Word: priestly
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...years now, Karol Wojtyla -- once actor, then priest, then Archbishop and Cardinal -- has been Pope John Paul II, the Supreme Pontiff, Bishop of Rome, leader of a church of nearly 1 billion souls. "It's curious," an Italian Archbishop once said, "you'd think he had always been Pope." And yet to understand the man and his papacy, one must look not only to the Vatican, from which he issues spiritual guidelines, but also to the almost mystical Poland he holds in his heart. Indeed, though the Pope's corner bedroom on the third floor of the Vatican's Apostolic...
...depth of the Pope's disappointment was apparent when he visited Croatia on Sept. 10. He walked unsteadily and gasped for breath, leading to rumors that he might be near death. What may have troubled the Pope more than physical discomfort was a fear that his mission as priest and prophet would end prematurely. Five days later, John Paul summoned senior Curia officers to his summer retreat at Castel Gandolfo. "He was tired," said an official, "and obviously suffering with his hip." And then the Pope surprised his aides by declaring once again, "I have to go to Sarajevo...
...hands or kiss them, well, that didn't go over well at all." But at St. Gertrude's, the 10 a.m. Mass is downright stuffy compared with the alternative 10:30 Mass held each Sunday in the adjacent parish gymnasium. It features folk music and an open dialogue between priest and parishioners during the homily. "When they started that folk Mass I was waiting for John Wayne to come down the aisle on a horse singing 'Yippee-yi-yo-ti-yay!' " grumbles Seitz, a member of the parish council. "They say, 'Oh, you old fogies, all you want...
...traditional Mass too male-dominated, or intimidating, or simply boring. "Folks who are divorced, as well as gays, lesbians and feminists, might find a home in the gym Mass," says pastoral associate Peter Buttitta. The informal service, which can include dance performances by children, offers open discussion between priest and parishioners on topics ranging from feminism to divorce. "There is much more of a sense of warmth and community," says Judy Pier, 50. "The bigger church feels much colder and anonymous." Conservatives remain baffled -- at best. "I attended it once," says Dorothy Papachristos, 43. "It was so liberal! They talk...
...weekend Mass has fallen from 1,400 to 950. (Nationwide, only 41% of those who call themselves Catholics say they attend weekly Mass.) Kenneally must cope with the challenge of bringing people back into the fold at the same time as he and his fellow pastors face a growing priest shortage. Since Kenneally joined the parish 10 years ago, the number of full-time priests has dropped from four to just one: himself. St. Gertrude's five-year plan identifies one key challenge as "Saving Pastor From Burnout." Kenneally jokes, "Maybe it's my hangdog look." With six different Masses...