By Paula Day

As pilgrimages probably, the one to see the pope in Columbia by members of St. Patrick's parish in Norcross, began with an early morning Mass before the 7:30 a.m. departure.

But it was soon evident that this pilgrimage would have its distinctive American flavor.

There was a spirit of festivity, of holiday. And there was also a deeper, more vibrant feeling -- of anticipation, almost yearning. As a 10-year-old put it, "He's my father," and the 126 people boarding the three buses sounded like long anticipated family reunion with a most beloved "papa."

The camaraderie was not limited to St. Patrick's three buses. Pilgrims in other vehicles along I-20 waved papal flags and held up signs indicating their destination. Two sports cars zipped past carrying banners proclaiming "Viva Il Papa!" The travelers used a rest stop to find out where others came from. Family groups spread tablecloths out on the ground and opened picnic baskets -- a needed break in the four-hour trip from the Atlanta area.

As any family on a long trip might, the bus pilgrims passed the time singing. Their songs reflected the variety of their concerns, interests, backgrounds: "Let There Be Peace On Earth," "God Bless America," "This Land Was Made for You And Me," "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling," "Country Roads," "Dixie," "The Battle Hymn of The Republic," -- a musical one large family going to a patchwork quilt representative of American Catholics.

One of St. Patrick's pilgrims was Nadija Dzikowski. A naturalized American, wife, and mother, Mrs. Dzikowski was born in the Ukraine and lived in Poland for three years. She has aunts, uncles and cousins still living there. Mrs. Dzikowski was quick to point out that Pope John Paul's mother was Ukrainian -- "I have an awful lot of Polish connection," she added, and introduced a sister-in-law, Theresa Ivy, of St. Michaels parish in Gainesville, who was born in Poland before her parents emigrated to the United States.

"I'm hoping some of his (the pope's) blessing will come on our family," Mrs. Dzikowski continued. "I'm so thrilled, I'm shivering. I have been blessed already -- coming to this country -- blessed with my family -- blessed coming on this trip."

"I think it's wonderful we have a Polish pope. It's the first time in the history of the Church. So many could have been picked -- anyone else. They picked a Polish pope. Poland had problems at that time (of John Paul's election). It's wonderful support for people behind the Iron curtain -- not only Catholics, but other Christians -- to have a leader like this. I feel a closeness to him because he's been from my part of the world -- I'm from here now, but you don't forget your roots."

Harry Dzikowski, her husband who is of Polish descent, added, "To be the first Polish pope is a feat in itself -- especially because he's a traveler."

Ella Tymchuk, a guest of the Dzikowskis from St. Michael's in Gainesville, sees Pope John Paul as "outstanding for the '80s -- the world needs him. He's a uniter of nations and denominations. He's a peacemaker."

Another pilgrim from St. Patrick's was a convert to Catholicism in 1978. Jim Gammons recalls that his Baptist mother cried when he was baptized a Catholic. He adds, "The Catholic Church opened its doors and took me into its arms. The Church is where home is for me." Gammons says that even before becoming a Catholic he "pictured the pope as a leader of what's right in the free and Communist world. To me he's more than the spiritual leader of Catholics. He's a symbol of truth and justice. I love to watch him on TV. I'm fascinated by the excitement he creates. He's not a political leader - he's a spiritual leader. I'm fascinated by what a pope can do as head of the Church. This man in particular -- what he has done for world peace in the Middle East -- in Poland. He travels and works so hard for everyone. He can do something now that has never been accomplished before for peace."

Later in the bus before starting for home, Gammons exclaimed, "It was great. I'd stand in line two or three times to be a part of this -- and the theme, family life, really impressed me. He really came down to the basics."

Sarah Rzepecki, a fifth grader from St. Joseph's School in Athens, along with her parents and two older brothers, was also part of St. Patrick's group. Her family had moved recently from the Norcross area to Athens and returned to make the pilgrimage with the parish. Sarah is a swimmer for the UGA Bulldogs and plans to be an astronaut so she "can see the world from a different angle." When asked why she wanted to see the pope, she hesitated -- "I dunno," then after a moment's thought, said quite decidedly: "He's my father."

Later, after the prayer service, Sarah observed, "He looks like a nice person. I looked through my binoculars. He was smiling, but he looked tired."

This comment was echoed by a security officer watching from a ramp of the University of South Carolina stadium as the crowd left. "I'm tired. It's been a long day. But in a couple more hours I'll go home to my own bed. I don't know how he keeps up the pace. And seven more days of it!"

The hot humid South Carolina afternoon and the long wait to squeeze, one-by-one, through security check did not wilt, for long, the crowd's festive spirit. Connie Moraleta could hardly keep up with her 76-year-old mother, Xana Moraleta, as she climbed the last 76 steps "straight up" to their seats high in the South Carolina sky. On the left one could see Columbia's skyline; to the right South Carolina's horizon stretched into the haze. A comfortable breeze cooled the waiting pilgrims as screening kites swooped from their nests in the stadium's light girders above.

The early evening ecumenical prayer service, a Service of Christian Witness, was designed as a "celebration of the family through a program a Scripture reading, narration and music." The narration connected passages from Genesis through the Old and New Testament to St. Paul's hymn to charity with comments showing the strong family themes in Sacred Scripture. Classical music of Palestrina, Vivaldi, Bach, Beethoven, Haydn, as well as American spirituals and a song by John Paul, "The Children," was performed by a range of artists including USC's Symphony Orchestra and the Greater Columbia's Children's Choir.

An impressive moment in the service was the procession of Christian ministers, representatives of Christian churches that make up the mosaic that is Christendom in the U.S. As the procession formed and began its solemn movement across the field, the watching crowd broke into spontaneous applause.

But the approaching moment of John Paul's arrival was always on the minds of the waiting pilgrims. "The anticipation -- you can cut it, "one voice remarked. Twice a helicopter circled the stadium and attention was distracted from the services on the field. Surely the 'copter signaled the moment of arrival!

"There he is…" Almost as one, the crowd spotted the slightly stooped figure with white skill cap emerging from the opening at the back of the center platform even though audio equipment and draped papal fluttering between pillars did their best to camouflage the moment. Waves of applause swept the stadium and Il Papa was claimed by his waiting flock.

Time and time again, the Holy Father's homily was interrupted by applause. To other Christian denominations, he said, "We stand side by side and confess Jesus Christ." Applause. "Jesus Christ is Lord." More applause. "Scriptures are dear to all of us. They are one of the greatest treasures we share." Further applause.

He reminded the audience that "Christian families exist to form a communion of persons in love" and exhorted Americans "you cannot insist on the right to choose, without also insisting on the duty to choose well, the duty to choose the truth."

It was a tired but happy group of pilgrims from St. Patrick's who boarded the busses for the trip home. Even a bus driver's mistake that took one bus 80 minutes out of the way was accepted with patience. One more song, "Happy Wanderer," filled the bus before the weary pilgrims, each with his or her own thoughts and memories, settled in for the long trip home.