BARNESVILLE -- A church in Schuylkill County got the call it's been waiting for: tickets to see Pope Francis when he comes to Philadelphia in just a couple of weeks.
But some other parishes are backing out of the trip altogether.
When they found out the pope was coming to Pennsylvania, churches from all over started booking trips to Philly, hoping to get a glimpse the Holy Father, but now that the time of his visit is getting closer, some churches are backing out while others are counting down the days.
Prayers haven been answered at a church in Barnesville. St. Richard's Roman Catholic Church got its hands on 26 tickets to see the pope when he visits Philadelphia later this month.
"I'm thrilled because at least I know we'll be close enough to see him at least," said Fr. Joseph Whalen.
The church received 26 tickets from the Diocese of Allentown through a lottery drawing. Those tickets allow the group to have a roped off place to stand a few blocks away from the Philadelphia Museum of Art. That's where Pope Francis will celebrate mass on Sunday, September 27.
Fr. Whalen was in Philly back in 1979 when Pope John Paul II visited. He guesses this trip will be much different.
Right now, the church group has a bus, but has no idea where that bus will park or how traffic will be getting into the city.
"I just asked the bus company this morning and they're asking me. So they're going to try to find out."
The excitement that the pope is coming to our state has worn off for other churches, like one in Mahanoy City. It just canceled its bus that was heading to Philadelphia and it all has to do with walking.
"Everybody was so happy to be going to see the pope. Then I found out we had to walk four miles in, four miles out," said Sylvia Burke of Mahanoy City.
Blessed Teresa of Calcutta in Mahanoy City had a bus of 47 people ready to go but didn't get any tickets.
Most of the people who signed up for the trip are over the age of 70. When they found out they might have to walk at least eight miles round trip plus stand for the entire papal mass, the group backed out.
"It's sad, but I'll watch it in my recliner like the other people and maybe I'll see him better!"
On Monday, Governor Wolf, PennDOT, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike announced a papal visit website to assist travelers: papal511.com.
