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April 17, 2008

Pope's visit: Crowds gather at ballpark for morning Mass

AP/Photo

In this photo provided by the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Pope Benedict XVI says Vespers in the Crypt at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception with the bishops of the United States in Washington yesterday.

WASHINGTON –– World Series-class multitudes streamed before sunrise toward Pope Benedict XVI’s ballpark altar where he was to say Mass later this morning.

By 8:30 a.m., the newly built National's Park stadium was halfway filled, and a great river of humanity poured down Half Street from the direction of the sun-washed Dome and into the gates.

Inside the Park it was reconciliation alfresco as a hundred priests heard confessions under white tents on a concrete plaza among the hot dog stands and beer concession (not yet open for business at this hour).

“It’s a pretty powerful witness –– 50,000 people or more here to see the pope say Mass,” said the Rev. Bernard Healy, the State House lobbyist for the Diocese of Providence, who was seated in a luxury box off third baseline, courtesy of some fellow political priests form Maryland.

“It’s a ballpark, but it looks like a beautiful outdoor church,”said Healey. From the left-field b bleachers, near the 336-foot sign, hand-slapping gospel choir, 200 strong and clad in white, sang “Jesus is Nigh” with a brass band punctuating their words.

Nuns and lay workers patrolled the gates, giving directions and handing out programs wearing black baseball caps that bore the red papal seal.

The Rev. James Cuddy, O.P., said it was “Beautiful to see how hundreds of people want to take the opportunity in these days of great grace to prepare themselves as well as possible spiritually to be here with the pope.”

A 31-year old Braintree, Mass. native with a crew cut, blue eyes and a hooded white vestment, Cuddy said of his own spiritual journey, “I never considered a vocation until I went to Providence College and met the Dominicans there.”

Cuddy said, “If I could look back 15 years and imagine being here today to witness the pope –– let alone being a priest, hearing confessions –– it would’ve been a bit too much for me to handle.”

The priest lives and works in the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, not far from the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, where Benedict prayed last night with the nation’s bishops, and The Catholic University of America, where he will address educators this evening.

-- John E. Mulligan, Washington Bureau Chief

Posted by Brandie Jefferson  at 7:17 AM | Permalink

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