When I entered St. John’s Seminary College, I never imagined having the opportunity to meet a future Saint, Pope John Paul the Great, and the beloved First Lady of the United States, Nancy Reagan. The chance encounter was brief but etched in my memory forever. During Saint John Paul the Great’s papal visit to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 1987, I had the amazing opportunity to accompany Father George Sullivan who was a part of the support team for the Papal entourage.
One of the official visits made by the Holy Father was at the Immaculate Conception School in Los Angeles. The First Lady accompanied the Holy Father’s visit to the school. I was stationed in another room waiting for the visit to conclude and to assure that the traveling Bishops were in their proper vehicle. I recall being asked to locate one of the Cardinals because the entourage was about to leave for Mass at Dodger Stadium.
I entered a secured tent that covered the entrance of the school and a Secret Service agent stopped me immediately. I was standing perfectly still when Pope John Paul II and Nancy Reagan walked from the school into the covered tent. I was standing directly next to the Pope and First Lady as they embraced and the Pope bestowed a special blessing to the First Lady. Since I was standing inches away from the First Lady, I am sure I received a partial blessing.
Reflecting all these years later, I now spend my priestly ministry searching for men, like Saint John Paul the Great, to answer the call from God to serve as a Priest of Jesus Christ. His words continue the echo in my mind: “Be Not Afraid.”
-Fr. Stephen Davoren
One of the official visits made by the Holy Father was at the Immaculate Conception School in Los Angeles. The First Lady accompanied the Holy Father’s visit to the school. I was stationed in another room waiting for the visit to conclude and to assure that the traveling Bishops were in their proper vehicle. I recall being asked to locate one of the Cardinals because the entourage was about to leave for Mass at Dodger Stadium.
I entered a secured tent that covered the entrance of the school and a Secret Service agent stopped me immediately. I was standing perfectly still when Pope John Paul II and Nancy Reagan walked from the school into the covered tent. I was standing directly next to the Pope and First Lady as they embraced and the Pope bestowed a special blessing to the First Lady. Since I was standing inches away from the First Lady, I am sure I received a partial blessing.
Reflecting all these years later, I now spend my priestly ministry searching for men, like Saint John Paul the Great, to answer the call from God to serve as a Priest of Jesus Christ. His words continue the echo in my mind: “Be Not Afraid.”
-Fr. Stephen Davoren
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