Jasper Couple Attend

Jane, left, and John Chappell of Jasper, family friend Nora Cardoza and the Chappells’ daughter Alexa pose for a photo on the White House lawn just after the official Welcome Ceremony for Pope Francis.

Alexa, Associate Director of the U.S. Office of Intergovernmental and Public Liaison, learned a few weeks earlier that she had tickets for the event, and she invited her parents to attend.

They found a hotel room at a property only two blocks from the White House, which made getting to the ceremony an easy walk.

The Chappells drove to D.C. on Sept. 22, attended the opening ceremony the next day and drove home on Sept. 24.

“We are very proud to be Catholics,” John said. “It was a deeply moving experience. To be right there and to hear the Pope’s comments was very heartwarming, and very dear to us.

"We wondered whether the Pope would wade into the political arena, but he simply preached the Gospel. Even though he spoke about the environment and welcoming immigrants, the Pope was not taking a political stand as much as laying out more about what our Catholic faith is all about.”

The Chappells are members of St. Joseph Parish in Jasper.