Up Close and Personal:
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Don’t blame the writer. She’s just the messenger.
Freedom High School graduate participates in Papal Mass
by CAROLE GORNEY
Special to the Bethlehem Press
When Pope Francis I celebrates Mass on the Ben Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia Sunday, among those actually helping with the historic event will be Freedom HS graduate Rachel Pardoe, now a freshman at St. Joseph’s University.
Pardoe is among the fortunate 80,000 who received advance tickets to view the Mass within the special three-block zone in front of the altar, but she was also privileged to actually be in vited to participate in the ceremony. She got so lucky because she is involved in a service organization called Philadelphia Service Immersion Program, or PSIP, through her university. She moved in to her dorm at St. Joe’s four days early this past summer and spent the time working on a vegetable garden project for the community in West Kensington. Later, all those involved with PSIP were sent emails inviting them to apply for a Papal Mass ticket, so she applied.
On the day she received her ticket, she said she was told that she would be helping organize and distribute communion. Other than that, she would have to wait until the day of the Mass to learn exactly what her duties would be.
"We have to leave campus on Sunday morning at 7:30, go through security and practice at noon," Pardoe said during an interview on the Friday before the Mass. She said she was really excited. "It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
That opportunity is also one huge challenge. An estimated 500,000 worshipers are expected to receive communion, with some 1,500 priests to distribute the wafers to everyone in 20 minutes.
The Mass, with Pope Francis I as the main celebrant, officially closes the triennial World Meeting of Families 2015 held last week at the Philadelphia Convention Center. More than 1.5 million people, wanting to be a part of history, will crowd the streets of Philadelphia on the mile-long parkway, in Love Park or around City Hall. Most of them will actually view the Mass on giant television screens.
Which brings up an important point for Catholics who plan to watch the Papal Mass on televisions either at home or at Steel Stacks in South Bethlehem. Doing so does not fulfill their obligation to attend Mass on Sunday. They actually have to be on the streets in Philadelphia, watching one of those screens.
Don’t blame the writer. She’s just the messenger.