Pope John Paul II Visits San Antonio
During his fourth visit to the United States, Pope John Paul II became the first pope to visit Texas. On September 12, 1987, John Paul II conducted one private and two public Masses. The residents of Panna Maria hoped John Paul II would visit their historic town, just 50 miles from San Antonio, but there was no time in the pope’s schedule. Instead, the people of Panna Maria were invited to participate in a papal audience at Assumption Seminary specially organized for members of Texas’ Polish communities.
Canon Bernard Goebel (the pastor of Panna Maria’s Immaculate Conception Church), Monsignor Henry Moczygemba (the last of the five Moczygemba priests), and Father John Yanta delivered welcoming remarks. The pope returned the greeting in Polish and then noted, “All of our great American Polonia credits its origin to you, Panna Maria, as the first nest built on American soil by Polish immigrants, inspiring others to follow in your footsteps.” To conclude the event, the pope asked the audience to join him in singing the hymn, Mary, Queen of Poland.
