SOUTH OZONE PARK — For three decades, visitors to Aqueduct Racetrack, who came to place bets or just to watch thoroughbreds run, passed a bronze plaque commemorating the time the venue was visited by a saint.
The holy visitor was Pope John Paul II, who died in 2005 and was canonized in 2011. St. John Paul II was in New York City on Oct. 5, 1995, for an “Apostolic Journey” that included an address to the United Nations’ 50th General Assembly. During the visit, he also came to the historic Aqueduct — it opened 101 years earlier, in 1894 — to celebrate Mass for a congregation about the size of a mid-sized American city.
The plaque, co-sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and the Diocese of Brooklyn, reads, “In Commemoration of the Papal Mass Celebrated at Aqueduct Racetrack for 75,000 Joyful Members of God’s Family on October 6, 1995.”
Ed Wilikinson, editor emeritus of The Tablet, covered the papal visit, including the Mass, and the installation of the plaque in June 1996.
“I think it’s one of the greatest events in diocesan history,” Wilkinson said. “It’s the only time that a pope has said Mass in the Diocese of Brooklyn.”
Wilkinson recalled that it rained all evening before the papal event.
“But it cleared and the Mass went on,” he added. “There was, however, a strong wind that constantly rattled the makeshift backdrop behind the altar.
“I kept waiting for it to fall, but it survived.”
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Wilkinson said that when then-Bishop Thomas Vose Daily of Brooklyn met the Holy Father in Rome months later, he mentioned Aqueduct event, to which the future saint responded, “Ah, a big wind.”
The massive altar for the Mass at Aqueduct was built on the venue’s infield by the design studio of Anthony D’Ambrosio.
Later, St. Mary’s Parish in Long Island City acquired parts of the structure, which D’Ambrosio’s team refitted into the current parish altar, tabernacle, pulpit, and baptismal pool.
Last winter, when Wilkinson learned Aqueduct would cease thoroughbred racing and become a new casino, he wondered what would happen to the plaque. The question nagged him right up to Catholic Schools Night on June 24, during a Brooklyn Cyclones game at Maimonides Park in Coney Island.
Wilkinson said he was visiting over hot dogs with Msgr. Joseph Grimaldi, the diocese’s vicar general, when he mentioned that it would be nice to retrieve the plaque.
“And then Bishop (Robert) Brennan came over and joined the conversation,” Wilkinson said. “I told him about it, and he said, ‘We’ve got to get that plaque.’ And that’s when he said to me, ‘Put Vinny on this. He knows all these people. He’ll get the plaque for us.’ ”
“Vinny” is Vincent LeVien, director of external affairs for the DeSales Media Group, the communications arm of the Diocese of Brooklyn, which also operates The Tablet.
LeVien’s team handles a variety of tasks, including logistics for large-scale events and forming a bridge between the diocese and state and local government agencies, including the governor’s office. He made nearly a dozen calls to inquire where the plaque was located and whether the diocese could retrieve it. He reached out to Karen Keogh, secretary to Gov. Hochul’s executive chamber.
Keogh reported that the governor, who had no problem with the transfer, referred LeVien to Frank Donroe, director of facilities for the New York Racing Commission, which oversees Aqueduct. Donroe located the plaque, had it swathed in bubble wrap, and invited LeVien to pick it up.
LeVien did so and brought it to Msgr. Grimaldi’s office. Now, the diocese is considering where to put it.
LeVien, meanwhile, credits Wilkinson for the artifact’s rescue.
“If you need any history in the diocese, you go to Ed Wilkinson,” LeVien said. “He has that institutional knowledge. If it wasn’t for Ed, this plaque would probably be in a warehouse right now, and we would probably never get to see it.”
Msgr. Grimaldi told The Tablet that the plaque is “beautiful and it weighs a ton.”
He confirmed that Bishop Brennan hopes to display it prominently, but no definite plans have yet been decided. He also praised Wilkinson and LeVien for rescuing the plaque.
“We thank all those involved,” Msgr. Grimaldi said. “I’m just grateful to God that they were astute enough to recognize this had significance.”