Priest shares excitement about visit from pope
More local residents are attending the Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI in Washington, D.C., today as part of the pope’s visit to the United States. The Rev. Joseph R. David, pastor, and subdeacon Thomas R. George of St. George Maronite Church in Uniontown are planning to be at Nationals Park this morning.
“I’m absolutely excited,’ said David. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I saw Pope John Paul II in ’94.’
David left Wednesday afternoon, accompanied by the Rev. Rudolph Wakim, pastor of Our Lady of Victory Maronite Church in Carnegie and the Rev. Kevin Beaton, pastor of St. John the Baptist Maronite Church of New Castle.
Speaking five minutes before he was scheduled to depart, David said that the Rev. Thomas Wesdock, pastor of St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church in Uniontown, also would be at the Mass. Wesdock was unable to be contacted, and David said Wesdock had already left.
David also reported that Bishop Gregory J. Mansour of the Eparchy of St. Maron in Brooklyn, N.Y., and a former pastor of St. George in Uniontown, will attend the Mass.
Asked about Pope Benedict XVI, David said, “This man is a blessing for the Church. The Holy Spirit was moving when he was chosen. He’s a great shepherd, steering the ship in difficult waters and waving the flag of Christ. It’s such a calm and peaceful way that he comes across.’
David and his fellow priests planned to stay Wednesday at a Maronite Catholic seminary in Silver Springs, Md., where they would concelebrate a Mass with priests and enjoy a meal with the seminarians.
They planned to leave early today to attend the Mass at Nationals Park, which is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
Other local residents attending include a group of parishioners from St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Uniontown as well as the Rev. Joseph Sredzinski, a Uniontown native who is now stationed in Greensburg.
In addition, St. Vincent College in Latrobe is sending a group of students who will be accompanied by members of the campus ministry to the Mass celebrated by the pope in Yankee Stadium in New York City on Sunday.