By Dan Sullivan and Julie Godfrey Miller
Catholic Herald

Locals mourn; reflect on pope's life

The following is a sampling of some reactions to the pope's death from various places in the Diocese of Superior.

Rice Lake:

Following Mass Saturday, April 2, at St. Joseph Parish in Rice Lake, parishioner Elverta Carlson was saddened by the pope's death. "It's tragic that we have to lose such a good man," Carlson said.

Bud Willger, a fellow parishioner, questioned how long it would take before a new pope would be named. He also remembered John Paul's friendliness.

"He mingled with the people and I think it was important that he did that," Willger said.

Tony:

Prior to the 8:30 a.m. Mass, Sunday, April 3, at St. Anthony de Padua Church in Tony, the church bell was rung and Fr. John Anderson, pastor of the Tony, Ladysmith and Hawkins cluster, knelt before the altar and led parishioners in a series of seven rounds of praying the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be.

Deacon Jerome Drahos focused his homily on faith, and said, "Although the pope had died (Saturday), we now will have him as a role model for our own personal faith journey."

Tony parishioners Donna and Larry Pias called the death of the pope a tremendous tragedy.

"He's a man that spread more love and peace than any human I've known and his shoes will be hard to fill," Donna Pias said.

Larry Pias praised the ecumenical spirit that the pope will long be remembered for and how he extended his hand out to the many faiths and countries of the globe.

"He was a man who reached out to the world," he said. "He will be missed by more than just the Catholic Church."

Anderson also told parishioners he would celebrate Mass April 4 at Our Lady of Sorrows, Ladysmith, and April 5 at St. Mary's Parish in Hawkins in memory of the pope.

Superior:

At the 8:30 a.m. Mass, Fr. Daniel Dahlberg, cathedral rector, said John Paul "taught us in many ways that all life is sacred." He added that in the dignity of his dying, was a reminder that "from death comes life."

In his homily, Dahlberg reflected on the struggles of John Paul's life: Nazi occupation, fighting communism in the underground movement, traveling the world over in defense of life.

John Paul displayed a consistent view that all life is sacred, preaching against war, the death penalty, abortion and pornography, anything that goes against the dignity and sanctity of life, Dahlberg said.

"John Paul II had passion and energy, even in his illness, to proclaim Jesus and Jesus's love for the world," he said.

On Monday, April 3, Cathedral School students began their day with a prayer service in the pope's memory.

"I felt it was important that we start the day off in prayer to honor the pope," said Michelle Vinoski, an assistant principal and middle school teacher, who organized the event. The service included Scripture reading, petitions and lighting of a candle in honor of the pontiff.

Eighth graders Mike Higgins and Nichole McGinn told the Catholic Herald how they liked the pope. Higgins remembered his global journeys.

"He traveled a lot, focusing on all people and not just Catholics," he said.

McGinn admired the fact that the pontiff reached out to young people and started World Youth Day.

"He really liked kids and was nice to them," she said. "The pope believed in what they could do."

A city-wide Mass for the pope was to be held at the cathedral April 6, with Bishop Raphael M. Fliss presiding.

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2005