Most Blessed Sacrament church in Bally is sending a bus to the World Meeting of Families on Saturday. “It will be a unique experience,” predicts Msgr. Edward Coyle, pastor of Most Blessed Sacrament Church. “There will be a sense of ‘church’, the universal church, with all nations praying together.” The crowds don’t overly concern Coyle as he expects a similar sense of community to those he experienced during the 1976 Eucharist Congress, which was held in Philadelphia, and Pope John Paul II’s visit to Philadelphia. “Everyone was nice and kind. It truly was the city of brotherly love.”
Jennifer Smith, 22, of Gilbertsville, will travel to Philadelphia to see the Pope on the Most Blessed Sacrament bus. She is a teacher at St. Francis Academy.
“I think it will be a marvelous experience to be able to go and see him,” Jennifer says. “It’s something you dream about,” she continues, “To be able to see and hear him personally” will be such a spiritual experience. Jennifer notes that as a religion teacher, it will also be an experience she can share with her students.
This will also be an experience she will share with her mother, Karen Smith, who will also be on the bus. Karen had the opportunity to see Pope John Paul II when he was in Philadelphia in 1979. She remembers the stories her mother shared about the 1979 Papal visit which amplifies her excitement for the Sept. 26 visit.
Read more about what’s happening locally at <http://www.berksmontnews.com/general-news/20150910/berks-county-churches-prepare-for-papal-visit>.