UPPER DARBY >> The 7:30 a.m. train out of the Primos SEPTA station in Upper Darby Saturday was quiet.
A few dozen passengers scattered throughout the cars, waiting for the train to pull out the station.
Outside, police officers from throughout Delaware County were posted at the station, checking SEPTA train passes and guiding passengers onto the train. A few feet away, across the street, stationed in the Delaware County Daily Times parking lot, were members of the Delco Citizens Corps. The group had been stationed under a tent since 2 a.m. They were there to assist with any medical emergencies that arise as travelers make their way to and from center city for the Papal activities.
“There hasn’t been much activity this morning,” Christine McCreesh, of Newtown Square, and a member of the corps, said. “But we know it’s the calm before the storm. We know things will speed up.”
McCreesh was working with Margie Backos and Mark Taylor, each of whom will be working 12 hour shifts. At about 3 p.m., the group will call it quits for the day and head home. Taylor said he’ll be heading to a pope party.
The Delco Citizens Corps will be positioned at SEPTA stations throughout Delaware County during Saturday and Sunday’s papal festivities, McCreesh said, including those in Media, Marcus Hook and Elwyn.
Kate and Philip West, of Aldan, will be volunteering at Independence Hall during Pope Francis’ afternoon address, in which he is scheduled to talk about immigration.
Kate West, who was on the Primos train to University City, said she is a devout Catholic and being able to volunteer for the papal visit allows her to honor the memory of her, Patricia Lee, who passed away in 2012. Her mother was a Eucharistic Minister at their church and taught her about the Catholic faith, she said.
“I will probably cry if I get to see the Pope,” West said. “To be part of this is everything … It’s a historic event.”
The train from Primos dropped the Wests off in University City where they began a long trek to Independence Mall on foot.
Marion and William Harris, of Georgia, marveled at National Guard and police officers stationed in the streets and the various road barricades and security check points, as they made their way to City Hall. walking down Market Street after departing their train from Paoli.
“It’s been a maze,” Marion Harris said. “We are staying with Bill’s aunt in Upper Darby, if she hadn’t told us about the SEPTA train passes early, we wouldn’t have been able to make it into the city this weekend.”
The couple had arrived in the city Thursday for the World Meeting of Families and will be leaving Sunday before the Papal Mass. They said they hope to hear Andrea Bocelli sing at the Festival of Families Saturday evening and see their daughter who is a Sister of Life nun living in New York City. She and several of her sisters have also made the journey to the city for the Papal activities, they said.
“This isn’t an opportunity that comes every day,” Marion Harris said. “We have met Catholics form Australia, England and South America. It is an honor to be participating in this event with Catholics from all over the world.”
