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Pope John Paul II: 1920 - 2005

In church, memories of pope pour out

Parishioners are asked to pray for the pope and for those who must choose the next pontiff.

By LOGAN NEILL
Published April 4, 2005

	[Times photo: Kathleen Flynn]
	Parishioners hold hands during Mass at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church on Sunday, the day after the death of Pope John Paul II. Photo gallery: Honoring the pope

SPRING HILL - The death of Pope John Paul II on Saturday gave Shana Williamson extra reason to attend the 11 a.m. Mass at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church on Sunday morning. She wanted to offer her own prayers and personal blessings to the only pontiff she has ever known.

"He was a great man of the people whether they were Catholic or not," the 28-year-old said. "He had a way of making you feel good about yourself."

Such was the reaction of many of the church's parishioners who filled the sanctuary to capacity for three Masses. Their hearts heavy from the news of the 84-year-old pontiff's passing, many said they sought comfort through the service.

"I sensed a tinge of sadness among our church members," said Rev. Raymond O'Neill, longtime priest at St. Joan of Arc. "I think many people had been expecting it because they knew he had been struggling so hard near the end. Once he passed, I think there was a touch of joy too, joy that this great man is finally at rest."

However, O'Neill didn't dwell on the pope's passing during his sermon. Rather, he devoted much of the service to the subject of redemption of faith, a topic he had chosen to commemorate the Sunday after Easter known as Divine Mercy Sunday.

Turning to the subject of Pope John Paul II, O'Neill asked church members to offer their prayers for him and to pray for the men whose task it will be to choose a new pope.

"The era of John Paul II is over," O'Neill said. "Now we must please pray for the cardinals who will decide who will lead the church, and who will face the many challenges that lie ahead."

Longtime church member Ellen Mills believes that finding a candidate with the universal appeal of John Paul II will be tough.

"He was very likable and you could tell that by the way he interacted with people," Hill said. "He was able to bring people together and unify them no matter what faith they were. A pope has to be able to do that with the way the world is these days."

For the younger members of the church, the pope's passing was a sad event that touched them deeply. Fifteen-year-old Jeanine Panepinto remembers the pontiff as someone who truly cared about people her age.

"He helped to change a lot of things and worked hard for peace," said the teen. "That meant a lot to me."

Jeanine's mother, Gina Panepinto, agrees. As director of youth ministries at St. Joan of Arc, she believed John Paul II's interest in youth programs such as World Youth Day encouraged more young people to become active in their churches.

Said Panepinto, "He believed in kids and their ability to put their energy to work positively. Young people will truly miss him."

[Last modified April 4, 2005, 01:26:10]