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The Pope's Visit
To the Catholic community it's a big event when the pope visits the United States. During his six-day visit to our country Pope Benedict XVI will give speeches and concelebrate Mass in Washington, D.C. and New York City. On Sunday he will celebrate Mass at Yankee Stadium.
When Pope John Paul II visited the United States, he spent time in Washington, D. C. and New York City, as well. So did Pope Paul VI back in the Sixties. I'm just a little worried that our holy popes might be stuck in a rut. After all, there is a lot more to our country than the White House, the United Nations and Yankee Stadium.
Pope Benedict is the sixth pope in my lifetime. When I was born, the pope was Pope Pius XII. From 1958-1963 it was Pope John XXIII. During my high school and college years our pope was Pope Paul VI. Then, you might recall, we had the short time of Pope John Paul I, who was elected and died in 1978. Pope John Paul II served from 1978-2005, and now Pope Benedict XVI has been our pope since 2005.
None of these popes has ever visited Plattsburgh. We've been visited by Presidents, Governors and Prime Ministers, but never the Pope. Wouldn't it make sense for the pope to visit a nice city like Plattsburgh?
We have beautiful old churches like St. Peter's Church, St. John's Church and Our Lady of Victory Church. We have modern churches, named after all the important saints. We have Roman Catholic priests who can sing up a storm. Back in my elementary school days, the priests of our diocese used to gather at O.L.V.A. once a month for a retreat. I'd hear them singing in the little school chapel. It sounded like music from heaven.
Our Honorable Mayor Kasprzak, a Catholic school graduate, could lead the pope on a tour of our historic city, pointing out City Hall and the Macdonough Monument and the Kent-Delord House, and then travel north to the Georgia-Pacific Plant. While in that area, the pope might enjoy a stop at McDonald's for a real American meal, a big Mac and fries.
The mayor and holy entourage could then circle south to the site of the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base. The beautiful Air Base Chapel still stands on the site where many an officer and local girl were married after meeting at Brodi's.
The pope might enjoy a stop at our Crete Brothers Fitness Center, where he could help the mayor continue to celebrate Plattsburgh Start! Walking Day. He could walk along the oval track for miles and go nowhere.
The mayor might even want to bring the pope down nearby Johnson Avenue and point out the home where Foxy Gagnon grew up. After all, Foxy's story of growing up in a Catholic home, saying the rosary each night during Lent and having an altar in his bedroom is the stuff that popes are made of.
All along the route we could have our military veterans standing in honor with flags galore. North Country veterans, dedicated soldiers from all wars, are among the finest in the country and they deserve a papal blessing for their good deeds, and an automatic ticket to heaven.
I think our Holy Fathers are missing the boat by visiting only Washington, D.C. and New York City during the visits to the United States. A city like Plattsburgh offers so much more. He could still give his speeches -- we do have large venues such as the Plattsburgh State Field House and Hawkins Hall. And he could still say his Masses, and be assisted by some of the finest North Country priests.
Heck, Pope Benedict XVI is even going to Yankee Stadium on Sunday. He might be mighty upset when he finds out that the Yankees are playing in Baltimore that day. You might hear him say a papal word or two when he gets that news.
The only Pope I've ever seen in Plattsburgh is Nick Pope. I think it's time to change the Pope's itinerary before it's too late. Let's get him to Plattsburgh so he can see what the good old USA is really like.
Comments
Hey Fox!
Just wanted to drop you a line and tell you that I was at Yankee Stadium on April 17th. They were playing the Red Sox. The Red Sox won (darn it.) A kid in his 20's showed up at the game dressed as the pope. It was a riot! Just thought I would give you a laugh today!!
(Foxy's note: Congrats on getting to Yankee Stadium in its final season. A true fan.)
Posted by: Auntyellow | April 24, 2008 12:26 PM
Ross,
I agree. The Yankees are going to need some sort of intervention if they want to beat the Red Sox!
Posted by: Kathy | April 20, 2008 8:49 PM
Hey Foxy,
Just caught up on a few blogs and it strikes me as odd that the Pope is the only religious leader who makes news during visits to the States.
He should go to the Burg. The sight of him samplng the Michigans would be great PR for the City. Unfortunately, rumor has it that the Pope is never filmed while eating; hence no appearances at dinners, lunches or snacking. It's an image thing, I guess.
Best always,
Gary
(Foxy's note: Welcome back to the blog, Gary!)
Posted by: GLH | April 19, 2008 9:02 AM
Hey Fox ,reporting in from florida... no sign of the Pope down here... although I did run into one of your old Catholic teamates... played golf with your old buddy Mike Flynn.. made the mistake of asking him about " the Bus ride" you mentioned in a previous blog, you were wrong??? ya gotta make sure you've got about 2 hours to hear the story!
Give my best to The Donald and the boys at City Hall. Might have gotten the Pope to the Burgh if we had invited him to break the tie on that Planned Parenthood March /parking spaces debate!
Have Craig bless the Gracie's sacred wine at Meron's ..I'll be home soon!
(Foxy's note: Hey, The Carver, we've got Florida weather right here in Plattsburgh. Come on home!)
Posted by: the carver | April 19, 2008 8:08 AM
Yeah since he comes to big cities he should come to historic plattsburgh. we have such a rich heritage in the north country why doesn't he come and encourage our great heritage!!! We have so many churches here named after catholic saints come on!!! He just comes to the big cites all the time, and if he did come here he would get the same or even maybe better welcome from the North Country cause we have a voice too!! I should rap this up but, what im trying to say is we might be a small county but we have a big voice!!!!!!! Read All of it foxy!!! lol!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Rockandrollsoothesmysoul | April 18, 2008 9:20 PM
I am at the beck and call of the Pope and our blogoteer extraordinaire, Foxy Gagnon. Maybe the Pope would like to take part in future fishing tournaments --- we all have read stories about the fish and loaves. Instead of Baltimore catechism we could change to Plattsburgh catechism. And of course, if the Pope would visit, God does know i need all sorts of divine assistance!
But, if the Pontiff is going to settle in NYC, we Red Sox fans know he will bless the BoSox!
Posted by: The Donald | April 18, 2008 4:50 PM
Even the Pope wanted to get to Yankee Stadium in its last year! Must be he was unable to get tickets for last night's game, Stub Hub price was too high. Notice he chose Yankee Stadium over Fenway? Yanks will be back on top this year thanks to this divine intervention by the Holy Father!!!
Posted by: Ross | April 18, 2008 10:36 AM
Foxy,
Maybe the pope feels, and rightly so, that there are a lot more people in New York City and Washington D C that are in need of his help.
I think that the pope should first go to his planned places and then go to Plattsburgh to see that not everywhere in the states is that bad.
Posted by: Kathy | April 17, 2008 11:42 PM
Foxy,
I think your proposed Papal itinerary is a great one. I'd like to add an idea for his sendoff ceremony.
The Holy Father could hear the confession of one Foxy Gagnon at Merons with a gathering of all the Blogoteers. As you would be confessing your sins, the rest of us could be enjoying our Holy Water of choice. It would be a fun two or three days.
Craig Mathews
Posted by: Craig Mathews | April 17, 2008 11:16 AM