CHRIST OUR HOPE: APOSTOLIC JOURNEY 2008

RI pilgrims head to NYC for papal Mass

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PROVIDENCE – The drive will be long, the traffic nearly impenetrable and the streets teeming with pilgrims, but for the 200 lucky Rhode Islanders who secured tickets to the Papal Mass at Yankee Stadium this coming Sunday, the reward for enduring the trip will be awesome.

By Emily Donohue

Staff Reporter

They will join thousands of other American Catholics for a special Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI on the last day of his first visit to the United States as pontiff.

The Diocese of Providence received an allotment of 200 tickets to the Papal Mass at Yankee stadium. They were distributed to seminarians and the priests assigned to the seminary, as well as 20 students and chaperones from five of the Diocese's Catholic high schools and some diocesan employees. The remaining tickets were distributed to people from parishes across the state who requested tickets.

Those traveling with the diocese will leave from the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul at 7 a.m. on Sunday, April 20 on one of two buses, on which seats have been assigned. Buses will arrive at Yankee Stadium after 10 a.m. Food, drinks and merchandise will be available to pilgrims. Attendees must present a government-issued photo ID and their ticket to enter the stadium. Every guest will be subject to search. Once guests have entered the stadium there is absolutely no re-entry if they leave. Two more buses of Rhode Islanders will also make the trip for the Papal Mass. One will be filled with members of the Knights of Columbus and their families; and the other bus will be filled with members of youth groups and chaperones from Mater Ecclesiae College in Greenville.

Gates at Yankee Stadium will be open from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, no one will be admitted after that time. At noon the "Concert of Hope" will begin, featuring Harry Connick Jr., Marcello Girodano, Stephanie Mills, Jose Feliciano and Dan,a and will last until 2 p.m.

Following the concert the Holy Father, will travel around the stadium in the Popemobile.

Mass is scheduled to begin, following a procession, at 2:30 p.m. and last until 5 p.m. The Mass will highlight the 200th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s designation as an archdiocese, as well as the birth of four other archdioceses: New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Bardstown (now Louisville).

The Holy Father will leave the stadium at 5:30 p.m. and guests will begin to leave at 5:45 p.m. The buses will leave New York as soon as possible following the Mass and are expected to arrive back at the Cathedral after 10 p.m. Sunday night.

There are several prohibited items at the stadium: Metal, plastic or glass containers, backpacks, strollers, large bags, food and beverages, video cameras and tripods.

Diaper bags and still cameras are permitted.

The Rhode Island Catholic will be covering several of the events in next week’s edition.

To watch video footage of all of the Pope's public events during his U.S. trip, visit www.uspapalvisit.org.