Online, Br. Hugh Vincent Dyer, O.P. assisted the excellent coverage given at Godspy.com. On radio, Fr. Gabriel Gillen, O.P. and I co-hosted a special edition of “Word to Life,” the province’s weekly program on Sirius 159, The Catholic Channel. We discussed and explained the events of Saturday April 19 in New York. Fr. Chris Saliga, O.P. hosted a similar type of special on Sunday April 20. On television, Fr. Dominic Legge, O.P. and I assisted WNBC with their coverage of the events in Washington and New York. We served as on-air commentators during their live broadcasts of the papal Masses and other events.

The Dominican tradition continues … we know how to strengthen and support what has been built with our presence and our preaching. We use what we find around us to spread the light and love of Jesus Christ.

Fr. Aquinas Guilbeau, O.P.

Wednesday, April 16

Warmest of welcomes at the Shrine

Gathered on the steps of the shrine to welcome the Holy Father as he arrived on April 16 at the National Shrine for Vespers with the U.S. bishops were 3000 people. A team of Dominicans lead the crowd in prayer and with preaching for the 45 minutes preceding his arrival (Fr. Dominic Legge, O.P., Br. James Brent, O.P. and Br. Hugh Vincent Dyer, O.P. with three other brothers and two Nashville Dominican sisters lead decades of the rosary). This while Fr. James Cuddy, O.P., Fr. Joseph Barranger, O.P. and Fr. John Corbett O.P. lead a similar 45-minute program in the upper church of the Basilica, for the 500 people gathered there to greet the Holy Father as he entered the church.

On their home turf, the rest of the Friars from the Dominican House of Studies greeted Benedict with enthusiasm. In their white habits and black cappas, each friar waved a miniature papal flag to show their love and support for him and his ministry. As he approached in his pope mobile the crowd of Friars gathered behind the banner that said: “Dominicans Love Our Holy Father,” Benedict stood up to greet them.“

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