September 9, 2014
For a small group of parishioners of the Church of Santa Susanna in Rome, the morning of Sept. 5 will long stand in their memories.
Father Greg Apparcel, CSP, Santa Susanna’s rector, Father Steve Bossi, CSP, Santa Susanna’s vice-rector, and 23 parishioners attended a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in the chapel of the Santa Marta papal residence.
Early in his papacy, the pope announced that, as the bishop of Rome, he would like to celebrate Mass with members of the city’s parishes. Santa Susanna was one of the parishes chosen for the honor.
Members of the group filled the ministerial roles for the Mass, with two women lectors and two altar servers washing the pope’s hands. Father Apparcel proclaimed the Gospel and said part of the Eucharistic Prayer, and Father Bossi helped distribute Communion.
“Though it was especially moving for me to be blessed by Pope Francis before I read the Gospel, I have to say that the most significant part of the morning for me was seeing how much it meant to our parishioners who were there,” Father Apparcel said. “I felt good to be a part of that and I only wish that all of our parishioners, alumni and good friends could have been there as well.”
“I was quite touched by today’s experience,” said Father Bossi. “Sitting just a few feet from the pope, seeing his inherent simplicity of style and yet his command of authority, and aware of the incredible burdens he carries was humbling to say the least. … [The pope] projects this image of being so accessible. He is humble, gracious and truly caring. I’m really grateful I had this chance to see him up close.”
Pope Benedict XV gave pastoral care of Santa Susanna to the Paulists in 1922, and at the the request of U.S. President Warren Harding to establish a church for the Americans of Rome. The faith community of Santa Susanna has recently become a pilgrim people since issues with the church building have forced Santa Susanna’s people to worship in three neighboring churches for the past 14 months.
Following the Mass, Pope Francis greeted representatives from the parish, two of whom offered the pope a gift of a chasuble and chalice, which will be gifted to a parish unable to provide those things for themselves, according to Father Bossi.
More photos of the Santa Susanna group will be available next week, so be sure to visit facebook.com/paulists.