Catholic parishioners in Hereford are hoping their names will be drawn out out a hat for a chance to see the Pope.
Fingers are crossed to see who gets tickets to the Pope’s Beatification Mass of Cardinal John Henry Newman at Cofton Park, Birmingham, or for a mass the day before in London.
The Birmingham mass, marking Cardinal Newman’s first step to sainthood, is on Sunday, September 19, and will mark the conclusion of the papal visit, the first since 1982 when John Paul II came.
Tens of thousands of pilgrims, including 1,000 priests, are expected attend the Birmingham mass. Parishes have been taking special collections towards the cost of staging the masses.
Pope Benedict XVI will first go to Scotland where he will be greeted by the Queen on what is an official visit by the Vatican head of state. John Henry Newman, who also wrote words to religious music by Edward Elgar, converted to Catholicism in 1845. Previously he was an Anglican clergyman. He founded the Birmingham Oratory.
Father Michael Evans, parish priest at St Francis Xavier’s Church, Broad Street, said: “For Cardinal Newman to convert was quite a bold step. However, even today becoming a Christian is no less a serious undertaking.”
Around the time of the visit both St Francis Xavier and Our Lady’s Church, Belmont, are holding question and answer events.
Father Michael added: “We will be answering questions on our faith and what led us to it.”
He will be hosting an evening at SFX called The Journey Home on Wednesday, September 22, at 7.30pm immediately after the visit.
On Tuesday, September 10, Our Lady’s Church, Belmont Road, will be holding a similar discussion on Catholicism.
For further information on the events contact Andy Milne 01544 319102 or 07957 407989.