Camden Community Celebrates Rise To Sainthood For Pope John Paul II
By Tim Jimenez
CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) -- Pope John Paul's canonization made mass at a Camden church extra special on Sunday.
St. Joseph's in Camden has long been a center of the local polish Catholic community, it even houses a relic from John Paul II. And on this Sunday, the pews were filled as his life and legacy were honored. Leading the service, the Bishop of Camden Dennis Sullivan, and around his neck, his connection to the man who would be saint.
"This cross that I'm wearing, I received that cross from John Paul II at the ad limina visit, I guess it was eight years ago when we were there," Sullivan said. "So, I took it out this morning. His name is on the back."
And part of the Bishop's message to those gathered at the church is to use the lives of the newest saints, John Paul II and John XXIII as an example.
"We need their prayer, we need their inspiration," he said. "So, both of those new saints can do that for the Church and for all people - even for non-Christians."