TAMPA, Fla. — A Bay area choir is on their way to sing for the Pope in Italy, but all of the delays caused by flight cancellations linked to the government shutdown almost stopped the music for the group.

The St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church choir was scheduled to leave Tampa Tuesday but they encountered some hiccups.

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Flight delays impacting travel for Bay area choir slated to sing in Italy for the Pope 

St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church choir was scheduled to leave Tampa Tuesday but they encountered some hiccups

Eventually, the 37 choir members and director were split up among four flights

Thankfully they have all taken off, but it’s not as planned. All 37 choir members along with their director were supposed to be on one plane, from Tampa to Newark to Milan. Now, they’ve been split up on four different flights.

John Paul Cappa is the choir’s director. He said he helped plan the trip and is the leader for the group, so he feels responsible for making sure everyone has a smooth travel day.

“I didn’t think there was much to worry about until this airline thing started,” he said.

He’s taken the trip to Italy twice but for most of his choir members, this is the trip of a lifetime.

“A lot of us haven’t seen Pompi. So, we wanted to see that and there’s all sorts of new archaeological excavations happening there. And then of course Catholics also want to go there to see the pope,” he said.

But Cappa and his group aren’t just going to see the pope, they’re going to sing for him.

“We have a papal audience and then we have a mass with him. So hopefully that will all work out,” he said.

Cappa put a lot of thought into what they’ll sing. “They’ll be doing the Pitoni Cantate Domino hymn as like an opening. We’ll sing the Orbis Factor chants for parts of the mass. We’ll sing the Adoramus Te, Christe,” he said.

Making sure the choir hits the right note isn’t his biggest worry. His biggest worry is making sure they all board their flights that have layovers that could be impacted by FAA flight reductions. That’s part of why he told his choir members to lean on what they know, their faith.

“A couple weeks ago I said prepare yourselves spiritually for this journey because there’s that old adage, you’re preaching to the choir. And it means the choir is very aware of what goes on in the parish and they’re very involved in the parish,” Cappa said. “I’m just asking them to elevate themselves even more. Wear a scapular say a rosery.”

With that he says he’s sure they’ll make it to see the pope and all of the treasures Italy has to offer.

“We’re looking forward to seeing the shroud, the one relic that seems to pass all scientific tests. It’s just an amazing thing. I’ll be honored to be in its presence,” said Cappa.

It’s an emotional journey ahead they just have to get through their interesting travel day.

The group plans to sing for the Pope next Tuesday. They’ll return home next Thursday, hopefully with no delays.