to hear. Those were met with loud applause and acknowledged with waves from the Pope.

During Cardinal Edward Egan’s welcoming remarks, he mentioned the celebration of the bicentennial anniversaries of four dioceses (New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Louisville, Ky.) and the elevation of the Diocese of Baltimore to an archdiocese. Though the number of cheers for New York far exceeded cheers for the other dioceses, Philadelphians seemed to cheer the loudest (and longest) from their block of seats.

A group from Chicago held up a banner that read, “Chicago Catholics (Heart) Pope Benedict” and another group from Texas held one saying, “Texas Loves Pope Benedict.” Those seated around me sang the hymns and anthems and followed the Mass from their programs. Someone remarked, “Bet there’s no one heading out the doors after Communion today!” Indeed, there wasn’t.

There was a good mix of young and old in attendance. I spotted countless young seminarians throughout the stadium. One a few rows up from where I was sitting could be heard on his cell phone excitedly telling his friend, “Dude! I got into Yankee Stadium!”

The two times the crowd interrupted Benedict’s homily to applaud were after he mentioned “those among us who are most vulnerable … the unborn” and when he addressed seminarians, encouraging them in their vocations.

-- Tina Dennelly

Parochial Vigor

During his greeting, Cardinal Egan saluted the 200th anniversaries of the Archdioceses of Boston, Philadelphia, New York and Louisville. When he mentioned each archdiocese, priests and faithful from those areas frantically waved flags. In many cases, the priests were even more enthusiastic than the lay people.

Cardinal Egan said that each of the 195 dioceses and archdioceses were represented at Yankee Stadium, which drew an appreciative roar.

-- Tom Wehner

After Mass

People still wanted to party with Benedict, even when the Mass was over. The chants that started during the homily in Italian and Spanish continued after the Mass was over.

People showed their admiration with signs: A big one from the Diocese of Bridgeport, and one from the upper deck that five people held: “Regnum Christi Loves the Pope.” (They must have loved the “Thy Kingdom Come!” homily. That’s one of their mottos.)

Nobody wanted it to end. And seemingly neither did the Holy Father. The popemobile made its way to Yankee Stadium, and then it paused and the Holy Father faced his American sons and daughters and gave one last salute to the Yankees Stadium Throng.

Shortly, the Holy Father will be on his way to JFK and back to Rome. That’s too bad. It seems like he just got here!

-- Tom Wehner

Hot-Button Benedict

Pope Benedict addresses: evangelizing the workplace, not losing heart over the scandal, and keeping the faith when addressing political questions.

Praying fervently for the coming of the Kingdom also means being constantly alert for the signs of its presence, and working for its growth in every sector of society. It means facing the challenges of present and future with confidence in Christ's victory and a commitment to extending his reign. It means not losing heart in the face of resistance, adversity and scandal. It means overcoming every separation between faith and life, and countering false gospels of freedom and happiness. It also means rejecting a false dichotomy between faith and political life, since, as the Second Vatican Council put it, "there is no human activity - even in secular affairs - which can be withdrawn from God's dominion" (Lumen Gentium, 36).

...

These are the truths that set us free! They are the truths which alone can guarantee respect for the inalienable dignity and rights of each man, woman and child in our world - including the most defenseless of all human beings, the unborn child in the mother's womb.

'Thy Kingdom Come!' Benedict's Homily

From Pope Benedict's Homily:

"Authority" … "obedience". To be frank, these are not easy words to speak nowadays. Words like these represent a "stumbling stone" for many of our contemporaries, especially in a society which rightly places a high value on personal freedom. Yet, in the light of our faith in Jesus Christ - "the way and the truth and the life" - we come to see the fullest meaning, value, and indeed beauty, of those words. The Gospel teaches us that true freedom, the freedom of the children of God, is found only in the self-surrender which is part of the mystery of love. Only by losing ourselves, the Lord tells us, do we truly find ourselves (cf. Lk 17:33). True freedom blossoms when we turn away from the burden of sin, which clouds our perceptions and weakens our resolve, and find the source of our ultimate happiness in him who is infinite love, infinite freedom, infinite life. "In his will is our peace".

...

Today we recall the bicentennial of a watershed in the history of the Church in the United States: its first great chapter of growth. ... How many "spiritual sacrifices pleasing to God" have been offered up in these two centuries! In this land of religious liberty, Catholics found freedom not only to practice their faith, but also to participate fully in civic life, bringing their deepest moral convictions to the public square and cooperating with their neighbors in shaping a vibrant, democratic society. Today's celebration is more than an occasion of gratitude for graces received. It is also a summons to move forward with firm resolve to use wisely the blessings of freedom, in order to build a future of hope for coming generations.

...

Each day, throughout this land, you and so many of your neighbors pray to the Father in the Lord's own words: "Thy Kingdom come". This prayer needs to shape the mind and heart of every Christian in this nation. It needs to bear fruit in the way you lead your lives and in the way you build up your families and your communities. It needs to create new "settings of hope" (cf. Spe Salvi, 32ff.) where God's Kingdom becomes present in all its saving power.

...

Praying fervently for the coming of the Kingdom also means being constantly alert for the signs of its presence, and working for its growth in every sector of society. It means facing the challenges of present and future with confidence in Christ's victory and a commitment to extending his reign. It means not losing heart in the face of resistance, adversity and scandal. It means overcoming every separation between faith and life, and countering false gospels of freedom and happiness. It also means rejecting a false dichotomy between faith and political life, since, as the Second Vatican Council put it, "there is no human activity - even in secular affairs - which can be withdrawn from God's dominion" (Lumen Gentium, 36). It means working to enrich American society and culture with the beauty and truth of the Gospel, and never losing sight of that great hope which gives meaning and value to all the other hopes which inspire our lives.

And this, dear friends, is the particular challenge which the Successor of Saint Peter sets before you today. As "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation", follow faithfully in the footsteps of those who have gone before you! Hasten the coming of God's Kingdom in this land! Past generations have left you an impressive legacy. In our day too, the Catholic community in this nation has been outstanding in its prophetic witness in the defense of life, in the education of the young, in care for the poor, the sick and the stranger in your midst. On these solid foundations, the future of the Church in America must even now begin to rise!

Benedict the MVP

When all is said and done, the Pope is the real MVP.

I attended Opening Day at Fenway Park two of my brothers. The Red Sox organization attempted to make it as much of a secular religious event as possible, with all the ceremonies and pomp and circumstance.

While they did a fine job, it pales in comparison to the job here at Yankee stadium where real people in faith showed their love for the Vicar of Christ as he made his way around the stadium in the popemobile.

When Cardinal Edward Egan mentioned Boston, Bostonians in the stands erupted in long, sustained, significant applause. I love the Red Sox, but we didn't cheer as loud in Boston for the players, as we cheered here for the Pope.

— Tom Wehner

The Pope Is Here Again!

The Pope is here!

The crowd has been anticipating Pope Benedict for three hours. Songs have been breaking out all over Yankee Stadium during the wait, in Spanish, Italian and English.

Getting in was no problem. The security was tight, but it was not a problem. The Yankee Stadium was decked out in purple and gold. The pennants from past Yankee championships were replaced with pennants for Pope Benedict.

I talked to Chris and Michelle Ruppert from Fort Wayne, Ind., who brought their  4-year old daughter Rachel, who is sick with a rare disorder.

"We say a lot of Rosaries for Rachel. We wanted to bring Rachel here to receive a blessing from Pope Benedict. We're hoping for a miracle."

A number of people here are just as excited. But now the Holy Father has taken his chair, and I'd better listen to Cardinal Edward Egan.

-- Tom Wehner

A Pope's Blessing

For those attending the two public Masses, the USCCB's Papal Visit Blog reports that Pope Benedict XVI will bless religious articles (rosaries, medals, crucifixes, etc.) brought by those attending the public Masses on April 17 and 20th.

According to the report, the Holy Father will bless some additional objects as well. As Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., he will bless the new cornerstone and tabernacle of Pope John Paul II High School in Arlington, Va., and the cornerstone of the new chapel of Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, Calif.

At Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, the Holy Father will bless a cornerstone for the bicentennial garden of the Cathedral of St. Patrick and a crucifix for the chapel of St. John Neumann Seminary residence.

Who's that Man Beside the Pope?

Time's Jeff Israely has a mostly helpful article about the man who will be seen at the Pope's side throughout his visit - his personal secretary Monsignor Georg Gaenswein.

Writes Israely, "Like the pontiff, Gänswein is Bavarian by birth and an academic by training, with a doctorate in canon law. His impressive intellectual credentials notwithstanding, Gänswein is devoted to the administrative and ceremonial requirements of his current job. Though he tends to keep a low profile, the 51-year-old prelate did tell one Catholic newspaper last year a bit about a typical day in the papal apartment: he and the Pope begin with breakfast, often with one or two other staffers, and Gänswein prepares documents for the papal signature and lays out the list of upcoming appointments. The pair typically take a daily stroll together after lunch in the Vatican gardens."

Alaskans Making the Trek to See the Pope

The Hawaiians aren't the only Americans coming from a long distance to see Pope Benedict. Catholic Online has this story about a group of about 50 Alaskans who are making the long journey.

Among them are a Lutheran convert to the Catholic faith, and Father Ben Torreto.

“It will be a delightful moment, a graced moment,” said Father Torreto, who is on loan to the Anchorage Archdiocese from the Archdiocese in Cotobato. “The reality is that the pope is the head of the church, and we need to talk about solidarity, about how we are one church, one Body in Christ.”

Yankee Stadium Mass Details and "The Concert of Hope"

Along with my ticket for the New York Mass, we received details on the Mass at Yankee Stadium. Here's the time breakdown:

9:00 a.m. - Gates Open
12:00 noon - All Gates close
12:00 noon - "Concert of Hope" begins - featuring Harry Connick, Jr., Marcello Giordano, Stephanie Mills, Jose Feliciano, and Dana.
2:00 p.m. - "Concert of Hope" concludes
2:10 p.m. Holy Father travels around the stadium in the Popemobile
2:20 p.m. Procession begins
2:30 p.m. Celebration of the Mass begins
5:00 p.m. Mass Concludes
5:30 p.m. Pope Benedict XVI leaves stadium
5:45 p.m. Guests leave stadium

Once in the stadium, ticket holders will not be permitted to leave and re-enter. No one will be admitted after 12:00 noon, as the Secret Service will close access two hours prior to the Pope's arrival.

Visitors will not be allowed to bring metal, plastic, or glass containers into the stadium, nor backpacks, strollers, totes, large bags, food, beverages, video cameras, or tripods. Diaper bags will be permitted. Still cameras are permitted.

Priestly Stoles for the Papal Mass

Saturno tip to Christopher Blosser who brings us the link to the Fashion blog, where there for all eyes to see, is a first look at the white stoles that will be worn by the priests distributing Holy Communion at the Yankee Stadium Mass. Each stole is embroidered with "Benedict XVI, April 20, 2008".

The stole, says the site, is the primary emblem of ordained ministry, symbolizing the yoke of Christ.

These stoles were produced by Church outfitter, CM Almy, which was founded in New York City in 1892. Like so many who have been involved with this papal visit, Almy produced communion vessels and vestments for Pope John Paul II's Yankee Stadium Mass in 1979.

Papal Missal Now Online

There's no question, Pope Benedict XVI is breaking new ground. First, there was the unprecedented pre-visit video released by the Vatican. Today, the Vatican has posted all of the liturgical celebrations - Scripture, songs, and prayers - for the visit online. On a quick look-through, I was surprised at the level of detail it provides about what will be happening at each of the liturgical venues. It's worth spending some time looking at it. Perhaps that's why the Vatican decided to release it five days ahead of his arrival.

Exclusive: First Look at NY Ticket

The tickets to the Mass at Yankee Stadium arrived via priority mail to our Chancery office yesterday. That means that folks around the country will be receiving their tickets to the N.Y. Mass today and over the course of the next few days. While it doesn't reproduce well, because of the use of gold lettering, you'll get an idea what the ticket looks like at left, minus the personal information. Just one observation. The New York ticket is far more elaborate than the Washington, DC ticket.

Another observation that provided some laughter: New York truly is the "Capital of the World." Whereas the DC ticket came simply with some instructions and a Metro map, the NY ticket came with sell-sheets. One, taking orders for "The Official Commemorative Book" of the Pope's U.S. visit by Father Peter Vaccari, and being sold by the St. Patrick's Cathedral gift shop, and the other, featuring the papal merchandise from www.papalvisit2008.com.

Videos at the Baseball Stadium

An assortment of videos will be played for those who are waiting at the baseball stadiums prior to Mass. In addition to the videos produced by Catholic schoolchildren welcoming Pope Benedict, this inspiring video, from Catholics Come Home, will air on the Jumbotron at Nationals Park in D.C. The folks behind the video are also working on getting it aired at Yankee Stadium. It's one of the most inspirational and high-quality videos I've ever seen on the faith. Here's a full story on the Catholics Come Home effort.

WWBW? and Appropriate Dress for Mass at the Ballparks

WWBW - What will Benedict wear?

Much has been made of the Pope's clothing, but this article from ABC 7 comments on appropriate dress at the Mass at the ballparks. In addition to his recommendation on clothing, Monsignor Bartholomew Smith says that the most appropriate title to use (in case you should meet the Pope) is "Your Holiness" or "Holy Father."

Forty-five thousand people will attend the papal mass which will take place at a sports venue, but experts say that doesn't mean you should dress like you're going to a ballgame.

"It's much as if you were meeting the President of the United States, or being invited to the White house, you would dress in business attire," said Monsignor Bartholomew Smith.

Yankee Stadium Communion Distribution Safety Video

The Archdiocese of New York has released a 6-minute video explaining how Holy Communion will be distributed at Yankee Stadium. They are encouraging all those who are attending the Mass to watch the video, so that distribution can be safe, reverent, and timely. They've described it as their "Safety-First" video to help explain how they will distribute Holy Communion to 50,000 of the faithful in just under 15 minutes (at least that is the hope).

Keeping Track of Liturgical Logistics

Cindy Wooden of Catholic News Service has a great story on Monsignor Guido Marini, the papal Master of Ceremonies.

According to the article:

"Msgr. Marini, 43, did not plan every element of the five U.S. services, as he does with Vatican services, although he did make suggestions and did have veto power.
 
In an interview in early April, the monsignor said the readings, the prayers of the faithful, the music, and the readers and servers, for the most part, are those decided by the liturgy organizers in the archdioceses of Washington and New York, who coordinated their efforts with a representative of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops."

"A few small things were modified to reflect the liturgical attitudes of Pope Benedict," he said; they include a request that a crucifix be placed on the altar for eucharistic celebrations, that concelebrating priests be as close to the altar as possible and that the offertory gifts be limited to the bread, wine and charitable gifts."

Later, she addresses the issue of music.

"Msgr. Marini said the Vatican did not dictate the choice of music and hymns for the U.S. liturgies.
 
"The repertoire is rather vast," he said. "There will be Gregorian chant, polyphony and some hymns that are more popular in the American repertoire.
 
"I really like this variety of styles that has been prepared for the celebrations," he said."

And this...

"Msgr. Marini knows that changes in papal liturgies at the Vatican have been fueling speculation and heated discussions on Italian blogs and Web sites; he insists the increased use of older liturgical elements -- such as Gregorian chant and ancient vestments -- do not indicate a return to the past but rather reflect "development in continuity."
 
"In the liturgy, as in the life of the church itself, development in continuity should be visible," he said. "There are great riches, treasures that we have received, that we cannot forget, but this does not mean we oppose new developments."

The Music in New York

We've blogged about the music in D.C. and NY previously, but this story from NY1 profiles St. Patrick's Cathedral music director, Dr. Jennifer Pascual, who is overseeing the music at Yankee Stadium.

From the story: “So there was one day in October where we sat down for several hours and just listened to a lot of CDs,” said Pascual. Since Pope Benedict is German, we were all trying to lean towards some classical German music, so we're doing a lot of Brahms and Schubert and Mozart.”

As Dr. Pascual plans and coordinates all of the music of the pope's visit, there's an added pressure because the pope himself is a musician.

“He's a pianist. So is our archbishop and so am I,” said Pascual. “So it's kind of tricky to try to figure out what he likes. You read the newspapers, you listen to the news and everything and we all have heard that Mozart is his favorite composer, so we have to make sure to get Mozart in there.”

Priests and the Pope

NY1 has an interesting story that provides the perspective of two New York priests on the Pope and his visit. Some of their comments seem to corroborate what I was trying to say in my post on describing the Pope.

From the article:

"While both agree John Paul had a profound ability to touch people and raise spirits, they disagree with criticism that Pope Benedict is dry and more remote. They prefer to see him as a great intellectual.

"Pope Benedict is a theologian and he's much more focused in on creed," explained Cush. "He's much more focused in on morality, perhaps than even John Paul II."

It's inevitable, I suppose that folks seek to compare Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, considering their close relationship with one another for so many years.

Yet, just as our Heavenly Father doesn't create two souls who are alike, neither does He create two Popes who are alike. He always chooses the pontiff who is just right for the Church's particular time and place in history. During Pope John Paul II's pontificate, much was made of his being from a country in the East that had experienced the ravages of World War II. Pope Benedict, on the other hand, comes from a country in the West that not only also experienced the ravages of World War II, but was also the aggressor. That gives him a unique perspective on Europe, in particular, and he hasn't hidden the fact that he sees as part of his mission the calling of Europe back to its Christian roots, and that this is also at the heart of his selection of the name "Benedict."

Sandro Magister, writing at Chiesa, offers the America of Benedict as a role model for Europe.

Island Catholics Traveling 4,835 miles to See the Pope

The Hawaii Catholic Herald has a story about the group of island Catholics traveling 4,835 miles to see the Pope. According to the story, 26 Hawaiian Catholics will be attending Mass at Nationals Park; 16 more will be attending Mass at Yankee Stadium.

Among those who will be at Yankee Stadium, is Linda Cacpal, who alerted us to her attendance in her comment post.

From the article:

Among the Hawaii residents who will be there is St. Elizabeth, Aiea, parishioner Linda Cacpal, who has been a fan of Benedict XVI ever since she read his autobiography, “Milestones: Memoirs 1927-1977,” in 2005 shortly after he became pontiff.

“He’s gracious and gentle, and whenever he talks about Christianity, even when it’s morality, he always talks about it in a positive way,” said Cacpal, a member of the Diocesan Pastoral Council and her parish’s RCIA coordinator. She plans to share her New York trip experiences with fellow parishioners when she gets back.

Cacpal is particularly looking forward to listening to Pope Benedict’s homily and hearing him speak in English, though she says it will be amazing “just being in his presence.”

One complication with Cacpal’s trip is that she is on dialysis and had to arrange for treatments while she is in New York City.

“I’m going all the way across the United States just for this one man," she said. "I wouldn't do it if I didn't think he was a gift to us."

Seeing the Pope in Person

Seeing the Pope in person is a dream for many. In the upcoming week we'll see a lot more local stories from those who are traveling (some great distances) just to be in the Pope's presence. I've spoken to some folks locally who will be in attendance at the New York Mass. Many of them have said the same thing - "It may be our only opportunity, so we don't want to miss the chance."

This Daily Press story profiles some from the Diocese of Richmond who will be attending. It also receives kudos for passing the J.C. Survey. The story is one of few that actually mentions the theme of the Pope's visit.

This story, from the CantonRep, tells of high school junior Chris Cugini, who will be in attendance at the welcoming ceremony for the Pope on the South Lawn of the White House. The headline overstates it, saying that Cugini will meet the Pope and the President. More than likely, he'll be in a group of several hundred in attendance.

The St. Louis Review has this article about those who will be traveling from St. Louis. It's filled with profiles of those who will be attending.

Here's a story about Northeast Iowans who are making the trek. And another, about 100 folks from Maine.

Yankee Stadium Mass Furnishings

Whereas the altar, chair, and lectern for the Mass at Nationals Park was designed by CUA architecture students and is being manufactured specifically for the event, that's not the case for the Mass at Yankee Stadium. This afternoon I spoke with Archdiocese of New York spokesman, Joe Zwilling, to inquire whether any images or artwork are available of any of the furnishings that will be used at the Yankee Stadium Mass. Zwilling wasn't aware of any.

"We're bringing things from many different places," Zwilling told me. "There's a lot of movement going on."

He said, for example, that a papal chair that is currently in Cardinal Edward Egan's residence is most likely going to be used at St. Patrick's Cathedral and at the events at Yorkville. He did not think that the same chair would be used at the Mass at Yankee Stadium.

Meanwhile, the USCCB papal blog posted a first look at the official Papal Missal that will be used at all of the liturgical events while the Pope is in the U.S. (The photo is at left).

 

--Tim Drake

The Itinerary from the Vatican

For those interested in the "official" itinerary of the Holy Father, you'll find it on the Vatican website, here. In looking at it recently, I pulled out a couple of interesting nuggets.

During the Holy Father's six days in the U.S., he'll be delivering eight addresses and three homilies.

Also, note from the schedule that he will be celebrating two large public Masses (at Nationals Park and Yankee Stadium), one Mass with clergy and religious (at St. Patrick's Cathedral), and one private Mass on Friday, April 18 in the Chapel of the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington.

The Media "Nightmare" Has Already Begun

As noted in a previous post, covering papal trips involves myriad details which often don't go according to plan. Well, the media "nightmare" has already started for me.

Our chancery office called this morning to say that the tickets for the New York Mass will not be mailed out of New York until Thursday, April 10. Well, as a journalist I'm heading out to D.C. on Monday, April 14th. So, the tickets leave New York on April 10, probably arriving in our chancery office on Saturday or Monday (the day I depart). Then the chancery mails it to me, for it to arrive on Wednesday, April 16, while I'm in D.C. What are the chances that the tickets, being sent via U.S. Postal Service will reach a chancery in the midwest before the date I leave? Very unlikely, I'd say.

I can't be the only person who hopes to attend the Mass, but is leaving early. I suspect there may be quite a few others upset with the lateness of all this.

Of course, I have a call into the New York Papal Visit office to inquire if it's at all possible to pick the ticket up in person to avoid it being mailed, but haven't had a response yet.

So, there you have it. The joys of managing the details of a papal visit, if you're able to cover it all...

Still, I'm thankful I can attend any of the events. If you wouldn't mind, say a prayer on my behalf. And if you work with the Archdiocese of New York and are reading this, please give me a call.

Tickets in the Diocese of Rockville Centre

Newsday has reported that the Diocese of Rockville Centre will be receiving 1,000 tickets for the Mass at Yankee Stadium, and that the Diocese received 13,000 requests for those tickets, which will be distributed by a lottery system.

The article highlights the level of security for the Mass. In addition to going through security pre-screening being handled by federal authorities, the article says that Mass-goers will have to go through screening before they board buses for the Mass.

Good News: Receiving Our Assignments

Well, official word arrived today from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, who were handling the credentialing. It looks like the National Catholic Register will have access to most of the major events during the Pope's visit, aside from the Interreligious Gathering at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center, the Ecumenical Prayer Service at St. Joseph Catholic Church, the Mass for Clergy and Religious at St. Patrick's Cathedral, and the visit to Ground Zero. It looks like we may have to find other alternatives for covering those events.

Other Register writers will be covering the Pope's visit to the White House, the Pope's U.N. address, the Rally with Seminarians and Young People, and the departure ceremony.

Here are the events that I will personally be covering:
Tuesday, April 15
4:00 p.m. - Arrival at Andrews Air Force Base

Wednesday, April 16
5:00 p.m. - Vespers and Address to U.S. Bishops at the National Shrine

Thursday, April 17
10:00 a.m. - Mass at Nationals Park (I may be attending this event as a participant, rather than with the media pool)

Update:  5:00 p.m. It appears I may be attending the speech at Catholic University of America.

Saturday, April 19
4:30 p.m. - Blessing of Youth with Disabilities at St. Joseph Seminary

Sunday, April 20
2:30 p.m. - Mass at Yankee Stadium

Given the large Vatican press corps (40), the papal entourage (30), and the national television broadcasters who always receive preference, we were afraid that we would be shut-out from many of the events, so we're delighted that we'll have access to as many as we have. Recall that credentialing was handled in such a way as to limit each reporter to covering only one event each day. John Norton, editor at Our Sunday Visitor, reports that the USCCB's media coordinators awarded spaces to 1,141 news outlets for the visit.

Thomas Peters, over at the American Papist blog, has received his assignments as well.

Catholic Mass, Lutheran Hymn

As a former ELCA Lutheran, I was fascinated by the revelation in this Telegraph-Journal story that among the hymns being sung at the Mass at Yankee Stadium will be the "Feast of Victory." It was one of my favorite songs to sing in the Lutheran church around Easter because it was so uplifting - the very term used by Richard Kidd, who has been asked to arrange the piece for New York's 58-piece orchestra and 200-member choir. Augsburg-Forth, the publishing house for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, holds the copyright to the hymn. There's a separate, shorter story here.

According to the article, "A seasoned composer and consummate arranger, Kidd is a member of the Richard Kidd Quartet jazz band. He teaches music at Rothesay Netherwood School, plays the organ at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Saint John and has played trombone with Symphony New Brunswick for nearly 20 years. In December he assembled a 55-member choir to sing Handel's Messiah with the symphony.

Over the past couple of weeks Kidd has set himself to the task of arranging The Feast of Victory for a 58-member orchestra and choir of 200. In most churches, the four-verse Easter hymn would be accompanied by a lone piano or organ."

In his arrangement so far, the strings and woodwind instruments carry the bulk of the approximately four-minute piece; Kidd said he is saving stronger instruments, such as trombones and timpani, for flair.

"They can really punch it up."

He is also writing a descant for the choir, a high melody for the sopranos that will rise above the hymn's theme for a "real soaring effect."

Exclusive: First Look at Yankee Stadium Stage

Here's an artist's rendering of what the stage at Yankee Stadium will look like. (Click on the image to enlarge it.) Stig Edgren, president of SEG Events, is producing the event, as well as the event at St. Joseph's Seminary, and the event at "Ground Zero." Edgren is flying, from California to New                               York today, where he will remain until the papal visit. He is no stranger to papal events. This will be the fourth papal Mass he's produced. He also produced Pope John Paul II's Masses at Dodger Stadium, the Los Angeles Coliseum, and New York's Mass in Central Park. Among the challenges they face at Yankee Stadium is time. Because of the baseball season, they have 48 hours from the start of when they can begin building to when the event begins. The Yankee Stadium stage was designed by Rene Lagler, who has designed the 1984 Olympic opening and closing ceremonies and Democratic and Republican National Conventions.

Edgren told me the following regarding the "Concert of Hope," which will take place prior to the Mass, as people are entering the stadium and being seated. Il Divo will not be performing. Harry Connick Jr. is not only performing, but is composing special pieces for the opening and closing pageantry of the pre-Mass show. Other performers will include Jose Feliciano, Marcello Giordani, Ronan Tynan, the West Point Cadets, Harlem Gospel Choir, the Young People's Chorus, and the boys' choir Libera. In addition, Edgren said that Benoit Jutras, with Cirque Du Soleil, has been commissioned for a special piece, and
choreographer Daniel Ezralow and puppet designer Michael Curry, both who have worked with Cirque Du Soleil, are also putting together some pieces for the show.

Diocese of Raleigh, NC to Receive 100 Tickets to D.C., 50 to N.Y.

NBC 17 is reporting that the Diocese of Raleigh is receiving 100 tickets for the papal Mass in Washington, D.C. and 50 for New York's Mass. The Diocese invited people to apply via the diocesan website. The Diocese plans to distribute the tickets via lottery.

According to the article, "Raleigh Bishop Michael Burbidge will meet with the Pope when he holds a prayer service with Bishops from around the country.  The superintendent of the Diocese’s Catholic schools, Dr. Michael Fedewa, will also meet with the Pope during a meeting of Catholic educators."

Some Corrections and Additions to the N.Y. Papal Mass Music List

Dr. Jennifer Pascual forwarded a revised list of the music for the New York liturgical events during the Pope's visit. I've highlighted the corrections and additions in bold. Here is her complete statement and list:

Throughout the three days of Pope Benedict’s visit to New York, there will be a lot of music accompanying the Papal ceremonies and liturgies.

For our German Pontiff, primarily German music will be featured at the Ecumenical service at St. Joseph’s Parish on the  Upper East Side, which was originally a German parish.

Young musicians of our Archdiocese will be providing music for the events at St. Joseph's Seminary, both inside the chapel and outdoors on seminary grounds. Music that is more contemporary and familiar to youth will be featured.

For the Mass at the Cathedral of St. Patrick and Yankee Stadium, an eclectic spectrum of styles is the goal. Gregorian chant - the most revered form of music in the Church, Renaissance music, music of the master composers such as Victoria, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Rheinberger, and Perosi will be featured as well as traditional and contemporary hymnody to encourade full and active participation in the liturgies as mandated by the documents of the Church.  With an increasing Spanish-speaking population in the Archdiocese and throughout the United States, the use of bilingual hymnody, the norm at our Cathedral, will also be utilized at both Masses. Talented composers and arrangers from around the country and  Canada are contributing to this visitation by composing new works and arranging existing works for orchestra.

St. are contributing musically to this visitation by composing new works and arranging existing works for orchestra.

The Yankee Stadium Mass music will be led by a 200-voice mass choir and 58-piece orchestra that will be situated behind home plate.

Listed below are the exact musical selections, composers and arrangers that will be used for each event or liturgy, and the music personnel involved.
                                                          

St. Joseph, Yorkville – Ecumenical Service: April 18, 2008

Stephen Black, Director of Music and Organist, St. Joseph, Yorkville

Choir of St. Joseph, Yorkville

Dr. Jennifer Pascual, Director of Music and Organist, Cathedral of St. Patrick

Donald Dumler, Principal Organist, Cathedral of St. Patrick

Cathedral of Saint Patrick Choir

In dir ist Freude – J.S. Bach

Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether – Harold Friedell

Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden – J.S. Bach

Lord’s Prayer – chant

Now Thank We All our God

Allegro assai vivace from Sonata No. 1 in F minor – Felix Mendelssohn

St. Patrick Cathedral – Celebration of the Eucharist: April 19, 2008

Dr. Jennifer Pascual, Director of Music and Organist, Cathedral of St. Patrick

Donald Dumler, Principal Organist, Cathedral of St. Patrick

Cathedral of Saint Patrick Choir and Orchestra

Drew Santini, Cantor

Sr. Maria Emmanuel, S.V., Psalmist

 

Entrance of the Holy Father:

Christus Vincit – arr. Nicolai Montani, orch. Dr. Peter Latona

Procession of a Pontiff – Michael Valenti

 

Music for Mass:

O God, Beyond All Praising – arr. Deborah Jamini

Ecce Sacerdos Magnus – Johann Singenberger, arr. Deborah Jamini

Kyrie - Missa de Angelis

Gloria from Messe in C, Op.169 – Josef Rheinberger

Psalm – Dr. Jennifer Pascual

Alleluia (O filii et filiae) – arr. Wm. Glenn Osborne

Trilingual Intercessions – Michael Hay, orch. Wm. Glenn Osborne

Ave Maria – Franz Biebl

Sanctus – Missa de Angelis

Christ Has Died/ Amen – Danish Mass, orch. Wm. Glenn Osborne

Lord’s Prayer – chant

Agnus Dei from Messe in C, Op.169 – Josef Rheinberger

Domine Deus, from Messe Petit Solennelle – Gioachino Rossini, Salvatore Licitra,
            Tenor, Metropolitan Opera

Ego Sum Panis Vivus – Giovanni Pierluigi Palestrina

O Sacrum Convivium – Dom Lorenzo Perosi

Ave Verum – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

I am the Bread of Life/ Yo Soy el Pan de Vida – Suzanne Toolan, SM, orch. Johnnie Carl

Amén. El Cuerpo de Cristo – John Schiavonne

Ubi Caritas – Richard Kidd

Tal Como Soy – Richard Stewart

Holy God, We Praise Thy Name – arr. Bruce Saylor

Hallelujah from The Mount of Olives – Ludwig van Beethoven

 

St. Joseph’s Seminary – Meeting with Young People Having Disabilities: April 19, 2008

Daniel Brondel, Director of Music and Organist, Cathedral of St. Patrick Young Singers

Cathedral of Patrick Young Singers

New York Archdiocesan Deaf Choir

Christo resurgenti – François Couperin

Take Lord, Receive – John Foley, S.J.

Fugue in D, BWV 532 – J.S. Bach

 

St. Joseph’s Seminary – Meeting with Youth and Seminarians – April 19, 2008

Communion and Liberation, Christopher Vath, Director of Music

Richard Marrano, Organist

Christi Chiapetti, Cantor

Teng Fu, Pianist

 

America the Beautiful – Samuel A. Ward

Pan de Vida – Bob Hurd

Jesus, Remember Me – Jacques Berthier

One Bread, One Body – John Foley, S. J.

Holy God, We Praise Thy Name – Traditional

Litany of the Saints – John Becker

Lord’s Prayer

Ave Maria – Franz Schubert, Kelly Clarkson, American Idol Winner 2002

City of God - Daniel Schutte

Yankee Stadium – Celebration of the Eucharist: April 20, 2008

Dr. Jennifer Pascual, Director of Music/ Mass Conductor

New York Archdiocesan Festival Chorale

Cathedral of St. Patrick Choir

Ulster County Vicariate Choir, Michael Sweeney, Director of Music

Donald Dumler, Organist

John Des Marais, Cantor

Joe Simmons, Psalmist

 

Entrance of concelebrants:

Symphony No. 9 in D minor – Ludwig van Beethoven

I. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso

II. Molto vivace

 

Entrance of the Holy Father:

Hymnus Pontificius – Charles Gounod, arr. Alberico Vitalini

Dixit from Vesperae Solennes de Confessore – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

 

Music for Mass:

Jesus is Risen/ Cristo Jesús Resucitó – arr. John Rutter

Tu es Petrus – Dom Lorenzo Perosi

Kyrie – from Litany of the Saints, adapt. Richard Proulx

Gloria from Missa O Magnum Mysterium – Tomás Luis da Victoria

Psalm – Dr. Jennifer Pascual

Alleluia (VICTORY) arr. Wm. Glenn Osborne

Credo III – chant

Trilingual Intercessions – Michael Hay, orch. Wm. Glenn Osborne

How Lovely is thy Dwelling Place - Johannes Brahms

Sanctus from German Mass – Franz Schubert, adapt. Richard Proulx

Christ Has Died/ Amen - Franz Schubert, adapt. Richard Proulx

Lord’s Prayer – chant

Agnus Dei from Missa O Magnum Mysterium – Tomás Luis da Victoria

Panis Angelicus – Cesár Franck, Marcello Giordani, Tenor, Metropolitan Opera

Sicut Cervus – Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

Ave Verum – Alexandre Guilmant, orch. Deborah Jamini

Amén. El Cuerpo de Cristo - John Schiavonne, orch. Carl MaultsBy

Let Us Break Bread Together – arr. Carl MaultsBy

This is the Feast – Richard Hillert, arr. Richard Kidd 

Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee/ Jubilosos te Adoramos – from Hymn to Joy Fantasy – Bruce Saylor 

Symphony No. 9 in D minor – Ludwig van Beethoven

IV. Presto

Tickets in Allentown

The Morning Call has reported that the Diocese of Allentown will receive 100 tickets for the N.Y. Mass.

From the article: "Of the few people from the Allentown Diocese who will get close to Benedict, one will get to New York via Kentucky. Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of the Archdiocese of Louisville, who spent most of his priestly career in the Lehigh Valley, will help the pope celebrate Mass in Yankee Stadium.

Records in the Washington Archdiocese indicate the Allentown Diocese never asked for tickets to the Nationals Park Mass, Stark said."

Rocco Palmo on Monsignor Marini's Stateside Visit

Rocco Palmo over at Whispers in the Loggia has an insider's look at details following Monsignor Guido Marini's four day trip to the U.S. last month in preparation for the Pope's visit. It's filled with many interesting tidbits, especially for those fascinated by liturgical preparations.

Among Palmo's revelations: "What's more, though the Americans won the day to keep the local practice of inviting all clergy present to concelebrate at the trip's three public Masses, priest-concelebrants will receive the Eucharist under both species by intinction only, thus decreasing the necessary quantities of (and, given the crowded environments and massive spaces involved, the potential of accidents involving) the Precious Blood."

This: "In both cities, discussion of vestments reportedly remained at a minimum during the advance trip. While organizers of each liturgical event were invited to provide a chasuble, mitre and stole to be considered for papal usage, Vatican aides repeatedly underscored that they could offer "no guarantee" that Benedict would, in fact, use the offered set. Given both Marini's emergent preference for antique, high-art furnishings and vestments, and Benedict's relatively unique measurements, the common expectation seems to say that Papa Ratzi's Mass-garb for the four liturgies will be brought over from the Vatican Vault."

And this: "Before reaching the crypt for the final event of the trek's first full day, Benedict will make one poignant stop in the nation's largest church: the small side chapel dedicated to the Bavarian patroness Our Lady of Altötting, to whose shrine a young Joseph Ratzinger often journeyed by foot."

Oh, just go visit Palmo's site and read it all for yourself.