My friend Brad Noel, the campus minister at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Oxford ,phoned from Yankee Stadium. He said that he, his wife, and the four students from Ole Miss arrived at the stadium about 10 a.m. Eastern Time for the Mass at 2:30 p.m.
Brad said that the crowds (some 57,000, unofficially) were a bit overwhelming but that it was worth it. He added that their seats, in the right field stands, were pretty good. However, as opposed to the Mass at the Washington Nationals’ Stadium, where the altar was set up at home plate, facing the outfield, today, at Yankee Stadium, the altar appears to be set up at second base, facing home plate. Therefore, Brad said, many of the crowd will be behind the pope as he celebrates Mass.
Brad said that he and his group caught a close-up glimpse of the pope as he passed in the “pope-mobile,” down Fifth Avenue, toward St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The group was also able to attend a Mass at St. Patrick’s, before the pope’s arrival.
Brad said that the atmosphere at the stadium was exciting and reverent and that he and the group greatly anticipate a moving experience.
He added that, due to security measures, they wouldn’t be allowed to leave the stadium until nearly 6 p.m. Eastern Time.
Brad will try to phone again, later, and send pictures.
