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Mass recalls pope's youth in Poland
By PAULETTE LASH RITCHIE, Times Staff WriterAbout 500 mourners attended an emotional memorial for John Paul II. "He knew human nature better than anyone else," the pastor says.
Published April 9, 2005
LECANTO - As rain pounded Citrus County on Thursday night, the Rev. Richard Jankowski described it as "angels crying while we are praying for our holy father."
The weather may have kept away some, but about 500 mourning faithful from six Citrus County Catholic parishes attended the Mass of Resurrection at St. Scholastica Catholic Church in Lecanto honoring the memory of Pope John Paul II. Nine priests, five deacons and five altar servers conducted the memorial, which began with a PowerPoint presentation chronicling the pope's life from infancy to his final days.
Throughout the service the church bell tolled quietly in the background.
With the ancient tradition of incense in the air, parishioners sang, heard holy readings, prayed and listened to the words of St. Scholastica's pastor, Jankowski. He said he felt inadequate; that words cannot describe what John Paul II did to "change the face of the Earth."
Jankowski recounted the pope's youth in Poland, how he lost his mother at age 9, his brother at age 12 and his father by the end of his high school years. He shared a story about Karol Wojtyla's childhood.
As a child, he said, the pope was "a great soccer player."
His best talent was as goalie. One day his team of Catholic boys was to play the local team of Jewish boys. The Catholics outnumbered the Jewish children and to even things out, Wojtyla offered to play on the Jewish team. He even took the position of goalie. It was the first time in the town's history, Jankowski said, that the Jews won. Facing his annoyed Catholic friends, Wojtyla told them, "They need to feel good about themselves, too."
"This sums up his character for the rest of his life," Jankowski said. "He knew human nature better than anyone else."
Jankowski mentioned the school that bears the pontiff's name, Pope John Paul II Catholic School, adjacent to St. Scholastica. "When someone dies," he said, "we send cards, flowers, something for his memory. Here in Citrus County we have Pope John Paul II Catholic School."
The school is a living memorial, he said. A foundation will be set up to help students attend the school as a memorial to the pope. Donors, Jankowski said, may call the school at 746-2020.
As Jankowski ended his homily, he referred to the pope as a "great defender of his flock and gentle guide of us all." When he finished with a final prayer for eternal rest given in Polish, in an uncommon gesture, the congregation broke into applause.
When the 90-minute service concluded, Kathi and Bill Richel, who attend St. Scholastica, shared why they had braved the storm to attend that evening. "Out of respect for the death of the pope and to celebrate his rising," Kathi Richel said.
"(I) just wanted to partake in some way," her husband said.
Colette Watson, of St. Benedict's in Crystal River, was at the service with her mother and children.
"I came for lots of reasons. I wanted my children to share in this celebration. I think the spirit of John Paul will reach a whole new level of evangelization," she said.
Watson's mother left the emotional memorial Mass, unable to comment. "I'm at a loss," she said.
Outside, the sky had cleared.