Kathy's Blog

Today's papal mass at Yankee Stadium brings me back to a difficult time for a friend  that was made easier by the last pope's visit to the United Stares. The day was even eerily similar: overcast, a bit chilly. My high school classmate had lost her mother a year earlier. She knew I wanted to see Pope John Paul II at Giants Stadium so she somehow managed to get a ticket for me through her church. We went together and during the bus ride from Jersey City to East Rutherford we talked about her mother (something she had never done before with me.) A somber conversation but one that felt appropriate. Once we got to the stadium and heard mass by the Holy Father I could tell she felt (and so did I) a sense of peace...as if not only the closest person to God on earth was near us but that her mother was, too.

I have a feeling that the people at Ground Zero this morning and at Yankee Stadium later in the day will walk away with that same sense of peace. It's also my prayer for them.

While the visit to New York City is going to send the local media into super-overdrive, we here at MyFoxNY.com are constantly updating the page we've created on the Holy Father's visit.

I should point out that we got a very interesting blog (including a beautiful picture) this morning from Fox 5 reporter Reid Lamberty from the nation's capital.

There is also a great question and answer session between Good Day's Jodi Applegate and a church expert. It's called Catholicism 101.

Want to know how the Pope's visit is going to affect everyone traveling in and around New York City later this week: check out reporter Katherine Creag's NYC Preps piece.

So, take a look at all those links or go to the official MyFoxNY.com Papal Coverage page for everything on Pope Benedict XVI ...  for that CLICK HERE

News junkies are going to love what the media has ready for them when Pope Benedict XVI visits New York and Washington, D.C.

I think it's safe to say that every newsroom in both cities (and most in between) are quickly moving into overdrive when it comes to their papal coverage. (The pope will be in the U.S. April 15-20.)

For starters, here at Fox 5 News we're doing something we've never done before when covering a papal trip: we're using the web -- specifically your favorite website, MyFoxNY.com-- to present you with all the information we can gather.

Also, we'll be live streaming our television coverage.

What you won't see: shots from above (not heaven... think a little closer to earth ;->) ... there is a 'no-fly' zone over the papal motorcade.

 

I was especially insulted by some things I saw on television over the weekend. Easter and the few days leading up to it are the holiest days on the Christian calendar. So why is it that some networks decided to run shows/movies like: The Real Story about Jesus and The Da Vinci Code? (the latter couldn't have been more precisely timed: right on Easter Sunday.) You don't have to believe that Jesus is your Lord or Savior. You don't have to acknowledge any faith if you don't want to. This is America. We have the freedom to practice any religion or not practice at all, but there is a time and a place for everything. Questioning if Jesus ever had sex or running a  movie that the Vatican condemned is equivalent to running stories questioning whether the Holocaust happened on a Jewish high holy day... or like running that cartoon about Muhammad that has infuriated his followers on a Muslim holy day. The networks made their point. I'll make mine by never watching anything on those channels again.

MyFoxNY.com is putting together a special page dedicated to Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United States. For everything you need to know, visit MyFoxNY.com Papal Coverage

As more details are announced, we'll be sure to keep the page updated. If you have any questions or ideas on what sort of information you'd like included, please don't hesitate to comment to this post.

I posted a blog about Happy Road Trips in the Traffic section and got a tremendous response from people wanting to talk about happy, positive things. Faith doesn't necessarily always boil down to that, but I think this is a good spot to start sharing more happy, inspirtational stories. Check out DarynKagan.com for more about what I think might work; everyday people talking about extraordinary things. I'm not trying to copy Daryn, but I love the idea and think it could spur some conversations here.