WMOF Hopes To Ease Worries Of Those Concerned About Papal Visit
By Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The World Meeting of Families is hoping to combat media overload about the Papal visit by answering questions from residents in community meetings across the region. The first gathering happened in North Philadelphia earlier this month.
More than two dozen people gathered at St. Martin de Porres Parish at 24th and Lehigh Avenue. Many came with apprehension about road closures, check points, fences and other security measures planned during Papal visit.
"I thought was a little over the top," says Jamie Moses, a member of the church. "I'm originally from New York-- so when things happen there we really don't go overboard and it seemed we were going overboard here."
"I was very nervous at first about dealing with the crowd and so many people," says Inez Johanson, who uses a scooter to get around. She says she will attend the WMOF conference, but was very afraid to go see the pope.
"People just don't understand what was going on."
"I think people are concerned and rightly so," says Fr. Stephen Thorne, pastor of Saint Martin de Porres, who offered his church as the first location for the community engagement meetings. He wants to create "good will ambassadors" to encourage local Catholics to attend the conference and Papal mass.
"It's going to be a great - once in the lifetime moment for our city," he says.
"The purpose of this was to provide positive information for a positive audience," says Greg DeShields, Chair of the World Meeting of Families Community Engagement Subcommittee. He gave a powerpoint presentation at the church providing details about the World Meeting of Families conference, the rationale behind security measures, the Papal itinerary and answered questions about how residents can participate.
"There's a great deal of information out there, but there is information that they would like to hear," says DeShields, "they just want someone who can answer their questions-- and that's our purpose."
Germaine Edwards attended the meeting and afterward, breathed a sigh of relief.
"It doesn't seem as daunting," she says, "it seems as though its possible that we can still go see the Pope and it won't be as much of a drain on us as it seems watching some of the news casts."
DeShields says the WMOF Community Engagement Subcommittee will be visiting seven areas of the city and will also venture into the suburbs beginning next month. He says the meetings will be held in area rec centers so that non-Catholics can feel welcome to attend and submit their questions.
DeShields says a schedule of the meeting dates and times will be posted on the www.worldmeeting2015.org/