TJ Dygert, a Tyburn Academy senior, was one of 56,000 people attending Pope Benedict XVI's service at Yankee Stadium on Sunday.
The Associated Press
Pope Benedict XVI walks the edge of the stage after conducting Mass Sunday, at Yankee Stadium in New York.
Pope Benedict XVI walks the edge of the stage after conducting Mass Sunday, at Yankee Stadium in New York.
Even though Dygert saw the pope during a trip to the Vatican in 2005, he said this experience was different.
“The Vatican was in an auditorium and there were far less people,” Dygert said. “There were a lot of youth from a lot of different countries and we were the only ones from the United States. In New York City, there were dioceses from all over the United States. It was more national than international.”
Dygert added that in addition to the service, there was a camaraderie among the spectators as they cheered and waved towels and flags while they waited for the service to begin.
Dygert, who won four tickets to see the pope, said he felt a sense of relief during the service.
“(The pope) talked about the Catholic Church in the United States and how it came into being and continued to grow,” Dygert said. “He also talked about a youth rally he had just been to and talked about how the Catholic youth need a lot of prayers because we will be leading the faith into the next generation. It was encouraging to understand the older generation is behind us giving us support.”
It was also the company of nearly 60,000 others that added to Dygert's security.
“The energy could be compared to a sporting event, just the service was a much more serious topic than that,” Dygert said. “It was just so exciting and there were so many people who were there for the same reason you were. Everyone was supporting each other and the pope was supporting us and we were supporting the pope; you really didn't feel alone.”
In addition to the service, Dygert said there was a parade to welcome the pope on Fifth Avenue.
The street was full of welcome banners, signs and other people who wanted to get a glimpse of Pope Benedict on his last stop in the United States.
“The street was jam-packed,” Dygert said. “You couldn't even walk on the sidewalks.”
As the pope finished up his visit to America, Dygert said he would be reflecting on the event as he returned home with his parents, Tim and Cheri, and his sister, Mallorie.
“The whole thing was spiritually uplifting,” Dygert said. “It was something spiritual that I could take back with me.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
“The Vatican was in an auditorium and there were far less people,” Dygert said. “There were a lot of youth from a lot of different countries and we were the only ones from the United States. In New York City, there were dioceses from all over the United States. It was more national than international.”
Dygert added that in addition to the service, there was a camaraderie among the spectators as they cheered and waved towels and flags while they waited for the service to begin.
Dygert, who won four tickets to see the pope, said he felt a sense of relief during the service.
“(The pope) talked about the Catholic Church in the United States and how it came into being and continued to grow,” Dygert said. “He also talked about a youth rally he had just been to and talked about how the Catholic youth need a lot of prayers because we will be leading the faith into the next generation. It was encouraging to understand the older generation is behind us giving us support.”
It was also the company of nearly 60,000 others that added to Dygert's security.
“The energy could be compared to a sporting event, just the service was a much more serious topic than that,” Dygert said. “It was just so exciting and there were so many people who were there for the same reason you were. Everyone was supporting each other and the pope was supporting us and we were supporting the pope; you really didn't feel alone.”
In addition to the service, Dygert said there was a parade to welcome the pope on Fifth Avenue.
The street was full of welcome banners, signs and other people who wanted to get a glimpse of Pope Benedict on his last stop in the United States.
“The street was jam-packed,” Dygert said. “You couldn't even walk on the sidewalks.”
As the pope finished up his visit to America, Dygert said he would be reflecting on the event as he returned home with his parents, Tim and Cheri, and his sister, Mallorie.
“The whole thing was spiritually uplifting,” Dygert said. “It was something spiritual that I could take back with me.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
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