From the archives: Long Island youth celebrate life of their pope

This story was originally published in Newsday on April 8, 2005

In Rockville Centre, hundreds pay tribute with music and prayer to honor pontiff who embraced the young

The nine-member music group tuning up on a Rockville Centre stage had all the trappings of a typical young band: a leader with a crewcut and cargo pants, cheerful banter and serious discussion between songs about timing and verse counts.

But their platform last night was anything but conventional. They were on the white stone altar of St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre and their audience comprised hundreds of parishioners gathered for Mass to celebrate Pope John Paul II's life.

"I feel very honored to play here," said Tom Rizzacasa, 17, who plays electric bass for the 2-year-old Maria Regina Parish's Life Teen youth ministry music group in Seaford.

Their performance on the eve of the pope's funeral was particularly fitting on an evening that began with a rally attended by hundreds of teenagers, many still in their Catholic school uniforms. Bishop William Murphy led the crowd in a sustained joyous shout before they watched a video of the pope's life, accompanied by Christian songs.

"Tonight you and I are celebrating your pope. Isn't he your pope?" Murphy said.

The crowd roared, "Yes!"

Then the youths walked in a candlelight procession inside the church where Murphy delivered a homily, reminding the congregation of a pope who embraced the young and established World Youth Day about 20 years ago.

Guitarist Todd Lemieux, 31, a youth minister, said playing at the Mass was a "personal honor because this pope has had such an impact on my life."

Life Teen, which began in 1985 and is headquartered in Mesa, Ariz., received a blessing by the pope. Maria Regina Parish's Life Teen music group, which Lemieux started about two years ago, includes a seventh-grade violinist and a keyboard player who trained at the Manhattan School of Music in the 1960s.

One of the songs the band played last night, "Facedown," was particularly meaningful, Lemieux said. He said his favorite story was about how people were looking for the pope one day at the Vatican. He was praying in the chapel, but they could not find him.

"They figured he would be kneeling but he was in fact face down in front of the blessed sacrament."

Staff writer Bill Mason contributed to this story.