Zubik visits Catholic students
Fifth grade student Armand Cingolani can explain the two hats Bishop David Zubik wore as he celebrated Mass at Butler Catholic on Tuesday morning.
In religion the day before, Cingolani's class had talked about the three-cornered mitre and the beanie cap called the zucchelo.
He understood the bishop's ring, which symbolizes his marriage to God.
But the kindergarten students still thought he was a pope.
Zubik arrived Tuesday morning at the school on East Locust Street to celebrate Mass with the school's 275 students in pre-kindergarten to sixth grade and about 50 parents who joined in.
Zubik is in his first year as the bishop of the Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese, which includes Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence and Washington counties. He was installed Sept. 28 to replace Archbishop Donald Wuerl, who became the archbishop of Washington, D.C.
Armand and his classmate Noah Ferguson said it was their first time to see a bishop celebrate Mass.
"There were a lot of priests," Ferguson said, noting the half-dozen priests from Butler's parishes who co-celebrated the religious service. He said he felt honored to be there.
Before Zubik started, he explained the special vestments he wears, including the two hats and the ring.
He also explained the staff he carries with him, the crosier, that represents him as a shepherd to guide the flock; and the pectoral cross he keeps in his front shirt pocket, over his heart.
After the Mass concluded, he went to visit the kindergarten students he heard had thought he was a pope.
After he asked the name of each of the 25 students who gathered around him, he learned it was Ashlyn Dolan's fifth birthday. And so he led the class into song for her.
Zubik then met with the parents for doughnuts and coffee in the school cafeteria.
