Pope's visit reverberates for local Roman Catholics BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer SCOTT FRIEDMAN Cherry Adversalo (l), of Edison, and Amelia Acab, of Scotch Plains, prepare for Mass at St. Francis Cathedral in Metuchen on April 20. METUCHEN- Ed and Jean Lyons, of South Plainfield, said some people might call them "Popeaholics." In the course of 29 years, the couple has traveled to see the late Pope John Paul II in Philadelphia in 1979, in 1995 to Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, to Rome twice in 1998 and 2004, and now to see Pope Benedict XVI on April 20 at Yankee Stadium. "My wife also traveled to Rome without me in 2003 to see Pope John Paul II," said Ed. Jean Lyons, who is a church musician at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Sayreville and has worked with the Diocese of Metuchen for 27 years, was honored to play in a hand bell choir for Pope John Paul II at Giants Stadium in 1995. "It was the thrill of our lives," said Jean. "I remember that it was a torrential downpour and we were not allowed to bring umbrellas in because of security reasons. We had to wear plastic parkas, but it didn't matter, it was wonderful." Ed Lyons won one of the three tickets allotted to the St. Francis Cathedral parish to attend Mass at Yankee Stadium on April 20. The Lyons have been parishioners of St. Francis for just a year. Ronald Victoria and J.P. Saggese were the other two St. Francis parishioners who won tickets. "My husband knew that I wanted to go see Pope Benedict XVI, and he wanted to give me his ticket," said Jean. "But I told him that the Lord pulled his name out for a reason." Jean found out that a friend of hers at the Diocese of Metuchen had a ticket, but was unable to go. "With the tickets, you are not allowed to substitute a name, but I talked to somebody in the Archdiocese of New York and I was able to substitute my name for hers," she said. On April 16, Jean found out she was able to attend the Mass at Yankee Stadium with her husband. "The Holy Spirit gave me a gift," she said. The Lyons said Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United States has been wonderful. "He is very articulate and I think he has done a lot of good," said Ed. "For him to talk to the abused victims was a tremendous healing for them and a big step.Also, he has reached to all faiths and religions and people. He has come across very kind and gentle." Jean agreed. "He's reaching out to people, and he's very uplifting and encouraging," she said. Benedict XVI, who is only the third pope to visit the United States, visited the U.S. for the first time as pope, on a fiveday trip April 15-20. The pope's U.S. visit was filled with Masses in Washington, D.C., and New York City, outreach to various faiths, including a visit to a Park East Synagogue in New York, outreach to victims sexually abused by priests, addressing the United Nations, and praying for the souls of those who were lost at ground zero. The Rev. John Gloss, who has been a priest in the St. Francis parish for five years, had the opportunity to help distribute Holy Communion at the Mass at Yankee Stadium on April 20. "It's exciting because as a high school student, I was able to go see Pope Paul VI when he visited the United States in 1965 addressing the United Nations," he said. "Then I attended the Mass at Giants Stadium as part of the congregation in 1995, and now to have a chance as a priest to attend Mass with Pope Benedict XVI, it's thrilling." Gloss said the pope's demeanor surprised him. "He's definitely a different person than Pope John Paul II," he said. "He's a humble and quiet man who stepped up to the difficult issue of the sex abuse. This is not a milk-and-toast visit, it has substance." Monsignor Michael Alliegro said anytime a pope visits the United States, it is time for people to focus on the church in the U.S. "I believe his visit has been a positive one," he said. "He is not the media star that Pope John Paul II was, but he is a thoughtful and spiritual man." Monsignor Alliegro said he was in attendance as a high school student during Pope Paul VI's visit in 1965, and also attended Pope John Paul II's visit in 1979 and Mass at Giants Stadium in 1995. "In 1979, I was at Bishop Ahr High School in Edison, and the school's band was chosen to play in the special ceremony for Pope John Paul II," he said. "It was exciting." The monsignor said his congregation at Sunday's Mass on April 13 was filled with prayers for the pope's safe trip to the United States. "Unfortunately, the weekend of his Masses in New York City comes at a time of First Communions," he said. "It was difficult for priests to attend the Masses." MonsignorAlliegro praised Pope Benedict XVI for his talk with victims who were sexually abused by priests. "He faced the situation and did not ignore it," he said. The monsignor praised the pope for reaching out to other faiths and said his visit to the United Nations shows the church's continued efforts for peace. "All three popes who visited the United States stopped by the United Nations," he said. In his farewell address at John F. Kennedy Airport on April 20, Pope Benedict XVI said one of the highlights of his trip was to the United Nations.