Parishes each get 1 ticket for papal Mass

One lucky representative from each parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany will have the opportunity to attend a Sept. 25 Mass led by Pope Francis. And some parishes are determining who that person will be by drawing names.

Local parishes got word this weekend that each will be given one ticket to the Madison Square Garden Mass. The tickets, 126 in total, will come to the Albany Diocese through the Archdiocese of New York, host diocese for the papal event.

“We are trying to disperse them as equitably as possible, trying to give all of our parishes representation at the event,” said Mary DeTurris Poust, spokeswoman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany.

An additional 50 tickets will be reserved for teenagers from the Albany Diocese, who will be chosen to attend the Mass by lottery, along with five chaperones. Further details on the lottery will likely be announced later in the week, DeTurris Poust said.

Word went out this weekend at Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Parish in Schenectady about the ticket giveaway for the papal Mass. All parishioners interested in attending were asked to

call or email Deacon Tom Sharrow by Tuesday afternoon to become part of a drawing.

Sharrow said he received just 15 responses.

“I think everybody kind of thinks they’re going to see it better on TV, unless they get a really good seat and [Pope Francis] happens to go by them,” he said.

Names are also going in a hat at St. Luke’s Roman Catholic Church and St. Joseph’s Church, both in Schenectady. Parishioners will get the official announcement about the ticket giveaway Sunday, said the Rev. Dominic P. Isopo, who serves as pastor at both churches. He predicted response to the drawing won’t be overwhelming, since the giveaway includes just one ticket. He also speculated that the expected crowds and the difficulties of transportation in New York City will be deterrents.

“What I’m hearing from most people is that it would be better to watch it on television, but some people like to go for the spirit of the moment,” he said.

Staff will get first dibs on the ticket at Our Lady of Grace Church in Ballston Lake, said Dorothy Sokol, the church’s parish life director. If no staff member claims the ticket, she said she plans to put interested parishioners’ names in a hat and hold a drawing.

Sokol said interest in Pope Francis extends beyond diehard churchgoers.

“I think he is bringing a lot of healing to members who have been disheartened,” she said.

“Even non-Catholics are excited about seeing him,” said DeTurris Poust. “We are getting many calls from people who would really love to go. So it’s just a matter of, there just aren’t enough tickets to go around.”

Word about the ticket giveaway went out Tuesday morning to employees of St. Clement’s Roman Catholic Church in Saratoga Springs. Receptionist Chris Bean said she had not heard from anyone interested in claiming the ticket as of early Tuesday afternoon.

“I personally wouldn’t want to be in the crowd,” she commented.

Ed Kilmer, a parishioner at St. Luke’s Roman Catholic Church in Schenectady, shared a similar sentiment.

“I think you could do better on TV,” he said, before attending Mass Tuesday morning. “I don’t want no part of that crowd.”

Other parishioners were of a different mind. Frank Kohler of Schenectady said he would enjoy being in the pope’s presence.

“He’s such a charismatic person and he seems to really love the people,” Kohler said.

Mark Jachimecki of Niskayuna said he would also be interested in attending the papal Mass.

“Why wouldn’t you want to go? It’s the pope!” he exclaimed.

first trip to U.S.

The Mass will be part of the religious leader’s first trip to the United States since becoming pope. His appearance will also mark the first papal visit to New York state since 2008, when Pope Benedict XVI held Mass before a crowd of nearly 60,000 at Yankee Stadium.

Madison Square Garden is a smaller venue, with a capacity of about 20,000.

While in New York, the pope will also make appearances at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the United Nations Headquarters, the Ground Zero memorial and a school in Harlem.

“It’s going to be very busy. The security is going to be very tight. It’s going to be very hard to see him if you don’t actually have a ticket,” said DeTurris Poust.

In July, Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a warning about ticket fraud, urging consumers not to respond to any solicitation about purchasing tickets for any of the pope’s scheduled events in New York City, as tickets will not be sold and can only be obtained through the various Archdiocese in New York State and their parishes.

The general public had an opportunity to enter a lottery for tickets to the pope’s Sept. 25 Central Park Procession, but registration for that contest has closed, according to the official website of New York City.

Categories: News, Schenectady County