. . .But! . . . But! . . . But!

 If you are just "Tuning In" to this Blog, you might want to back up a bit. I have been recounting some memories from 1987 and the Papal Visit of John Paul II to Detroit. This series, continuing here, begins with the Blog published August 9.

As traffic flow patterns emerged and were agreed upon, concrete plans began to emerge regarding the process of distributing Communion at the Pontiac Silverdome to a hundred thousand faithful (give or take a few) within the framework of some eighteen allowed minutes.

One of the major questions to emerge concerned reaching that third deck, bleachers shall we call it?

It was distant. It was significantly huge and, therefore, a significant number of ministers would be needed there and needed quickly to meet the challenge. Elevators were available but certainly not sufficient to move that number that quickly.

Solution?

Well, have them already in place. They would be located in seats strategically, ready to spring into action when the time arrived. No need to move them. They would already be in place.

But . . .

Seems the "Powers that Be" (read that to be so-called higher ups either in offices Downtown with the Archdiocese of Detroit or with the Liturgy Offices of the US Conference of Bishops in Washington) stepped in to raise a concern.

How would the Consecrated Hosts get into the hands of those distant ministers?

Well, the logical solution seemed to be that they would already have ciboria (Eucharistic containers) with them and the hosts would already be where needed and ready for distribution.

But . . .

The Powers that Be determined that perhaps the Papal words of Institution in the Eucharistic Prayer would not be able to reach all that far. The hosts for consecration had to be closer, proximate to the altar.

So we could have the ministers in place but the hosts for distribution somehow would have to reach them. The hosts would have to start at ground level, near the altar.

Which meant that a special platform would have to be constructed to hold a multitude of containers filled appropriately with the hosts for consecration.

We could get that done.

But . . .

Again a ruling from the Powers that Be. 

Seems that it was somehow, somewhere required that containers such as these filled with hosts for consecration had to be held and actually lifted during those words of Institution.

And that would mean a significant section of seating with a significant number of those 734 ministers would have to be within reach of that platform and those containers and during the Eucharistic Prayer they would have to be trained to step forward and take and hold and lift those ciboria.

We could get that done.

But . . .

Among that number there would be a significant number of females and they would be among those holding and lifting the ciboria.

And the Powers that Be had a serious concern.

Women would be actually holding containers with hosts during the time they were being consecrated.

Why! Someone might think they were concelebrating or something!

Perish the thought!

Only to that concern all I could offer was the observation that neither I nor anyone else could control what some folk may be thinking. We had a challenge to meet and we needed the proper resources to get it done.

End of story!

Oh, but there is still more to this whole saga, so please come back!

Meantime, Keep Praying . . . and Stay Safe!

734

 That was the magic number.

734!

As plans became more concrete and traffic flow diagrams developed, the number 734 began to emerge as the total number of Eucharistic Ministers that would be needed to make happen the efficient (hopefully) distribution of Communion to roughly the hundred-thousand faithful projected to be present at the Silverdome for the Papal Mass.

734 could, conceivably make this happen and in eighteen minutes!

The next task became recruiting that number and then scheduling training for them.

And there was one more tiny hook.

Liturgical regulations required that, before any laity could be used for this purpose, clergy, you know, the ordained sort, had to be recruited and utilized. Once that was properly done, then and only then could laity be added to that number.

But how contact and/or recruit possible clergy. The immediate, Detroit Archdiocese, would be easy but the reality was that it was likely that clergy would be coming from other areas around the state, around the country and even Canada. 

We had to be realistic.

Notice would be sent to the Detroit clergy.

Notice would be placed in appropriate clergy newsletters around the country.

And a deadline would have to be set.

And when all was said and done, the recruiting of laity began.

Letters were sent to all Archdiocesan parishes asking to have qualified lay ministers named.

Then things got a bit more interesting - a question emerged and a rather surprising comment as well.

The question? Can we include women?

1987 remember. Roman Catholic, remember. Could women be included?

And the comment?

Ours is a poor parish. Our members are poor people.  We would be out of place at an event like this!

Out of place!

Because of being "poor"!

Of all people, they belonged. This was their place or it should be seen as such.

Firmly I declared that not only should they be there and ministering but if they needed a way to get there, I would arrange for transportation.

We would have 734 and they would look like the Church!

Some would be ordained and many would be exercising their Baptismal anointing.

Some would be better off (financially) and some would be not as fortunate (financially.)

And they would be young and old and male and female.

God's people would come to the Feast and God's people would share the Feast.

Together we would gather around our Holy Father to honor the Father of us all.

Of course more is coming! Please come back.

Meantime, Keep Praying . . .

Stay Safe!

Divide and Conquer!

 As I began to get to know the Silverdome, it became quite evident to me that it needed to be dissected, so to speak. If the challenge of distributing Communion to roughly a hundred-thousand in the course of eighteen minutes was to be properly met, a top team would have to be assembled, not the actual force needed to accomplish the mission but the team to imagine, design and oversee the mission.

I needed help!

Lot's of help!

Good, qualified, yes, even bossy, "take no prisoners" kind of help!

And so the work began in terms of dividing the building up, in the imagination, of course, into unique but workable sections.

The first and most challenging section was ground floor. Nothing would be actual or visible until the day or two before the event. Everything had to transpire in the imagination. There would be a sanctuary area for the Holy Father, the immediate ministers (lectors, cantors and acolytes,) the cardinals, bishops and priest concelebrants. We had no idea what that would look like or how much space it would occupy, not just yet. Still to be designed. But once designed, there would still remain a vast ground level space,  the general seating area.

The second section was also directly associated with the main floor. From ground level, established, non-movable seating rows ascended up to a walkway area and also handicap areas. 

Then came the - what should I call it - mezzanine? loge? A second floor so to speak but one that contained its own challenge. This was also an area containing suites, enclosed, private rooms for the "cream of the crop."

And then the great, vast third level, the bleacher/balcony area, way up there so close to heaven!

I needed to recruit those who could take charge of each of these areas, use imagination to create traffic flows that would not turn into stampedes or traffic jams, and then could also communicate the appropriate plans to the ones who would make happen and do that communicating in a way that said, "This way and only this way!"

And I knew just the ones I needed to work with so as to get the task done. In years before I had worked on some other projects for the Archdiocese, projects that also involved some complex logistics, though nothing quite like this. But I knew the ones who could make things happen.

And I began to recruit the "team."

And one by one each said "Yes."

Including - and remember, this was 1987 and this was a Catholic Church project, and, even then, yes, I asked a woman to be part of this team. Such a move might have seemed to some to be quite radical especially given the era. But I put a woman on the team along with all those men.

And years later she asked me why.

Why did I choose her in particular, she asked.

And my reply?

Because I knew you would take no backtalk - even from all those clergy types. And that is what I needed, someone strong.

And she was it!

And I was definitely not wrong.

Of course more is coming! Please come back.

Meantime, Keep Praying . . .

Stay Safe!

Envisioning the Moment

And so the "Adventure" began.

Well, actually, it did not really begin when I got the word that I was being placed in charge of orchestrating the distribution of Communion for the Papal Mass at the Silverdome.

That word was given to me early in March. The event would actually take place in September and before that many, many arrangements had to be made. Sites for the planned events had to be procured. We had to be certain, for example, that the Silverdome would be available for the span of time needed. After all, we certainly could not risk conflicting with a Lions' game. (Besides, that would probably be the first time in history that the Lions would loose to the Christians!)

So, for at least a few weeks between the job assignment and the actual getting down to business, there was a little time. 

Let the project sink in.

Wrap your mind around it.

Start to measure the moment in your mind.

And the "Moment?"

Well, here was the challenge in a nutshell.

There would likely be a hundred-thousand in attendance for the Mass.

The Silverdome consisted of an array of seating arrangements, from simple straight rows to box seats to suites to that oh so distant balcony. Somehow, people would have to be moved from point A to point B and back to their original point A smoothly and quickly.

And that would involve not only training and coordinating a sufficient number of Eucharistic Ministers. Training and coordinating of ushers was critical to make this "Moment" happen. Ushers would have to enable the needed movement to happen.

And did I say happen quickly? 

There was also a certain protocol to be followed.

The Holy Father would distribute Communion and he would do so to a specially chosen group of one hundred. This normally takes about eighteen minutes. When the Holy Father begins distributing, all others likewise begin distributing. And when the Holy Father has concluded his distribution to the hundred, all distribution must be concluded and completed.

In other words, you have eighteen minutes to make this Moment happen for a hundred thousand (give or take a few.)

And then I was asked the question.

"Have you ever been to the Silverdome? Do you know what it is like?"

"No," of course not!

For the first few weeks this whole matter was just images in my imagination. But the time would come soon enough when I would be introduced to the reality of the Silverdome.

And I would get to know that building, inside and out, would I get to know that building! Every corridor and tunnel, elevator and walkway, I would get to know that building. I would really get to know that building.

And add to the task of getting to know that cavernous building was another little detail.

The designing of the sanctuary area had yet to begin. We would have no idea at this point of what that sanctuary would look like, where it would be situated on that field. And as the days would progress, all we would really have to work with would be sketches and paper plans and the assurance that it would all come together something like this paper plan the day or two before the event.

That and the timetable - Communion for a hundred-thousand (give or take a few) in eighteen minutes!

Of course more is coming! Please come back.

Meantime, Keep Praying . . .

Stay Safe!

Thirty-Three Years Ago!

Is it really that long already?

Thirty-three years ago!

Hardly seems possible as the memories are still so strong and fresh and clear. Well, at least I think they are. We shall see.

I want to share with you in this and some coming writings my memories of that Event that took place in Detroit now some thirty-three years ago.

This whole sage began late February or early March. OK, got that piece of information kind of foggy already but it did begin right around then. I know the exact year - 1987.  I got a phone call one evening inviting me to Sacred Heart Seminary the next morning. There was going to be a press conference and an important announcement.

I could already surmise the nature of the announcement. Rumors had been swirling for some time already. Pope John Paul II was scheduled to visit the United States later that year. Word was that his visit just might include a trip to Detroit. However, that also seemed unlikely as the nature of this trip was taking him south and then west. Detroit was an extreme diversion from the rest of the itinerary. Edmund Szoka was the bishop of Detroit at that time. Word was that he had considerable sway in Rome but was his sway strong enough to make the unthinkable happen? Then came the phone call about that coming important announcement. 

And the next morning, sure enough. John Paul II was coming to Detroit. It would be a brief, very brief swing through. He would arrive on a Friday late afternoon and depart the very next day, late. But he was coming!

The Archbishop had worked his potent magic!

Plans were announced and already taking shape. There would be a visit to the Cathedral (obviously) and a gathering at Hart Plaza downtown and as a finale, Mass hopefully at the spacious Pontiac Silverdome, then home of the Detroit Lions.

Over the coming weeks more details would be fleshed out but the announcement had been made. It was official. John Paul II was coming to Detroit.

I was at that press conference to receive the news.

Then at the end of the conference, after the folks from the media had their fill, I approached our Archbishop. "Congratulations! You did it." That's what I said, or maybe something like that. And then I made my move. "If you need my help with anything regarding this trip, just let me know. I am willing to do what I can, contribute what I can."

I was properly thanked and assured that consideration would be given to the offer.

And so the day of the historic announcement passed into history.

It was a few weeks later and I was at the seminary for still another gathering, this one nowhere near as headline grabbing as the previous one. It was some sort of educational gathering. However, what made it historic for me, personally, was the walk to my car after the conference.

I was walking along with the head of the Worship Office for the Archdiocese. He mentioned to me that he would be calling me soon. He reminded me of the offer I had made to be of assistance for the papal visit. There was, evidently, a job for me. Curious, I asked what that might be. His response was coy. We will talk soon.

I assured that I was ready. Only one possibility would keep me awake nights or facing nights filled with nightmares.

"And what would that job be?" he asked me.

The thought of having to coordinate the distribution of Communion for the Mass at the Silverdome. Attendance was projected at 100,000 and it would be a Saturday late afternoon. It would be a Sunday Mass! And the Assembly, massive as it might be, would be expecting Communion.

Yes! That project would give me many a sleepless night!

And then he told me. And I can almost hear the words clear as they were thirty-three years ago.

"Go home and get yourself a good night's sleep. We will talk tomorrow."

Of course more is coming! This is just the beginning of the story.

Meantime, Keep Praying . . .

Stay Safe!