People of Sioux City Diocese remember Pope John Paul II

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
April 14, 2005

Parishes and schools throughout the Diocese of Sioux City found different ways to mourn the loss of Pope John Paul II on the day of his funeral and throughout the week before.

One priest, Father Joe Dillinger, pastor at Holy Family Church in Lidderdale and St. Elizabeth Seton in Glidden, held a Mass at 3 a.m. on April 8 to coincide with the pope's funeral as it was being celebrated in Rome at 10 a.m.

"For me it was just a simple thing that we could do as a parish to show our oneness with the other people around the world who are Catholic," said Father Dillinger. "We are supporting those who mourn but we are also celebrating the life of someone that was very important in our church."

According to Father Dillinger, there were about 27 people who attended the Mass. The Mass lasted about 30 minutes with no music. The readings from the day were proclaimed, with the exception of the first reading being replaced with something that pertained to what Father Dillinger was preaching about.

"I talked about the importance of the pope's prayer life," said Father Dillinger. "What struck me more than anything was that he was a person of prayer. One time someone asked the pope how he prays. He said by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Father Dillinger explained that the Mass was simple. Before the Mass, the priest was praying in the back of church and two women came in at 2:30 a.m. They kneeled in the front of church until 3 a.m. and stayed for Mass. He added that he did not know the women or where they came from.

"That is one of the things that struck me. This is important to someone," said Father Dillenger.

At the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City, Msgr. Roger Augustine, diocesan administrator presided over a Mass in memory of the pope on April 4.

A book of condolences was displayed in front of a portrait of the Holy Father and a papal flag. There was also a candle burning by the items on display.

People attending the Mass were encouraged to sign the book. Father Paul-Louis Arts, rector at Cathedral, noted that a little over 1,000 people wrote in the book of condolences.

Father Arts commented that he would find flowers brought in by people and placed by the book and pope's picture.

"We officially had the book because this is the Cathedral," said Father Arts. "We left it open to people, many Protestants signed it."

The book will be given to the Diocese of Sioux City. Father Arts thinks they will put it in the archives. The book was displayed until April 12, however the portrait and flag will remain until the conclave starts, he explained.

The day of the funeral there was a memorial Mass held at Cathedral for Pope John Paul II. Father Arts added that they will be doing something when the new Holy Father is elected.

Students from Bishop Heelan High School in Sioux City were able experience a memorial Mass in Little Rock, Ark. while on a choral tour.

The choir was supposed to perform a concert at the Cathedral of St. Andrew on April 8 but plans changed when they were able to sing for the pope's memorial Mass instead. The Heelan choir gave a 30-minute concert prior to the Mass as well as singing selections from their concert during the Mass.

"It was really interesting for the kids because the Little Rock bishop said the Mass, and it was a bilingual Mass. Everything was done in English and Spanish at the same time, which was new for a lot of our kids," said Storm.

Storm noted that normally when the group goes on tour their crowds are pretty small. There are usually 15 to 20 people in the audience. At the Mass in Arkansas, there were about 620 people in the audience.

"I think it was something that really gave them a drive for the tour," said Storm. "They knew that that was the highlight or really where they were going to have the most impact on an audience was going to be that Friday night. Just being there and being able to celebrate a Mass on the day they buried the pope was a special connection for the kids to have."