Kelly Luttinen | Special to The Michigan Catholic

Metro Detroit — When Pope Francis arrives in the city of Brotherly Love this fall, Fr. Bob LaCroix and his parishioners from Holy Family Parish in Novi will be among the millions there to greet him.

“Pope Francis is an apostle that makes us all proud to be Catholic. Seeing him and doing so with so many others gives us all inspiration to hit the streets and bring Jesus to everyone,” said Fr. LaCroix, who will join many other pilgrims from parishes across the Archdiocese of Detroit for the World Meeting of Families Sept. 22-27 in Philadelphia.

The meeting itself, which is held every three years and is sponsored by the Pontifical Council for the Family, takes place Sept. 22-25 and will be followed by a Sept. 26-27 visit from Pope Francis, who is expected to celebrate Mass for up to 1.5 million people on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

About 15 parishioners from Holy Family were signed for the pilgrimage as of May 17, said Patty Hubbard, the parish’s youth ministry coordinator. Holy Family is one of at least three parishes in the archdiocese organizing a trip through Corporate Travel Service in Dearborn Heights.

Hubbard said 30 percent of the parish is Hispanic, and that group is well represented on the pilgrimage.  Holy Family also has young people attending, such as Katie Brandt, who is using the pilgrimage to prepare for the upcoming World Youth Day in Poland next year.

“I am very excited to go is because I see it as a crash course in going to Krakow next summer,” said Brandt. “This pilgrimage and meeting of the families is part of my entire preparation that reaches a crescendo in World Youth Day.”

Chris Leech, director of youth ministry for St. John Neumann Parish in Canton, said his parish has the “fastest-growing pilgrimage to Philly” with nearly 40 signed up as of May 14, ranging in age from 12 to 73. “We have our own bus,” said Leech.

While they are excited about the visit of the Holy Father, Pope Francis is not the main reason the parish is attending.

“The pope has people really excited about their faith and the Church,” Leech said. “But there is also the opportunity to gather for a global synod. Our parish is trying to focus on family ministry, and the World Meeting of Families is so relevant to that.”

A special part of the event will be the Masses celebrated for families of international descent, he added.

“One of the families at St. John Neumann is Vietnamese and was drawn to go because there will be a special Mass said for Vietnamese families,” Leech said. “It’s an opportunity for them to celebrate together.”

During their time in Philadelphia, St. John Neumann parishioners and pastor Fr. Ron Richards hope to celebrate a Mass at the National Shrine of St. John Neumann in Philadelphia, which is the resting place for the saint’s body.

Parishioners from St. John Neumann and St. Anastasia Parish in Troy will also be among those attending a special talk at Philadelphia’s Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul given by the daughter of a saint who is particularly relevant for families, Gianna Beretta Molla. St. Gianna was a physician who refused surgery and an abortion during her pregnancy knowing the decision could (and would) result in her death.

St. Anastasia parish life coordinator Chris Broses said her parish has about 20 people going with spots still available, and Pope Francis definitely was the draw.

“We were remembering the last time a pope came here; it’s the chance of a lifetime,” Broses said. “One of the parishioners told me they would never be able to afford to go to Rome, and they are so excited he is coming here.”

A group of high school students from Everest Collegiate High School in Clarkston is also planning to attend the Sept. 26 Festival of Families, where Pope Francis will be speaking, and the papal Mass the next day, said Regnum Christi consecrated woman Rose Wieber, who works at Everest and is leading their pilgrimage. Other high school-age students are welcome to join, she added, and the cost is $299, including all the meals during the majority of the trip.

Wieber said Regnum Christi is working with the Philadelphia archdiocese to sponsor 24-hour Eucharistic adoration at the cathedral and a “Vocations Café” in the coffee shop and plaza out front, as well as a humanitarian mission serving the poor and homeless in the area around Logan Square and at the cathedral by distributing shoes, coats, sleeping bags and food, all while “sharing the good news of Jesus Christ,” she said.