Troy Group Heading To Philly To See The Pope

TROY (WWJ) - How far would you go to see the pope during his U.S. trip?

A busload of metro Detroiters are on their way to Philadelphia Thursday evening to see Pope Francis. About three dozen left by bus from St. Anastasia Church in Troy.

Gina Hopkins and her husband are making the trip with their son

"We are just so excited, we have been looking forward to this since January when we first heard, we haven't been overseas at all ... this is a big deal for us. We may, one day, get to see the Vatican but this is a great opportunity," said Hopkins.

"I'm so excited," said Grace Finazol. "My life kind of changed in the last decade and it's because of this parish - we feel so honored and privileged to get a chance - it didn't fill up before we bought our tickets and we got really lucky. Really blessed."

She and her family will likely join the million or so others in the Festival of Families on Saturday -- and will take in mass with Pope Francis on Sunday.