September 16, 2015

PORTLAND---Excitement continues to grow in advance of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Journey to the United States (Sept. 22-27).

During his journey, the Holy Father will visit Washington, D.C., New York City, and Philadelphia for a number of special events (complete schedule below), and many Maine clergy and laypeople will be in attendance at various moments during the historic week.

Bishop Robert P. Deeley

• On Wednesday, September 23, Bishop Deeley will join the other U.S. Bishops for midday prayer with Pope Francis at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, D.C., at 11:30 a.m.
• Also on Wednesday, Bishop Deeley will attend the Mass of Canonization of Junípero Serra, celebrated by the Holy Father, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception at 4:15 p.m..
• On Saturday, September 26, at 11:30 a.m., Bishop Deeley will serve as the main celebrant and homilist at a Mass at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Over 1200 people are expected to attend, including delegations from dioceses across the country that have made the trip to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families and the Papal Mass.
  
• On Saturday evening, Bishop Deeley will accompany the Maine delegation (described below) to the Festival of Families on Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Pope Francis is scheduled to arrive at the festival at 7:30 p.m.
  
• On Sunday, September 27, at 9:15 a.m., Pope Francis will meet with Bishop Deeley and the other U.S. Bishops at St. Martin’s Chapel at St. Charles Borromeo in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.
  
• Also on Sunday, Bishop Deeley will attend the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families, celebrated by the Holy Father, at 4 p.m.

Father Michael J. Seavey

U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) has invited Fr. Michael J. Seavey, administrator of Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Parish and pastor of the other Portland Peninsula & Island Parishes, to be his personal guest when Pope Francis addresses a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress on Thursday, September 24, at 9:20 a.m. As Senator King’s guest, Fr. Seavey will sit in the gallery of the House of Representatives during the Holy Father’s address.

Maine Delegation

On Friday, September 25, at 6:45 a.m., a delegation of Maine Catholics will depart the Chancery, located on 510 Ocean Avenue in Portland, and travel by bus to Philadelphia for a weekend of activities:

• Saturday, September 26
  Mass, 11:30 a.m., National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown, Pennsylvania
  (Bishop Deeley will serve as the main celebrant and homilist at the Mass which is expected to draw over 1200 people, including delegations from dioceses across the country.)
  
  The Maine delegation will also visit the National Shrine of St. John Neumann and attend the Festival of Families on Benjamin Franklin Parkway, both in Philadelphia.
  
• Sunday, September 27

Outdoor Papal Mass
Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Additional Connections

• On Wednesday, September 23, at 9:15 a.m., Pope Francis will become just the third pope to visit the White House. A large crowd of invited guests will gather on the South Lawn to help President Obama greet the pope, including Suzanne Lafreniere, the director of public policy for the diocese, and Fr. John D. Dickinson, who is currently pursuing advanced studies at the School of Canon Law at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and most recently served as parochial vicar at Good Shepherd Parish in Saco.

• Steve Letourneau, executive director of Catholic Charities Maine will attend either the South Lawn gathering or the joint meeting of the U.S. Congress (to be determined).
  
• A Maine-based company will also have a “front seat” to history during Sunday’s outdoor Papal Mass, which is expected to draw nearly one million people. Thos. Moser Handmade American Furniture, located on 149 Main Street in Freeport with six showrooms around the country, built the Windsor-style Catena chair in which Pope Francis will sit during the Mass.

Below is the schedule for Pope Francis’ Apostolic Journey to the United States, released by the Vatican. For updates during the coming week, visit www.usccb.org/about/leadership/holy-see/francis/papal-visit-2015/.

Tuesday, September 22 (Washington, D.C.)

4:00 p.m. Arrival from Cuba at Joint Base Andrews

Wednesday, September 23 (Washington, D.C.)

9:15 a.m. Welcome ceremony and Meeting with President Obama at the White House
11:00 a.m. Papal Parade along the Ellipse and the National Mall (time approximate)
11:30 a.m. Midday Prayer with the Bishops of the United States, St. Matthew's Cathedral
4:15 p.m. Mass of Canonization of Junípero Serra, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

Thursday, September 24 (Washington, D.C.; New York City)

9:20 a.m. Address to Joint Meeting of the United States Congress
11:15 a.m. Visit to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Washington, D.C., and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington
4:00 p.m. Depart from Joint Base Andrews
5:00 p.m. Arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport
6:45 p.m. Evening Prayer (Vespers) at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City

Friday, September 25 (New York City)

8:30 a.m. Visit to the United Nations and Address to the United Nations General Assembly
11:30 a.m. Multi-religious service at 9/11 Memorial and Museum, World Trade Center
4:00 p.m. Visit to Our Lady Queen of Angels School, East Harlem
5:00 p.m. Procession through Central Park (time approximate)
6:00 p.m. Mass at Madison Square Garden

Saturday, September 26 (New York City; Philadelphia)

8:40 a.m. Departure from John F. Kennedy International Airport
9:30 a.m. Arrival at Atlantic Aviation, Philadelphia
10:30 a.m. Mass at Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, Philadelphia
4:45 p.m. Visit to Independence Mall
7:30 p.m. Visit to the Festival of Families, Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Sunday, September 27 (Philadelphia)

9:15 a.m. Meeting with bishops at St. Martin's Chapel, St. Charles Borromeo Seminary
11:00 a.m. Visit to Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility
4:00 p.m. Mass for the conclusion of the World Meeting of Families, Benjamin Franklin Parkway
7:00 p.m. Visit with organizers, volunteers, and benefactors of the World Meeting of Families, Atlantic Aviation
8:00 p.m. Departure for Rome
During the week, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops will livestream over six days of free, online video coverage of the Papal events, including commentary from special guests. The events include: the Canonization Mass of Blessed Junípero Serra, the Holy Father's visit to Catholic Charities in Washington, Vespers at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York, Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia, blessing and remarks on Independence Mall, the Festival of Families, the Holy Father's visit to St. Charles Borromeo Seminary and the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility, as well as the closing Mass of the World Meeting of Families on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia. To access the livestream, visit www.usccb.org/live . All events will also be available on-demand by visiting www.usccb.org/about/leadership/holy-see/francis/papal-visit-2015/papal-visit-2015-video-on-demand.cfm.
For more information, contact Dave Guthro, Communications Director for the Diocese of Portland, at (207) 321-7810 or [email protected] .