2011 Bl. JP II Beatification Celebration Mass - Vancouver. WIth the rest of the world on May 1, 2011, Holy Rosary Cathedral in Vancouver was packed with worshippers for the celebration Mass in thanksgiving …More
2011 Bl. JP II Beatification Celebration Mass - Vancouver.
WIth the rest of the world on May 1, 2011, Holy Rosary Cathedral in Vancouver was packed with worshippers for the celebration Mass in thanksgiving for the beatification of John Paul II.
I was asked to produce a profile of this event on very short notice, and I've actually felt kind of chagrined about the circumstances. Arriving an hour and a quarter before the start of the Mass, the Cathedral was already filled.
I was very sorry to have to ask a small family who had perched in the exact spot I had requested -- just in front of one of the Cathedral's massive pillars -- to move. Their devotion was so touching: dad, and three young children, all turned out in proper trousers, shirts, ties, and jackets and a lovely Sunday dress.
I wished I could have "worked around them" because they were so enthusiastic, waiting nicely -- standing -- more than an hour before the Mass had even begun. But part of how I work is that we never create a distraction to worshippers if at all possible and I needed to "hide" in front of the pillar with my back to it, to avoid being seen by the rest of the crowd all through the mass.
There was a kind of Polish honor guard, gentlemen each wearing a rather large headdress standing at attention in front of the front row of pews where the Archbishop would give his homily.
Just as the readings started, I was literally unable to move an inch. There were so many people in the cathedral, jamming the aisles, even, that I was shocked to discover I could not so much as move my feet - not even an inch! It was surrounded on all sides by other feet.
I am describing this literally!
I had to appeal to a woman standing next to me to approach the gentleman in the hat who was blocking my camera's view. At first she was a bit annoyed with me (people are always annoyed with photographers -- please remember we are doing our best to help) I had to "sell" her a little by explaining I'd been commissioned by the Archdiocese to shoot at this Mass, but finally she co-operated and asked the gentleman blocking my view to take one step to the left.
I had hoped to record the Gospel reading, but when the people stood for the Gospel, a giant (I mean very tall) priest in a very orthodox vestment I am unfamiliar with, stood up right in front of my camera. It was a wash.
Fortunately I was able to get a sightline to +Archbishop Miller for his homily.
When I have the privilege to record at a Mass, I kneel at the consecration of course, and sometimes am not able to "do camerawork" during that time, but I was pleased with the "close up" I got of our Lord fully present in the Holy Eucharist here.
It was a beautiful day and a beautiful celebration, and I can tell you there are many, many devotees of Bl John Paul II in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Thanks for watching!
WIth the rest of the world on May 1, 2011, Holy Rosary Cathedral in Vancouver was packed with worshippers for the celebration Mass in thanksgiving for the beatification of John Paul II.
I was asked to produce a profile of this event on very short notice, and I've actually felt kind of chagrined about the circumstances. Arriving an hour and a quarter before the start of the Mass, the Cathedral was already filled.
I was very sorry to have to ask a small family who had perched in the exact spot I had requested -- just in front of one of the Cathedral's massive pillars -- to move. Their devotion was so touching: dad, and three young children, all turned out in proper trousers, shirts, ties, and jackets and a lovely Sunday dress.
I wished I could have "worked around them" because they were so enthusiastic, waiting nicely -- standing -- more than an hour before the Mass had even begun. But part of how I work is that we never create a distraction to worshippers if at all possible and I needed to "hide" in front of the pillar with my back to it, to avoid being seen by the rest of the crowd all through the mass.
There was a kind of Polish honor guard, gentlemen each wearing a rather large headdress standing at attention in front of the front row of pews where the Archbishop would give his homily.
Just as the readings started, I was literally unable to move an inch. There were so many people in the cathedral, jamming the aisles, even, that I was shocked to discover I could not so much as move my feet - not even an inch! It was surrounded on all sides by other feet.
I am describing this literally!
I had to appeal to a woman standing next to me to approach the gentleman in the hat who was blocking my camera's view. At first she was a bit annoyed with me (people are always annoyed with photographers -- please remember we are doing our best to help) I had to "sell" her a little by explaining I'd been commissioned by the Archdiocese to shoot at this Mass, but finally she co-operated and asked the gentleman blocking my view to take one step to the left.
I had hoped to record the Gospel reading, but when the people stood for the Gospel, a giant (I mean very tall) priest in a very orthodox vestment I am unfamiliar with, stood up right in front of my camera. It was a wash.
Fortunately I was able to get a sightline to +Archbishop Miller for his homily.
When I have the privilege to record at a Mass, I kneel at the consecration of course, and sometimes am not able to "do camerawork" during that time, but I was pleased with the "close up" I got of our Lord fully present in the Holy Eucharist here.
It was a beautiful day and a beautiful celebration, and I can tell you there are many, many devotees of Bl John Paul II in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Thanks for watching!