Irish Parishioners Welcome Pope

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Irish Voice News

Irish Parishioners Welcome Pope

April 16, 2008

By April Drew

AFTER attending 7 p.m. Mass at St. Barnabas in Yonkers on Saturday, parishioners told the Irish Voice they hope the April 18-20 New York visit from Pope Benedict XVI will revitalize Catholicism and awaken the faith of many non-churchgoers.

Sharon and Denis O’Driscoll, who attend Saturday evening Mass in St. Barnabas every week, said that a visit by the pope to New York is something well over due.

“It’s something that should be done more often,” said Denis, who works for the city. “America is one of the biggest nations there is and we certainly need a lot of prayers to keep away the threats that are often too real.”

Sharon, after nudging Denis politely, explained that the Pope is a busy man and has hundreds of countries to visit.

“I remember when he was in Ireland in the late 1970s,” said Sharon. “I was only in my teens but his visit really brought the country to a standstill. I remember like it was yesterday.”

The O’Driscolls both hope that the papal visit will spread the Christian faith throughout New York and the rest of the country. “I’m sure Pope Benedict will pray for everyone and let’s hope his prayers will bring more people back to the church,” said the young couple.

Rita Lavin, who has been a parishioner at St. Barnabas for more than five decades, said that although she won’t be attending the Yankee Stadium Mass with the Pope on Sunday, she will watch it on television.

“I am looking forward to it. A friend of mine was lucky enough to be chosen in the St. Barnabas lottery to go to the Mass so she said she will try and take some photos of him for me,” she said.

Lavin admits that everything she does from “getting up in the morning to going to bed at night” is done through prayer.

“I try to live my life through God,” she said “And I just know that Jesus has sent Pope Benedict to bless this great nation and pray for us all on this Earth.”

Betty Dengler, who was also at Saturday night Mass in St. Barnabas, said a visit from the Pope is essential to “remind people to embrace Christianity.”

Dengler explained that the faith Catholics receive at confirmation is sometimes difficult to always hang on to, but it is her belief that Benedict will revitalize such faith and bring “new sheep to the Lords flock.”

Rebecca Donohue, who attends Mass with her 84-year-old grandmother, Mary Daly, every week, said a visit from the Pope might lead younger people to the church.

“Very few of my friends come to Mass every week and that disappoints me,” said Donohue. “Maybe seeing the pope on television or even in person might urge more young people to find their faith again.”

Donohue said she fondly remembers her grandmother telling her stories of a trip she took to Lourdes in France that changed her life.

“When my grandmother was in her sixties she visited Lourdes with her sisters from Ireland and it was there she really fell in love with her religion. It’s from her I get my faith,” she said proudly.

A younger Mass attendee, who only gave his name as Paul, told the Irish Voice that Benedict coming to New York didn’t faze him, but he was slightly worried that the papal visit might upset his commute to work.

“I’m on call at work on Sunday and all I keep thinking is the traffic is going to be mad because the Pope is in town,” he said.

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