Salve Regina Community Takes Time to Remember

By: Anne Falcetano
Posted In: Entertainment

NEWPORT, R.I. – Students, teachers and members of the Newport community took time out of their day to remember the late Pope John Paul II Friday, in a mass at Ochre Court.

Providence Bishop Thomas J. Tobin asked the churches in Rhode Island to celebrate Mass honoring the late pope together with churches around the world.

The Rev. John Codega, Salve Regina University’s chaplain, led the congregation Friday afternoon. “It’s an opportunity for the students who have a personal connection with the Holy Father to have a chance to take the time out of their schedules to pray,” Codega said. “For those who are practicing their faith, this man has been incredible reaching out to young adults.”

Codega brought a bit of the Mass in Vatican City to the chapel here on campus this morning. The same readings that were heard by approximately 4 million people at the Mass in Vatican City were read in Ochre Court today.

“Be not afraid” was the theme of the Mass, a statement that the Holy Father made while speaking from his window in 1978. The idea of going through life without fear is something that Pope John Paul II has lived his life by. That life that included death of close family members at a young age, persecution by the Nazis and an assassination attempt in 1981. His 26 years as pope have followed the same theme.

In his homily Friday, as well as last Sunday, Codega noted that there are Salve Regina students who have been witnesses to the pope, and in losing a pope they have “truly lost a friend.”

The group attending the service was a mix from the entire Salve community and Newport alike. Students and teachers, including University President Sister M. Therese Antone, took a break from Friday classes to attend. So did students still tired from the previous night out.

“There were a lot more people of the Newport community not affiliated with the university than I expected,” noted Dana Plouffe, a sophomore at Salve who attends Sunday Mass regularly.

Patrick Gram, also a sophomore at Salve, does not usually attend Mass but felt today was an important day to go. “I haven’t been to church in a long time,” said Gram, “and my mom would be really proud that I went.”

“We have yet begun to experience the life of Pope John Paul [II]” said Codega. The former pope’s legacy will live on within the youth, a group of people whom he focused his attention on during his reign as pope.

“It’s not sad. It’s an exciting time,” said Codega after the Mass. In the next few weeks it will be the role of the 117 cardinals to elect a new pope. There will be great debate over which country he will come from and what his beliefs will be.

Codega stated that he would like to see a pope come from an impoverished or Third World country where religion is flourishing.

However, it does not seem as though there will be a great shift in theology and politics of the Catholic Church with the next pope. Throughout the entire process Codega and his congregation at Salve Regina University will be celebrating this exciting time and historical event.