By Michael Motes

The hypnotic effect of the visit of Pope John Paul II on all those with whom he came in contact lingers on. Recent, at random chats with some of those from the Archdiocese of Atlanta who traversed the papal path revealed a wealth of memories that will be cherished for years to come.

For a few of the luckier ones, things to be treasured include more tangible items than mere memories.

Such is the case of Father Jacking Drudling, assistant at St. John the Evangelist, who not only had the honor of kissing the papal ring, but was presented a rosary by the Holy Father himself!

Father Druding received early Secret Service clearance and was on hand at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Philadelphia to help with advance preparations of the pope’s visit to the tomb of St. John Neumann.

“The work of the Secret Service was fascinating,” he recalled. “No one was allowed in the church after 10 p.m. the evening before the papal visit unless they had special clearance. Along with my friend Monsignor George Tomichek, a missionary from the Phillipines, I was privileged to consecrate the Host that the Holy Father would kneel before the next day.

“The day of the pope’s visit to the church, Secret Service agents were everywhere. All those who entered the church were searched and such items as handbags were opened. SWAT teams were positioned on roofs across from St. Peter the Apostle two hours before the pope’s arrival.”

As the Holy Father was leaving the church, Father Druding knelt before him and kissed his ring. It was then that the Atlanta priest was given a rosary by Pope John Paul II.

Not only does he have the cherished memento, but Father Druding has received a special invitation to participate in the pontiff’s visit to the Philippines early next year. The event will be significant because planned activities will include the beatification of the first Philippine martyr, Lorenzo Ruiz, and will mark the first time that beatification has taken place outside of Rome.

Father Terry Kane says that his arrival to hear the pope’s address to priests in Philadelphia was “the first time I was ever early for anything in my life!” The pastor of St. Oliver Plunkett in Snellville recalls, “As the Holy Father came down the aisle in the convention center, I was amazed at how the priests attending literally jumped over one another to get close to him. There’s something about the man that is almost hypnotic!” Father Kane had earlier attended the Mass celebrated by the pope at Logan Circle and said, “The City of Brotherly Love was very evident. People were sharing everything -- from

food to cameras. It was almost like being at a picnic, everyone was so happy and the mood was such a joyous one. The emotion and the excitement was a fantastic experience!”

Holy Spirit Pastor Father Peter Ludden also attended the Mass for clergy in Philadelphia and remembers it as a “most impressive ceremony.”

“My biggest disappointment,” he said, “was that the Holy Father did not seem as outgoing as I had observed him at other events. He seemed more somber -- but perhaps this was in keeping with the event itself and the topic he touched upon in his homily. It was a very formal occasion. The media had focused so on the lighter moments of the Holy Father’s trip that perhaps this type of standard had been set for me. Attending the gathering, however, I saw a very solemn and dignified side of the pope.”

Father Ludden’s trip to see the pope was also memorable to him because on the journey he rode a train for the first time since coming to the United States. His trip was from the outskirts of Philadelphia into the city.

“This was certainly unforgettable,” he said, “because the group of priests I was following got off at the wrong station and we had to double back! So much for local knowledge!”

During the Mass at Logan Circle, Father Vincent Mulvin noticed that “the most unexcited person was the pope himself.”

Father Mulvin, who works with the Metropolitan Marriage Tribunal commented, “During this service I realized what the Holy Father was doing is what I am so privileged to do as a priest and this was a very moving experience for me. I was tremendously impressed by the conviction of the man and how he tends to project this conviction in his manner of speaking and in celebrating the Mass.”

Sacred Heart pastor, Father Michael A. Morris, attended several events in Washington for Pope John Paul II.

It was at the reception at the White House that Father Morris “became primarily aware of the great power of the pope’s presence. All of the notables of the land were there, yet the Holy Father’s presence outshone any of them.”

Father Morris also commented that he was very impressed with the graciousness President Carter extended the visiting pontiff.

“But,” Father Morris said, “if I had to single out one thing that impressed me the most about the visit of the Holy Father, it would be his appeal to the young people -- the high school and college-age youth who came to Washington from all over the country and at great personal sacrifice just to see him.”

He also stated, “The Holy Father seemed to have his hand on the pulse of the American people and their spiritual needs. It was extraordinary the way he addressed the people on their needs. I shall never forget this.”

Monsignor John McDonough, administrator of the Cathedral, served as the official representative from the archdiocese at the Mass for seminarians and priests in Philadelphia and said that the event was “one of complete joy and happiness.”

As one of 175 celebrants with the pope, Monsignor McDonough said, “I found complete joy and elation in just being with the Holy Father. Everyone seemed universal in their happiness and the Holy Father seemed genuinely happy to be with the priests and the seminarians. I don’t know whether we were responding to his joy or he was responding to ours, but the joy was contagious!”

Father Richard Lopez, Archdiocesan Director of Vocations, was also present at the Mass and said, “As a priest and as vocations director, I found p homily and Mass the most refreshing and renewing statement on vocations I have ever heard in my life.”

Recalling her attendance at the Mass on the Mall and White House reception, Sister Jeannette Abi-Nader related, “I felt torn by the genuine warmth and loving character of the person and the controversial and challenging message he was giving us. I believe it is going to take some time to reflect what that message means and how it applies. But the enthusiasm and response from the people on the Mall was certainly a thrilling experience.”

“The most striking statement the pope made for me as a priest,” says Father Louis Naughton of the Cathedral, “was the fact that the priesthood is a gift which was to be cherished greatly and which can be fully utilized with the help of the Lord.”

Father Naughton, who attended the October 3 Mass in Logan Circle and October 4 Mass at Philadelphia’s Convention Center, also commented, “I felt that the very tight schedule of the Holy Father had during his U.S. visit did not afford him the opportunity of going to the people as he seemed to do in Ireland, where the physical arrangements were such that this was possible. But the Philadelphia people, while very restrained in the external expression of their enthusiasm for the Holy Father’s visit, were absolutely delighted that he was in their midst.”

Father Edward Dillon, Officialis of the Metropolitan Marriage Tribunal, was among a select group of educators, theologians and scholars to attend the convocation at Catholic University.

“To a certain degree, the charisma of the Holy Father overpowers what he says,” Father Dillon commented. “At this gathering, the pope’s comments were geared to the academic world and he was very business-like in his appearance and delivery. But the charisma that the press writes so much about is very real.”

The Reverend Dewey Gable, pastor of St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church in Atlanta, was just as impressed as any of the local Catholic clergy.

“The experience of the Mass on the Mall in Washington and being there with the pope was an utterly unforgettable moment in my life,” Father Gable said. “I liked the conservative stance that the pope took on issues burning today, especially abortion.”

Father Gable also commented about an event he witnessed among the crowd. He noticed a family standing together with the father holding up a small child.

“Look at the Holy Father,” Father Gable quoted the man as saying, “Unless you get rich and famous and get to go to Rome, you will never see him again.”

“This was a very touching incident to me,” Father Gable said.