April 15, 2008

POPE WILL TAKE REMINDER OF BROOKLYN BACK TO ROME

When Pope Benedict XVI leaves John F. Kennedy Airport Sunday evening and returns to Rome on “Shepherd One,” he will carry with him a replica of the massive stained glass window of the Immaculate Conception that adorns St. James Cathedral Basilica in Brooklyn.

Created by the Franz Meyer Company of Munich, the window was placed in the downtown Brooklyn edifice in l904, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the proclamation by Pope Pius IX of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception.

The Holy Father will accept the glass replica, as well as a bouquet of white and yellow flowers, from four elementary school-age children: Eric Flores, 12; Grace Wiederhold, ten; Yael Barber, eight, and Casey Kim, also eight. Their families are originally from Ecuador, Germany, Trinidad and Korea respectively.

The youngsters will present the gifts at the conclusion of the departure ceremony that will take place in an airport hangar transformed into an appropriate setting for an appearance by the pontiff.

Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife, Lynne, will join Pope Benedict at the closing civil ceremony. More than 4,000 people will be in attendance when Mr. Cheney and the Holy Father deliver brief remarks after the playing of the Vatican and National Anthems by the Fort Hamilton Army Band.

An extensive program of sacred music and recitation of the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary in English, Polish, Italian, Tagalog and Korean will precede the civil ceremony. Charles Mallia, the director of music for the Diocese, will lead a series of performances by the Diocesan Vicariate Choir, the Diocesan High School Choir and the Diocesan Youth Choir.

Also performing will be the St. Francis Prep String Ensemble and the St. James Cathedral Brass.

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio will join many U.S.Cardinals members of the hierarchy and members of the Papal Entourage at the departure.

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