PROVIDENCE
- Two priests in the Diocese of
Providence, Fathers S. Matthew Glover and Michael A. Colello,
consider themselves fortunate to have been studying at the Pontifical North
American College in Rome, during the time of Pope John Paul II's papacy.
As the one year anniversary of the pope's April 2 death approaches and Bishop
Thomas J. Tobin marks the event with a 2 p.m. Mass at the Cathedral of SS. Peter
& Paul, they recently reflected on that time in their lives - their personal
experiences with Pope John Paul II, and their emotions when they learned that he
had died.
Father Glover, who was ordained to the priesthood on June 26, 2004, and is now
assistant pastor at St. Luke's in Barrington, recalled the many nights he
returned to another St. Luke's - this one in Rome where he lived while he
studied for the priesthood. Back then, every time he returned to his room, he
made a point of glancing at the papal residence, and he was comforted to find a
light burning in the papal apartment. He also recalled the night that light was
extinguished and he heard the news that Pope John Paul II had died. He said he
felt as though he had lost not only a wonderful friend and priest, but a beloved
neighbor.
Both priests recalled their sadness and feelings of personal loss - emotions
felt worldwide by those who had come to love and respect the man whom some
called a voice of conscience and modern-day apostle for the church.
Father Glover said he was comforted during this sad time by two priest friends
from the Archdiocese of Detroit who happened to be visiting Rome at the time. To
this day, he believes that the fact that the pope had died on an important feast
day - Divine Mercy Sunday - must have special meaning.
Father Colello, who was ordained to the priesthood on June 23, 2001, and is now
assistant pastor at St. Philip's in Greenville, said he will never forget one
particular opportunity he had to be in the presence of the pope. That occurred
during the midnight Mass, Dec. 31, 1999 - the eve of the dawning of the New
Millennium. Only 20 tickets, drawn by lottery, were available to students at the
Pontifical North American College and Father Colello was fortunate to win one of
them. He recalls the wonder he felt, being one of the pilgrims to follow the
pope through St. Peter's Basilica and then through the Holy Doors which, by a
tradition established in 1425, have been sealed and opened every 25 years.
"He put a human face on the message of Jesus. It was an awesome, almost
magical experience, to follow the man whom our faith teaches is the vicar of
Christ through that door" which had been sealed for 25 years.
Father Glover's personal meeting with the pope occurred two years ago, on
Thanksgiving, just months before he was ordained. He was among the 20-30 invited
to a private Mass with the pope, which took place in a small chapel.
"As I knelt before this man of great faith and love, I asked him to bless
my family and I said a word of personal thanks because I was fortunate to meet
this man who was the type of priest I wanted to be," he said. "I asked
him, also, to pray for me. He nodded, then gave me rosary beads which has his
seal, the words 'Totus Tuus' ('All Yours'), engraved on them." Father
Glover said he gave the special rosary beads to his mother.
Father Colello, too, has a special memento of the pope. His is a chalice,
purchased by his parents and grandparents and given to him shortly before
ordination. He said he delivered the chalice in 2001 to the porter's office at
the Vatican and that Pope John Paul II used the chalice when he celebrated a
Mass, as was a tradition carried out for each of those nearing completion of
their studies. Father Colello was given a card by Vatican officials, which he
had framed and which states that the chalice was, indeed, used in the
celebration of Mass by Pope John Paul II.
Father Colello added that should the pope be one day beatified and canonized,
his chalice will become a third-class relic because the pope's lips touched it.
Father Glover said he believes one of Pope John Paul's legacies is his living
out the teachings of the Second Vatican Council. He called him the "world's
pope," evidenced by his making God's love visible and tangible through his
many travels. During his papacy, Pope John Paul II visited 129 countries in 104
trips outside of Italy, including seven to the United States, often evangelizing
in his audience's own language. His writings, too, were prolific, including
three encyclicals on social issues and economic justice.
When Pope John Paul II was elected, he was an energetic 58 years old, but in the
latter years of his 26-year papacy, he gradually lost his ability to walk, stand
and express himself clearly. Because his aging was so public, Father Glover
said, he showed us not only how to live, but how to die. "His profound,
great dignity and respect for the human person - from the beginning of life to
the end of life" - was a hallmark of his papacy.
Father Colello said he believes the pope would be happy to know that the work he
began is continuing. "He left us with a rich treasure of gifts," among
those "to love generously and to forgive readily," he said.
Father Glover said the pope renewed pride in being Catholic and enthusiasm for
the faith. "He gave us great love - love for our faith and the great gift
to live it." He added that he feels privileged to follow in the pope's
footsteps and it is "with great enthusiasm that I follow."
Father Colello said that Pope John Paul was respected universally. "He was
regarded as truly a good man who will be remembered as a great defender of life,
love, family, children and women, ... and of the poorest of the poor, the most
vulnerable and the weakest. He is an icon of the mercy of God."
He added that the pope did much to revive the sense of Catholic pride. "He
made us proud to be Catholic."
©2006 The Providence Visitor