A traditional Polish color guard parades a statue of Pope John Paul II among parishioners at Five Holy Martyrs following a Mass in thanksgiving for the beatification John Paul II May 1. Parishes in the Archdiocese of Chicago celebrated the Polish pontiffs elevation to blessed along with the beatification Mass by Pope Benedict XVI in Rome. Here are some photos from Chicago-area Catholics marking the momentous event.
Daniel Dababneh works on a slide show presentation that he created of Pope John Paul II for parishioners at St. Thomas Beckett Parish in Mount Prospect. Dababneh showed his presentation to folks keeping vigil to pray and watch the beatification of Pope John Paul II on April 30.
Photo: Karen Callaway / Catholic New World