Tribute echoed by Lori
Paper: Connecticut Post (Bridgeport, CT)
Title: Tribute echoed by Lori
Author: STEVEN ANDREWS
Date: April 9, 2005
Section: Connecticut Post, Page A1
BRIDGEPORT - Shortly after throngs of presidents, prime ministers and pilgrims paid tribute to Pope John Paul II at an elaborate Vatican funeral Friday morning, Bishop William Lori presided over a midday Mass in St. Augustine Cathedral for an equally devout crowd of local leaders and the faithful.
His homily celebrated the late pontiff's "insight and zeal" and his work building bridges among nations and faiths. "We are in solidarity with millions of people around the world as we mourn the death of Pope John Paul II," the bishop of the Bridgeport Diocese said.
Though nothing like the spectacle of an estimated 300,000 mourners at the Vatican service, the local cathedral was filled with several hundred worshipers.
Worshipers included representatives of other religions, students from local schools and colleges and Mayor John M. Fabrizi.
Tina Katz, 70, of Bridgeport, woke up early Friday to watch television coverage of the pope's funeral as it unfolded in a time zone six hours ahead of the eastern U.S., and also attended the noon service at St. Augustine's.
"It was really an excellent tribute here to the pope," she said. She also acknowledged that it was a much different event than the one at the Vatican.
"They were two completely different Masses, but one holy man was being honored," said Katz. A major focus of Lori's homily was the importance John Paul II had placed on young people, saying that he "loved and respected" them and they returned that sentiment because he never looked down on them.
He acknowledged the number of students at the service as proof.
William McBain, a sophomore at Fairfield University, was one of several Fairfield U. collegians at the Mass.
"I wanted to be a part of the Masses all around the world honoring this man," he said. "John Paul really provided a lot of spiritual hope in his final days as his health failed."
The local service paid tribute to John Paul's nationality by reading a Bible passage in Polish.
"This Mass certainly had a special meaning to me, being Polish," said Stratford resident Fred Kleczkowski, 55, a teacher at St. Joseph High School in Trumbull, who attended with several students.
"This pope worked so hard reaching out to people and tried to make the world a smaller place by visiting so many other countries," he said. Many agreed that it will be nearly impossible for the next pope to have the same impact as John Paul II, especially considering the length of his 26-year reign and dynamic personality.
"I'm really hoping the next pope can have the same charisma," Katz said. "I really think John Paul was one of a kind."
"The most important thing will be having the next pope build on the progress that John Paul has made," said Kleczkowski, "but that will be hard to do."
Even Lori recognized the challenges the next pope faces in succeeding the hugely influential John Paul.
"Every pope is different and unique, bringing his own gifts and virtues," he said. "John Paul has left a tremendous legacy of direction to follow."
Author: STEVEN ANDREWS
Section: Connecticut Post
(c) 2005 The Connecticut Post. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Media NewsGroup, Inc. by NewsBank, Inc.
Title: Tribute echoed by Lori
Author: STEVEN ANDREWS
Date: April 9, 2005
Section: Connecticut Post, Page A1
BRIDGEPORT - Shortly after throngs of presidents, prime ministers and pilgrims paid tribute to Pope John Paul II at an elaborate Vatican funeral Friday morning, Bishop William Lori presided over a midday Mass in St. Augustine Cathedral for an equally devout crowd of local leaders and the faithful.
His homily celebrated the late pontiff's "insight and zeal" and his work building bridges among nations and faiths. "We are in solidarity with millions of people around the world as we mourn the death of Pope John Paul II," the bishop of the Bridgeport Diocese said.
Though nothing like the spectacle of an estimated 300,000 mourners at the Vatican service, the local cathedral was filled with several hundred worshipers.
Worshipers included representatives of other religions, students from local schools and colleges and Mayor John M. Fabrizi.
Tina Katz, 70, of Bridgeport, woke up early Friday to watch television coverage of the pope's funeral as it unfolded in a time zone six hours ahead of the eastern U.S., and also attended the noon service at St. Augustine's.
"It was really an excellent tribute here to the pope," she said. She also acknowledged that it was a much different event than the one at the Vatican.
"They were two completely different Masses, but one holy man was being honored," said Katz. A major focus of Lori's homily was the importance John Paul II had placed on young people, saying that he "loved and respected" them and they returned that sentiment because he never looked down on them.
He acknowledged the number of students at the service as proof.
William McBain, a sophomore at Fairfield University, was one of several Fairfield U. collegians at the Mass.
"I wanted to be a part of the Masses all around the world honoring this man," he said. "John Paul really provided a lot of spiritual hope in his final days as his health failed."
The local service paid tribute to John Paul's nationality by reading a Bible passage in Polish.
"This Mass certainly had a special meaning to me, being Polish," said Stratford resident Fred Kleczkowski, 55, a teacher at St. Joseph High School in Trumbull, who attended with several students.
"This pope worked so hard reaching out to people and tried to make the world a smaller place by visiting so many other countries," he said. Many agreed that it will be nearly impossible for the next pope to have the same impact as John Paul II, especially considering the length of his 26-year reign and dynamic personality.
"I'm really hoping the next pope can have the same charisma," Katz said. "I really think John Paul was one of a kind."
"The most important thing will be having the next pope build on the progress that John Paul has made," said Kleczkowski, "but that will be hard to do."
Even Lori recognized the challenges the next pope faces in succeeding the hugely influential John Paul.
"Every pope is different and unique, bringing his own gifts and virtues," he said. "John Paul has left a tremendous legacy of direction to follow."
Author: STEVEN ANDREWS
Section: Connecticut Post
(c) 2005 The Connecticut Post. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Media NewsGroup, Inc. by NewsBank, Inc.
posted by Steven Andrews at
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