Continued… Archbishop Chaput says that when Pope Francis comes to Philadelp
hia for two days at the end of September, his pastoral mission will have a dual purpose. The Pope’s participation in the closing of the World Meeting of Families conference is one key element and the other is reinvigorating the Philadelphia archdiocese and the local churches themselves – battered in recent years by financial woes, closure and consolidation of churches and schools, and the painful clerical abuse scandal. An outdoor public mass by Pope Francis along Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway — near the iconic “Rocky” steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum — is expected to draw so Archbishop says “I’m most excited and anxious at the same time, because we have a lot of responsibilities for protecting the Holy Father and protecting the people who come to see him.” By the end of August 2014, nearly all was set, the church was chosen, hall booked, flowers picked, the groomsmen’s tuxes and the brides maids dresses selected, planning was going smoothly for Brittany Lowell, a 26-year-old legal secretary and dance instructor, and her future husband, Jeff Doney, for their upcoming wedding in Philadelphia on Saturday Sept. 26. Then last November they found out that Pope Francis would be in the City on the same day. “As soon as that happened I went into panic mode” said Lowell. It’s not the serious influx of visitors or the traffic or the increased security that is causing the problem, rather, finding a place for the newlyweds-to-be and their guests to stay. Anticipating the pontiff’s trip, hotels blacked out large portions of the 30,000 rooms in the Philadelphia region to accommodate visitors for the Catholic conference and historic visit. The couple called hotels around their venue. Each time, they were told there was either no room at the inn or they needed to book extended stays. Lowell and Doney have guest traveling a long way, but at $300 a night with a three-night minimum, “No one’s going to pay $1,000 to stay for our wedding.“ She says, she is concerned even for those within driving distance, who would be driving home after the nuptials. Lowell was able to secure a small room block about 30 miles away, but expects her 200-person head count to drop. They included a warning to their guests about the Pope’s visit in the Save the Dates cards. “Something that’s so positive for the city and so positive for Catholics is turning out to be not so positive for me,” she said. “I’m honestly surprised that the priest hasn’t called to cancel.” Some couples in the same situation have been able to move their wedding date without penalty and the ten months’ notice has helped. All the wedding couples interviewed agreed that Pope Francis’ visit is great for the city and they’re trying to make the best of the situation. to be continued…
Sources: Religious News Service, NBC.com