Local Catholics make trek to Philly to see pontiff

Several local pilgrims who travelled to Philadelphia from Chicago to see Pope Francis the weekend of Sept. 26-27 described their trips as “providential” and full of miracles.

For the youth group at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, 708 W. Belmont, just planning the trip was an exercise in faith. They went through about 20 potential routes and itineraries right up until early September.

The youth group, which is only two years old, wanted to send kids to World Youth Day in Poland next year but it’s an expensive trip. So they decided to take the kids to Philadelphia to see Pope Francis instead.

Since the trip came together quickly they didn’t have time to raise money. Families were asked to cover airfare but the parish and private donors covered the rest. The support of Father Pat Lee, pastor, made it all possible, said Dominic Moretti, youth group coordinator.

“He basically said ‘The kids need to go. We’ll find out a way to make this work,’” Moretti said. “A lot of good people really came together to make this happen.”

On the evening of Sept. 25, 15 students, from freshmen to seniors, flew with five adults from O’Hare to Baltimore. They stayed at a retreat center there then woke up early and travelled by bus the two hours to Philadelphia and arrived at the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul just in time to see Pope Francis arrive for Mass with clergy and religious.

“There were a lot of little miracles that happened along the trip,” said Moretti.

Being outside the cathedral with the crowds and watching Pope Francis arrive really made an impact on the kids.

“It was extremely exciting to see,” he said.

Afterward Alan Krashesky from ABC 7 in Chicago interviewed the youth after the Mass.

“It’s really going to have an impact on my life,” Eryk Kokosinski told Krashesky. “Not only is it the pope, it’s one of the most revolutionary popes and he is the people’s pope.”

Later in the day, the group saw Pope Francis go by in the popemobile both before his afternoon address at Independence Hall and during the parade on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway at the Festival of Families Saturday night.

Even though it was quick — the group flew back to Chicago Sunday so the youth could be at school on Monday — the trip was a success overall and the kids got to see lots of other kids their age excited for their faith and the pope.

“They just had a blast being there in the crowds,” Moretti said. “It’s about being there and participating in the life of the church.”

Students and faculty from the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein were among the many groups that travelled to Philadelphia to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis for the weekend.

“The whole trip was providential,” said Chris McAtee, associate academic dean for the Office of Academic Affairs.

Five members of the doctoral program in ministry travelled together for the weekend. Three of them stayed in people’s homes for the two nights while Patricia Klein, a consecrated member of Regnum Christi, stayed with the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters and Father Alex Ojacor stayed in a rectory.

When they arrived they were unexpectedly given tickets to both the Festival of Families on Saturday and the papal Mass on Sunday.

“It’s been such a blessing,” McAtee told the Catholic New World the day after the Mass. “We feel so fortunate.”

Wayne and Erma Kinzie, benefactors of the university and seminary, sponsored the trip.

Klein, associate dean of formation at Mundelein seminary and a doctoral student, said it was a gift to be able to go on the pilgrimage.

“It was kind of like Rome coming to us,” Klein said.

While she’s attended other large church gatherings like World Youth Day, she said she was surprised by the spirit of unity and prayer, especially at Sunday’s Mass.

“Everybody was so silent before Mass,” she said. “Everybody was ready to pray.”

Seeing Pope Francis in person was exciting and emotional.

“He’s the vicar of Christ and God really wants to speak through him to us,” she said.

Ojacor was one of several priests from the archdiocese who had the opportunity to concelebrate Mass with Pope Francis. He didn’t plan to in advance but when he arrived at St. Monica Parish in South Philadelphia, which is where he stayed for the two nights, the pastor Father Joseph Kelley asked him if he wanted to be among the concelebrants. He described the experience as “really phenomenal.”

“The hand of God has been at work. Everything just fell into place,” said Ojacor, who is an extern priest from Uganda studying at Mundelein and ministering at St. Leonard Parish in Berwyn.

The two-day pilgrimage reinforced his faith, his ministry and his commitment to the Catholic Church, Ojacor said.

“I got more than I came for,” he said.

Deacon Don Grossnickle from Our Lady of the Wayside Parish in Arlington Heights was among the 300 deacons who distributed Communion to the faithful gathered in the non-ticketed areas that started about half a mile away from the stage.

“They likely had no expectation of receiving the Lord in Holy Communion,” he said. “Many expressed joy, tears and demonstrative thanks. I choked up and could barely utter, ‘The Body of Christ.’”

Before Mass started Grossnickle had the chance to see Pope Francis up close as he stopped by where the deacons were gathered at the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul on his way to Mass.

The pope stopped to bless a prayer installation in the grotto outside of the church.

“Looking back at the whole experience, for me, it was a series of miracles,” Grossnickle said.