In the News Archive

Pope's visit stirs D.C. campus
From: The Dialog
Date: March 20, 2008
Author: Mike Lang
She knows the odds are long, but Liz Henaghan hopes that come April 17 she will be able to see the pope for the second time in six weeks.

People will have chance to see pope as he travels from site to site
From: Catholic News Service
Date: March 20, 2008
Washingtonians and visitors to the nation's capital will have opportunities to greet Pope Benedict XVI during his April 15-17 visit to Washington.

Students Making Progress on Papal Stage
From: Fox 5
Date: March 17, 2008
Reporter: Claudia Coffey
In exactly one month from today, Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate mass at the Nationals new ballpark. The Mass is the culmination of the Pope's 4-day visit to Washington, D.C., and two Catholic University grad students are playing a key role in the Mass.

Catholic University Officials Remember Prior Papal Visit 
From: Fox 5
Date: March 10, 2008
Reporter: Brian Bolter
Next month, many will witness history when Pope Benedict XVI will visit Washington and one of his stops will be Catholic University. But as Fox 5's Brian Bolter shows us, this is not the first papal visit for the school. 

Creating divine designs
From: The Baltimore Sun
Date: March 10, 2008
Author: Edward Gunts
Some college students go to Cancun or Daytona Beach for spring break.

Ryan Mullen and J.P. Mikolajczyk started theirs inside a cavernous metal shop in Glen Burnie, helping to build an altar for Pope Benedict XVI to use next month when he visits the nation's capital.

What Would You Write to Meet the Pope?
From: Zenit News Agency
Date: March 5, 2008
While millions of Americans can only dream of meeting Benedict XVI during his upcoming visit stateside, some college students can write their own ticket to greet the Pontiff.

Villagers’ grandson designed sacred table for Pope
From: Villages Daily Sun
Date: March 6, 2008
Author: Rachel Katz
When Pope Benedict XVI visits Washington, D.C., in April, Villagers Russell and June Mullen will feel especially proud.

Catholic University students pray the rosary with pope via satellite
From: Catholic News Service
Date: March 4, 2008
Authors: Laura Jamison and Meredith Black
About 100 students at The Catholic University of America in Washington began their spring break by praying the rosary with Pope Benedict XVI via satellite from Vatican City March 1.

Washington Youth Tell Pontiff: "See You Soon!"
From: Zenit News Agency
Date: March 3, 2008
Youth from the Catholic University of America in the U.S. capital participated in a satellite linkup with Benedict XVI, holding a banner that read "See You Soon!"

Students Pray With Pope Via Satellite
From: Fox 5
Date: March 1, 2008
Six weeks before his holy father makes his first visit as pope to the U.S., students at Catholic University got a chance today to spend some time with him.

Local Man Designs Pope's Altar
From: WMUR-TV
Date: Feb. 21, 2008
A design created by a Manchester native will become the altar used by the pope when he visits the United States.

5 questions about working for the pope
From: Concord Monitor
Date: Feb. 21, 2008
Author: Joelle Farrell
Ryan Mullen, a 2002 graduate of Trinity High School in Manchester, helped design the altar, pulpit, lectern and chair that will be used during Mass when Pope Benedict XVI visits Washington, D.C., in April.

New Hampshire man designs U.S. papal altar
From: New England Cable News
Date: Feb. 21, 2008
Author: Lauren Collins
Trinity High School in Manchester, New Hampshire is honoring a graduate who designed the altar Pope Benedict will use when he celebrates Mass in Washington this April. 

Student from NH designs pope's American altar
From: The Associated Press
Date: Feb. 21, 2008
MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) -- Trinity High School in Manchester (New Hampshire) is honoring a graduate who designed the altar Pope Benedict will use when he celebrates Mass in Washington this April.

In U.S. pope will find multicultural church marked by stronger laity
From: Catholic News Service
Date: Feb. 15, 2008
Author: Nancy Frazier O'Brien
What kind of Catholic Church will Pope Benedict XVI find when he arrives in the United States in April? How similar or different will it be from the U.S. church community that greeted Pope John Paul II on his first papal visit in 1979 or his last trip to the U.S. in 1999?

Pope to address broad spectrum of U.S. Catholic educators
From: Catholic News Service
Date: Feb. 15, 2008
Author: Carol Zimmermann
When Pope Benedict XVI comes to Washington this spring, he will deliver a one-hour address on Catholic education April 17 to presidents of U.S. Catholic colleges and universities and Catholic school superintendents from every U.S. diocese and archdiocese.

Papal visit on CUA campus excites Catholic students active in faith
From: Catholic News Service
Date: Feb. 15, 2008
Author: Regina Linskey
Late-night talks with friends about life and faith are common in the dorm rooms of The Catholic University of America. Talking about the Catholic Church in class is pretty normal, too.

CUA architecture students design altar for papal Mass at Nationals Park
From: Catholic Standard
Date: Jan. 31, 2008
Author: Richard Szczepanowski
When Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Mass April 17 at Nationals Park, he will use an altar and a chair designed by two Catholic University of America students.

Catholic U. Students to Design Altar for Pope's Visit
From: WJLA-TV
Date: Jan. 29, 2008
Catholic University says two of its students are designing the altar Pope Benedict XVI will use when he celebrates Mass at a new ballpark in April.

Pope Benedict's Washington altar will have NH style
From: Union Leader
Date: Jan. 29, 2008
Author: Scott Brooks
When Pope Benedict XVI celebrates the Eucharist in Washington, D.C., this April, he will rest his chalice on an altar designed by Trinity High School grad Ryan Mullen.

Staten Islander designing altar for Pope Benedict
From: Staten Island Advance
Date: Jan. 29, 2008
Author: Leslie Palma-Simoncek
When he applied to the architecture program at Catholic University of America, John-Paul Mikolajczyk told his parents he'd like a chance to put his "doodling skills" to good use, his mother recalled.

The 23-year-old from Willowbrook has certainly done that.

Students Design Altar Pope Will Use in U.S.
From: Zenit News Agency
Date: Jan. 29, 2008
Two architecture students at Catholic University designed the altar, ambo and chair Benedict XVI will use to celebrate Mass in the U.S. capitol.

Two Catholic University students' design altar, chair for pope
From: Catholic News Service
Date: Jan. 29, 2008
Author: Richard Szczepanowski
When Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Mass April 17 at Nationals Park, he will use an altar and chair designed by two students at The Catholic University of America in Washington.

Student from NH designs pope's American altar
From: Associated Press
Date: Jan. 29, 2008
When Pope Benedict celebrates Mass in Washington this April, he will rest his chalice on an altar designed by an architecture student from New Hampshire.

Catholic U. Students Design Altar
From: The Washington Post
Date: Jan. 29, 2008
Author: Michelle Boorstein
Two Catholic University graduate students won a competition to design the altar and other pieces to be used by Pope Benedict XVI when he celebrates Mass on April 17 at the new Nationals ballpark, university officials announced yesterday.

Students Design Papal Stage
From: Fox 5 News
Date: Jan. 28, 2008
Pope Benedict XVI is visiting DC this spring and the highlight of his trip for many will be the Mass at the Nationals Ballpark. But how do you make a stadium into a sacred site? To get ready for the Pope's visit from April 15-18, local architecture students are designing the special stage. Fox 5's Melanie Alnwick shows us the winning design.

On Visit, Pope Will Use Altar Designed by Architecture Students
From: Chronicle of Higher Education
Date: Jan. 28, 2008
Author: Lawrence Biemiller
Two architecture students have won a design competition at the Catholic University of America for an altar that Pope Benedict XVI will use during an April 17 Mass in Washington’s yet-to-be-completed new baseball stadium.

Thomas Stehle named director of music for upcoming Papal Liturgy in Washington
From: Catholic Standard
Date: Jan. 23, 2008
Author: Maureen Boyle
When Thomas Stehle heard that Pope Benedict XVI would be coming to Washington, D.C., and celebrate a papal Mass at the new baseball stadium, one of his first thoughts was what an awesome undertaking it will be for the liturgy's then-unnamed music director.

Security to Lower Pope's Profile on D.C. Visit
From: The Washington Post
Date: Jan. 8, 2008
Which position will the pope take up at Nationals Park? Second base or center field?

Curious questions face organizers preparing for the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI, whose three-day visit to Washington in mid-April will allow few opportunities for the public to see him.

Father O'Connell Discusses Papal Visit on Sirius Satellite Radio
From: The Catholic Channel
Date: Dec. 20, 2007
Very Rev. David M. O’Connell, C.M., president of Catholic University, was interviewed Dec. 20  on “As You Think,” a daily radio show on The Catholic Channel 159 on Sirius Satellite Radio. The topic was Catholic University and Pope Benedict XVI’s upcoming visit to the United States and to the CUA campus. The Catholic Channel is part of the Archdiocese of New York, and is broadcasted to listeners in the continental United States, Canada and around the globe online.

Papal trip logo shows pope with open arms, 'Christ Our Hope' message
From: Catholic News Service
Date: Dec. 19, 2007
Catholic News Service ran an article on Dec. 19 about the official logo designed for Pope Benedict XVI’s April visit to the United States. CUA’s Director of Publications Donna Hobson, who designed the logo, was quoted in the article, as was Father O’Connell. Several news outlets picked up the CNS story.

U.S. Anticipates Papal Mission
From: National Catholic Register
Date: Dec. 9, 2007
Author: Edward Pentin
"The mood is ecstatic,” said Vincentian Father David O’Connell, president of The Catholic University of America. “The students are so thrilled and excited just to be able to see him and express their love for him.”

Father O’Connell was looking ahead to Pope Benedict XVI’s upcoming visit to the United States, scheduled for April 15-20, 2008. Part of his visit will include an April 17 keynote address at CUA, one of several appearances the Pope is scheduled to make on his short and intense trip to the country.

U.S. Papal Trip to Have Mostly Closed-Access Events
From: Catholic News Service
Date: Nov. 29, 2007
Author: Patricia Zapor
Masses at Yankee Stadium in New York and the new Nationals' baseball stadium in Washington are the two main events of Pope Benedict XVI's April 15-20 U.S. visit for which the general public might be able to get tickets to attend.

Details are expected to be made available by the two archdioceses after the first of January to explain how people might receive tickets to the Masses, primarily through their parishes.

Pope to visit District, White House in April
From:  The Examiner
Date:  Nov. 13, 2007
Author:  Stephen Hicks
The pope is coming to town in April.

A Vatican official told American bishops Monday that Pope Benedict XVI, leader of the Catholic Church, will make a six-day visit to the U.S., stopping in Washington and New York.

According to the Vatican, Benedict is scheduled to arrive in the United States on April 15. The White House will host a reception for Benedict on April 16. The next day, he will celebrate Mass at the Nationals’ baseball stadium and speak at Catholic University of America.

The Very Rev. David O’Connell, president of Catholic University, said he was excited about the pope’s plans. “I’m thrilled beyond words,” O’Connell said. “This is a wonderful occasion to celebrate Catholic education.”

Pope Will Visit D.C. In April
Benedict XVI To Celebrate Mass At New Ballpark
From: The Washington Post
Date: Nov. 13, 2007
Authors: Michelle Boorstein and Jacqueline L. Salmon
Pope Benedict XVI will visit Washington for three days in April, a Vatican spokesman announced yesterday, the first time a pope will be in the capital since 1979. Tens of thousands are expected to celebrate Mass with him in the new Nationals baseball stadium.

Pope To Visit Washington In 2008
From:  NBC 4
Date: Nov. 12, 2007
Pope Benedict XVI will make his first visit to the United States as pontiff next year and plans to visit the White House, Ground Zero and speak at the United Nations, Archbishop Pietro Sambi told the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Monday.

Pope's U.S. visit to include New York, Washington
From: Reuters
Date: Nov. 12, 2007
Author: Michael Conlon
Pope Benedict's first visit to the United States next April will include stops in Washington and New York over six days, the U.S. Catholic bishops announced on Monday.

During the trip, from April 15-20, 2008, the Pope will address the United Nations in New York at the invitation of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and meet with the bishops at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, the announcement said.

Catholic University of America also said the Pope would visit its campus on April 17 to speak about Catholic education to an invitation-only audience.

Pope to visit New York, Washington in April, papal nuncio confirms
From: Catholic News Service
Date: Nov. 12, 2007
Author: Carol Zimmermann
Pope Benedict XVI will visit Washington and New York April 15-20.

Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States, confirmed the dates of the papal trip and announced the pope's itinerary in remarks Nov. 12 at the beginning of the annual fall meeting of the U.S. bishops in Baltimore.

"Peter, the rock on which Jesus founded this church, will be among us in the person of his successor, Benedict the XVI," Archbishop Sambi told the bishops.