Papal Connections

Mount St. Mary's University will play a prominent role in the upcoming Papal visit to Washington, D.C.

• President Powell will meet the Pope during Catholic University's reception for America’s Catholic educators.  Fr. O’Connell of Catholic University, is on the Mount St. Mary’s Board of Trustees
• All the Mount St. Mary’s seminarians will attend, including David Wells, one of the seminarians recently interviewed by NBC Nightly News, who will hold the Mass book for the Pope
• The Kane family, who nearly 30 years ago, presented the gifts at the Papal Mass, will also be in Washington. Mount alum John Kane was one of children then and this year, his daughter Elizabeth will present the gifts.  John's wife Mary is also a Mount alum.
• Victoria Engelstad, a student at Catholic University, along with a team of fellow student architects at Catholic University, created the winning design for a chair and altar to be used by Pope Benedict XVII when he visits Washington, D.C.  The project was part of the Papal Design contest sponsored by Catholic University and the Archdiocese of Washington. Victoria is the daughter of Mount alums Gary Engelstad, C’79 and Stephanie Swenarton Engelstad, C’81
• Mount students and staff will be able to attend the Mass at the Washington stadium along with the seminarians and Mount supporters. Watch for several Mount students to blog about the events.
• The Seminary's Fr. Dan Mindling is one of the invited guests to the White House to meet both the Pope and President Bush.