by Laura DiPalma

For those who couldn’t quite manage a weekend sojourn to Rome for the recent canonizations of SS. John XXIII and John Paul II, St. Athanasius Church, Bensonhurst, hosted its own celebration

Twelve Hours of Faith – 10 p.m. on Saturday night to 10 a.m. on Sunday morning – brought together a group of people who wanted to celebrate the canonization and share the experience with friends, family and fellow Catholics. We gathered in the school auditorium for music, food, fun, prayer and worship.

People continued to show up throughout the night, coming when they could and staying as long as they could.

“I came because it was Divine Mercy Sunday, a special day,” said Marie Rondeau, “and I wanted to honor the occasion by joining my brothers and sisters in prayer.”

Even the media showed up – vans from ABC, NBC and NY1 lined the block, interviewing people and, as it turned out, inspiring them; one couple heard about the event on the news and drove from Long Island to join in the celebration!

The night kicked off with a game of “Name That Pope,” when the crowd had to guess if trivia facts were about John Paul II or John XXIII.

“Which man was one of 14 brothers and sisters? Raise two fingers for Pope John Paul II and two fingers on one hand, three on the other for Pope John XXIII!” (So as not to keep you in suspense, it was Pope John XXIII who had 13 siblings!)

Other activities followed the quiz – a singer performed, there was adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, sports in the gym and a DJ provided entertainment.

After many hours and countless cups of coffee, it was time for the main event. At 3:30 a.m., the live feed from the Vatican was projected on a huge screen at the front of the auditorium, and from the opening pronouncement declaring the two men saints to the end of the service, all eyes were peeled on the screen.

It was an amazing moment, made more so because of the remarkable and recent influences these men had on the Church. With the Second Vatican Council, Pope John XXIII revolutionized the Catholic Church, and many people credit him with making it a warmer, more welcoming place. So it was an honor to witness him named a saint.

But even more incredible was the reaction to Pope John Paul II’s canonization. Many of the people in attendance grew up or lived during Pope John Paul II’s reign, and to witness him elevated to sainthood was inspiring and gratifying. We had all felt a connection with this man, the father of the Church, for so many years, and he had finally been granted the highest of honors for all the hearts and lives he touched while he was here on Earth. We were proud of him.

After that, the night progressed a little more slowly. The long hours were starting to catch up to us, and without the anticipation of the main event, the drowsiness started to creep in. After another round of coffee, we gathered to pray the Rosary and prepare for the procession that would take us to Mass and the conclusion of our observance.

Following the theme of the morning, we prayed the Luminous Mysteries, a tradition which focuses more on the public ministry of Jesus and which was started by Pope John Paul II. Then we took to the streets and marched for several blocks, drawing the attention of residents and bystanders alike with music and posters honoring the new saints.

We circled back toward the church, heading for the Mass, the final hour of our celebration. It had been a long night, but now that it was coming to an end, all of our exhaustion was forgotten. A new day was dawning, one alive with faith and hope, and we were ready to embrace it.