Two groups of very fortunate students have been selected to
represent the University at Papal events in New York City. On April
19, students will meet with the Holy Father at St. Joseph's
Seminary in Yonkers along with hundreds of seminarians and other
young Catholics from the metropolitan area for the Papal Youth
Rally. On the afternoon of April 20, St. John's students will
attend the afternoon Papal Mass at Yankee Stadium, marking the
200th anniversary of the establishment of the Baltimore
archdiocese—the first Catholic archdiocese in the United States—and
the first four U.S. dioceses: New York, Philadelphia, Boston and
Louisville, KY.
The students traveling to Yankee Stadium will carry the written
petitions of members of the St. John's community. Campus Ministry
students joined together on April 15, to walk throughout all the
buildings on campus and remind everyone to fill out an intention
form for their intentions to be offered to the Pope. One of the
students, Andrea Heller, Theology graduate student of St. John's
College explains what the Pope's visit means to her, "For me, Pope
Benedict XVI is a symbol of unity and hope regardless of your
religious background. His arrival inspires everyone to come alive
in their particular faith no matter what it is." Sophomore Theology
major, Andrew Scott, describes his feelings about being able to see
the Pope in person, "It is a phenomenal blessing and opportunity to
see him and bring him these petitions."
To have your intentions sent to the Yankee Stadium, fill out the
Prayer
Intentions Submission Form.
Both events will be aired via Live Simulcast at St. Thomas More
Church. The Papal Youth Rally will be aired April 19 at 4 p.m. The
Live Simulcast of the Papal Mass will be aired April 20 at 2 p.m.
All are welcome to attend.