Couple nets tickets to see the pope in New York

When Paul and Donna Pavelski put their names on the list to attend Pope Benedict XVI's Mass in New York, they figured one of them would get to go, and the other would have fabulous photographs to look at afterward.

To their surprise, both received tickets to the Sunday mass at Yankee Stadium.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime type of opportunity, and it is very exciting we will be sharing it together," said Paul Pavelski, 62, of Antioch.

The Pavelskis are two of the five people from St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church to receive tickets.

The church opened in September and is sending the largest delegation of people in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

"We were very fortunate to get five. I guess I just know the right people," joked the Rev. John Jamnicky, who spent 20 years as chaplain at O'Hare International Airport before coming to St. Raphael.

The Pavelskis will be joined by Gary Hughes of Old Mill Creek and Cindy Duncan and JoAnne Anen, both of Lindenhurst.

"I don't know if I'll ever get to Rome to see him, so this is the next best thing," Hughes, 58, said. "I know I won't be too close to him, but just knowing I'll be in the same place he is, is a privilege."

Dianne Dunagan, spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Chicago, said 400 tickets went to 20 parishes in Cook County and four churches in Lake County. Thirteen other Catholic groups were given the remaining tickets.

Most churches submitted only three names, but Jamnicky said he decided to take a chance and request five tickets.

"We were able to accommodate everyone who asked by our deadline," Dunagan said.

Tickets were distributed by the New York Archdiocese. The Diocese of Joliet was given 50 tickets for the Yankee Stadium Mass while the Rockford Diocese didn't get any tickets for that event, but was given 20 for the Thursday Mass at Nationals Park in Washington.

About 57,000 people will attend the Sunday Mass.

Duncan, 36, of Lindenhurst, saw Pope John Paul II in 1993 during World Youth Day in Denver.

What struck Duncan most was the shared excitement among Catholics from around the world.

She is counting on the same type of atmosphere this time, too.

"I'll be sitting in what would be considered 'nose-bleed,' so I suspect I'll be watching the jumbotron," she said. "But it's going to just be the experience of being there."

Jamnicky was in Rome in 2005 for the pontiff's installation. He said just being in the pope's presence was outstanding.

"It is not a matter of if you like Pope John II more, or which one is nicer or smiles more," Jamnicky said. "When you are there, you realize this is the vicar of Christ, successor of St. Peter, the person who leads and shepherds 1 billion Catholics throughout the world. It makes you proud of who you are."