Yonkers seminarians prepare for papal Mass

Students at St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers were chosen to escort bishops to the altar during the papal Mass this week. "It's a privilege and an honor," says Robert Mema, one of the students. The

News 12 Staff

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Sep 24, 2015, 1:11 AM

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Updated 3,551 days ago

Students at St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers were chosen to escort bishops to the altar during the papal Mass this week.

"It's a privilege and an honor," says Robert Mema, one of the students.

The group has been practicing for months, led by the seminary's director of liturgy, Father Matt Ernest.

Vatican officials had earlier sent representatives to show the seminarians what the pope's expectations are, and Ernest has had the group drilling on them ever since.

The seminary transformed its gym into a makeshift altar with the exact dimensions of the Madison Square Garden stage, where Pope Francis will celebrate Mass Friday.

"It's important for everyone to watch this -- not as a show -- but as it truly is, the greatest prayer that we could offer to God," Ernest says.