Lauren Squires can be reached at Lauren.Squires@lctv13.com. 

Lauren Squires can be reached at Lauren.Squires@lctv13.com. 

WASHINGTON – The faithful waited anxiously for tickets outside of Nationals Stadium to see Pope Benedict XVI some were lucky enough to be given a ticket from a stranger.

“They just handed the tickets to us and told us to go split up amongst our group. They gave us about six tickets,” said one lucky crowd member.

Catholics from all over the world travel to the nation’s capital at the hope of seeing the pope.

While over 40,000 people gathered to get a glimpse of the man at home plate; across town others prepared to meet with the Holy Father on a more personal level.

“Much to my surprise I was in a fourth row seat and two seats away from where the Pope entered and exited”, said Loras College President Jim Collins.

President Collins was one of the 200 Catholic educators invited to meet with the Pope. Pope Benedict’s message at the event was one of gratitude.

“There has never been a more difficult time then now to be a college leader, the pope told us that he recognizes what we do and he empowers us and supports us,” added Collins reflecting on his D.C. trip.

For President Collins this message was a lasting one that he brought back to Loras and Dubuque.

“Keeping the faith and knowing that you have my support, know what you are doing is important, and know that it will make a difference,” said Collins about the impact of the Pope’s message.

Whether you were a Catholic waiting to see the pope or a president of an Iowa College, seeing the Pope during his first visit to the U.S makes an impact.

“It is kind of just dawning on me how amazing it is as a Catholic, but even more amazing how intimate the opportunity it was that I had and how unlikely it is that I would ever have such an opportunity like that, and how very few people ever have such an opportunity,” reflected Presidents Collins.

An opportunity that will last a lifetime for President Collins and all of the other Catholic faithful that saw Pope Benedict’s first visit to the United States.

Lauren Squires can be reached at Lauren.Squires@lctv13.com

DUBUQUE - When asked about her strengths sophomore pitcher Kate Earlywine keeps it short.

“I think I’m hardworking and positive on the diamond,” says Earlywine.

Ask her teammates about her, and they cannot stop talking.

“Kate is one of those people who never get down; she is a great kid and she works really hard each and every day,” says senior captain Stacy Bahl. “She is always trying to hit her spots; she always tries to hit her corners when she needs to,” adds junior catcher Kim Chalekian.

Her teammates say she always has a positive attitude and can get big strikeouts when they are most needed. That has led to Kate breaking her own record

“I broke the record for the most strikeouts in a game,” says Kate.

Those big strikeouts have led to over 200 hitters leaving the batter’s box empty handed. This season Kate broke the record for the most career strike outs, giving her the most of any pitcher in Loras history.

These numbers are not the focus of this sophomore’s game.

“I just love the lessons you can learn from being an athlete and playing sports,” says Kate.

Hard work, teamwork, and discipline are just a few of the things that Kate attributes to her time spent on the playing field. Add all those together and she has two records and a whole lot of respect; especially from her catcher.

“She is out there in the middle of that circle, all alone pitching every pitch,” says catcher Kim Chalekian.

That is not how Kate sees it. In fact, she throws the credit right back at her teammates.

“A lot of the credit goes to my teammates, especially to my catchers; they are calling pitches every game so I do not think people realize how much work they put in,” says Kate.

In a sport where even small mistakes can decide the game; Kate’s contribution makes a big difference.

Lauren Squires can be reached at Lauren.Squires@lctv13.com

WASHINGTON – Tuesday April 15^th, 2008 Pope Benedict the sixteenth arrived in Washington. It’s a momentous event and thousands of faithful are converging on the nation’s capital as Pope Benedict makes his first visit to the United States.

One of the many stops on his tour is the National Shine of the Immaculate Conception; the largest Roman Catholic Church in the United States. And although there are not enough seats inside for everyone to see the Pope, there are plenty of stores about their journey here.

Some traveled from coast to coast. “We’re from California” said one man.

Others have been in town for awhile. “Twenty five years” said Basilica volunteer Mary Jane Eldridge. She’s been volunteering here for twenty-five years. But in that quarter of a century, few days have been as busy as this.

Today she’s busy answering phones, giving directions and answering questions about the Papal visit. But all this hard work is paying off. Wednesday the Pope will arrive at the National Shrine to meet with United States Catholic Bishops. And “we will be there for that. That’s a great privilege that’s one of the big benefits that I’ve had all the years that I’ve been here” said Eldridge.

It’s clear that Mary Jane isn’t the only one here at The National Shrine that feels blessed to be here.

“We got tickets at the last minute…and we’re getting to see our holy father in the nation’s capital,” said Christina St. Hilaire. “The heart of our catholic faith in the heart of our nation,” said Christina.

It is the family’s first visit to D.C. but not their first time seeing Pope Benedict. They have traveled all the way from Nebraska’s Lincoln Diocese to see an old friend. “We met Pope Benedict when was still Cardinal Ratzinger . We found out we could attend his mass at the German college. We were able to talk to him there and tell him some of our concerns of things in this country,” said Christina.

The St.Hilaire’s lived in Rome for three years. “I got to hold his hand when we were walking in the Garden and I think we had just come out of mass” said their youngest son Daniel.

And then after following the advice of Cardinal Ratziner, they moved back to the states. But the friendship wasn’t over. “The year after we moved to Linocln we actually got a Christmas card from him.” Christina told us.

This trip though, there will not be any walks in the Garden. But the family will be at the mass in Nationals Stadium on Thursday.

And although the faces of the faithful range from old, to the young, everyone’s hoping to get a glimpse of Pope Benedict this week.

Lauren Squires can be reached at www.lauren.squires@loras.edu