St. John's News
St. John’s University Holds Special Mass for Pope John Paul II
April 06, 2005
Queens, NY – St. John’s University’s regularly scheduled Daily
Mass on Monday, April 4, 2005 took on a special tone, as prayers
were said in remembrance and celebration of the life of Pope John
Paul II.
“This was truly a great man,” said Rev. Donald J. Harrington,
C.M., President of St. John’s, who has just returned from Rome and
a previously scheduled visit to the University’s campus just
outside the walls of Vatican City. “If we truly believe in his
having had a positive impact on the world, we cannot allow this
moment to pass us by and not be changed by it.”
Father Harrington also relayed the story of having met the Pope
several times, including one meeting in Rome when His Holiness
afforded a private audience to the 1996 NCAA Champion Red Storm
Men’s Soccer Team.
Several students who have personally met the Pope were also at
the Mass. Among them, Jimmy and Raeanne Walters, siblings who are
graduate students at St. John’s, met Pope John Paul II in Rome in
Winter 2004.
“I knelt down and kissed his ring and said ‘I love you,’” said
Jimmy. “Tears began to fill my eyes, and as I looked around the
room, I could see everyone was very affected by being in the same
place with the Pope. He have me a set of rosary beads, which I have
carried with me ever since.”
For more information please contact Jody Fisher, Director of
Media Relations, at (718) 990-6185 or at fisherjo@stjohns.edu.