PROSPECT HEIGHTS – When attendees of the 2025 White House Easter Prayer Dinner made their way to their tables, Father Frank Mann said he was stunned to realize that he was seated at table one, directly across from President Donald Trump. 

Father Mann called finding out where he was seated a “rush.” He said the moment was second only to what happened after they were all seated, when Trump told the rest of the table about Father Mann’s importance to him. 

“Trump pointed to me and he goes, ‘You see guys, you see that guy over there? Do you see him, do you see that guy? He’s a great guy. You don’t know what he does for me. You have no idea. … He takes care of the gravesite of my parents and my brother. He puts flowers and fixes it up. Right Frank?’ ” Father Mann recalled. “And I said, ‘Yes, Mr. President.’ ” 

“It was kind of like he put a little gold star on my lapel,” Father Mann said. “I really got a kick out of it to be honest with you. I think that was the highlight for me.”

Father Mann, a priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn who has a relationship with the president from taking care of his family members’ gravesite, was one of many Christian leaders who were invited to attend the dinner. At the invitation of Trump, Father Mann also gave the benediction at the presidential inauguration earlier this year.

Father Mann said he went to the dinner, held April 16, because he wanted to see the president again, and “take in the experience just to see what it’s about.” Reflecting on the evening afterwards, the word he came up with was “surreal.” 

“It’s very difficult to process because it’s just so mind boggling. It’s historical. It’s such an honor to be present at these things,” Father Mann said. “I wanted to do this for the good of the people of God, the good of the Church, to represent pride in our Catholic faith.” 

The dinner – and other Holy Week celebrations – were organized by the White House Faith Office, which Trump established via executive order in February. In a statement to The Tablet, Jennifer Korn, the office’s faith director, said it is “grateful to share that President Trump will honor and celebrate Holy Week and Easter with the observance it deserves.” 

Father Mann said the night began in a meeting space outside of the dining room, before the doors opened and everyone took their seats. Eventually, Trump entered to applause. Paula White-Cain, who leads the newly expanded, faith-based advisory office, Trump and others then gave remarks before dinner was served. 

The night concluded with Trump giving attendees a tour of various rooms of the White House, including President Abraham Lincoln’s bedroom, Father Mann said. 

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In his remarks, Trump emphasized the importance of faith in his administration. 

“This is really – I hope – going to be one of the great Easters ever, because we have something going that I don’t think this country has seen in 100 years. And as we gather with family and friends, we’ll not forget the true source of our joy and our strength: America has to put our trust in God,” Trump said. “It will always be ‘In God We Trust.’ We will never change that.” 

The night itself was fairly simple. Father Mann said the bulk of it was spent at the tables chatting and eating dinner. However, the fact that the event was happening at all, he noted, was “extraordinary.” 

“It was very inspiring and very uplifting so that’s why I wanted to be a part of it,” Father Mann said. “It’s extraordinary. It’s out of the ordinary. It’s not common. I don’t remember such an emphasis in the past of a president talking about the mystery and the glory of Holy Week. I just don’t recall it. I think that’s what’s extraordinary about it.” 

Father Mann said he and Sister Deirdre Byrne – an active missionary sister who is double board-certified in family medicine and general surgery, and a retired U.S. Army colonel – were the only two Catholics in attendance. 

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops did not respond to a Tablet request for comment on the dinner, and its relationship with the White House Faith Office.

Regardless of being the only one, Father Mann said being the only priest in attendance actually made the evening more meaningful as an opportunity to express the faith. 

“I wanted to represent the Catholic faith. That’s what really made me thankful and grateful,” Father Mann said. “There was pride in that. Not focusing on me as a person, but there was a pride in representing the Catholic faith, the Catholic Church, and being the only Catholic priest made me feel even better about my being there.”