CATHOLICS throughout Australia had opportunities in the days following the death of Pope John Paul II to remember him through requiem or memorial Masses.
Community leaders joined religious leaders at St Stephen’s Cathedral, Brisbane on April 7 for a 10am requiem Mass for Pope John Paul II.
The Mass, celebrated by Archbishop John Bathersby, attracted more than 1000 people including a large contingent of priests and representatives from many archdiocesan and religious schools.
In Sydney more than 5000 people packed St Mary’s Cathedral on April 5 to pay their last respects to a Pope described as a profoundly prayerful man.
Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney, Julian Porteous, led the requiem Mass which was attended by the Apostolic Nuncio to Australia, Archbishop Ambrose De Paoli, Cardinals Edward Clancy and Edward Cassidy, bishops and about 200 priests, as well as federal and state political leaders, including Prime Minister John Howard and NSW Premier Bob Carr.
In Melbourne, between 5000 and 6000 people attended a requiem Mass on April 7 at St Patrick’s Cathedral.
James McDonald from the archdiocesan Catholic Youth Ministry Office said many of these were young people.
In Adelaide, Archbishop Philip Wilson sat on the same chair Pope John Paul II used when he celebrated Mass in the city in 1986.
Archbishop Wilson told the 14,000 people gathered on Adelaide Oval on April 8 that the Pope’s first message to the world was ‘Do not be afraid’, even though he had every reason in his own life to be afraid.
In Tasmania, it was standing room only in St Mary’s Cathedral, Hobart and at the Church of the Apostles in Launceston.
Memorial services were held in Hobart, Launceston and Ulverstone on April 5.
