FAMILY OF 8 PLANS TRIP TO SEE POPE

SCOTT CITY -- Diana and Ira Judd doubted they would ever get to Rome to see Pope John Paul II, but getting to St. Louis isn't as difficult a trip for their family.

The Judds and six of their nine children will see the pope Wednesday when he celebrates Mass at the TWA Dome in St. Louis. They plan to stay with relatives in South St. Louis during the trip.

At least 1 million people are expected for the papal visit.

The pontiff arrives Tuesday afternoon and will speak at a youth rally later in the day. He will celebrate Mass and a vespers service Wednesday before departing for Rome.

Nearly 1,400 people from the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese received tickets for the events. Like other families interested in seeing the pope, the Judds requested tickets through their church, St. Joseph in Scott City.

The church received 11 tickets but used only 10. The remaining ticket was given to another area parish. In addition to the Judds, Tom and Donna Anderson received tickets for the Mass.

Some parishes received more tickets and others less. But every parish that requested tickets received some, said Marilyn Vydra, director of communications for the diocese.

Originally the diocese received 900 tickets, but another 200 were distributed this week.

"I sent them all out yesterday," Vydra said Friday afternoon from her Springfield office.

Diana Judd had not yet received her family's tickets Friday afternoon but expected them soon.

"I just don't know until I get them in my hand," she said.

As the days draw closer, her children, who range in age from 20 to 5, are getting more excited about their trip.

"The older kids wanted to see the pope. They thought he'd be a neat person to see," she said.

But seeing the pope isn't just about being Catholic, although it was a strong motivation.

"What I hope they get out of this is that we're not just going because we're Catholic," she said. "I hope and pray that they will learn to show respect -- not just for the pope but for all religious leaders and teachers in life."

When news of the papal visit to St. Louis was first announced last summer, two of her sisters-in-law asked Diana and Ira Judd to attend. She didn't really think they would have the chance.

"I never dreamed I'd be going to see the pope. It's the greatest opportunity," she said.

Making arrangements for the trip to St. Louis and securing tickets wasn't difficult.

Ira was not scheduled to work at his job at Procter & Gamble Co., the younger children will be excused from school, and the college students asked permission from their professors to miss classes.

As she has read about the final preparations being made in St. Louis, Diana Judd is a little skeptical about taking her children into such a crowd.

"You wonder about the money and how we'll pay for everything, but you can't start with anticipation."

Instead, the Judds plan to begin their trip with a prayer.

"I've always been a firm believer in prayer. When we go on trips, that's how we start out," she said.

She said she can attest to the power of prayer and God's work in her life.

Last year her 19-year-old daughter Melissa was nearly killed in a car accident in Scott County.

"We know God was there with her," she said.

Last spring Melissa's car was struck by a car. She had to be extricated from the vehicle. Melissa underwent three hours of surgery at Southeast Missouri Hospital to remove a blood clot in her brain that had been caused by the accident.

"With almost losing her in that accident, we felt like our faith got her and us through," she said. "It was hard on our family, but we knew God was there."