By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
The rare visit of a pope to American shores has captured the hearts of Americans and particularly American Catholics, including those in Bucyrus. Thirty-five people of all ages left the parking lot of Holy Trinity Church, albeit a bit later than planned, Friday morning to see Pope Francis in Philadelphia.
“To me, it’s the rarity of it,” said Mark Fox, who along with his daughter Dr. Christina Fox, went. “They say once you get there, even to be in the vicinity (of the pope) is inspiring.”
Laura Orewiler and Charmaine Teets were the de facto organizers for the trip from Holy Trinity. Several other Bucyrus residents went on another trip through the diocese. Orewiler said there were various opportunities and length of trips available.
“Ours’ is a three-day (trip),” Teets said with a quick smile and laugh. “I call it the whirlwind tour.”
Pope Francis has been besieged ever since his AirItalia flight landed in the United States earlier this week. His itinerary has included meeting with both President Barack Obama and the first-ever address by a pope to the Unites State Congress.
“It’s an awesome opportunity. I think it’s a blessing for us as a parish or as a United States population,” Orewiler said. “It’s like a once-in-a-lifetime event that we may never see in our lifetime, our children may. It’s such a blessing and an opportunity.”
Orewiler was especially glad young people and children were able to take such a rare trip. For Teets, it was not only an opportunity for her and her children to see Pope Francis, but maybe even more so for the rest of the country to see him.
“I know why the pope wanted to come, that’s part of his Jesuit roots. Instead going to the special luncheons of Congress, he served the homeless. That’s how Pope Francis is,” Teets said. “He’s very pastor-like. He wanted to see the America in the first place, he’s very excited be here. He wanted to show America how the Catholic faith really is. This is true Catholic faith.”
Teets added that at heart, like the Jesuits, Pope Francis is a missionary.
The troupe from Holy Trinity was planning to celebrate the Sunday afternoon Mass with Pope Francis slated for the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia before returning to Bucyrus sometime on Monday.