The arena of The Dome at America's Center, filled to capacity

Photo: Paul Sableman. CC BY 2.0.

This is the first beatification ever celebrated in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, in the same building where Pope St. John Paul II offered Mass in 1999. Tens of thousands are expected, from every part of the country and well beyond it.

Photo: William Wesen, 2007, via Wikimedia Commons.

Before you book

Children aged two and under who will not occupy a seat do not need a ticket.
One person may buy up to ten tickets. Larger groups are arranged by hand rather than bought online.
Your ticket covers everything held at The Dome that day: the expo, the adoration chapel and confession.

Priests, deacons, religious and seminarians register separately, not through the public ticket site. Those who will concelebrate or vest must have a letter of suitability filed in advance. None will be accepted on the day. Priests from outside the United States should ask their ordinary for a letter of introduction, as canon 903 provides.

The empty bowl of The Dome at America's Center before an event

Photo: William Wesen, 2007, via Wikimedia Commons.

The order of the day

8:00 a.m.Doors open, and the expo with them: Catholic ministries, publishers, artists and religious communities from across the country.

9:00 a.m.The adoration chapel and the confession chapel open.

10:00 a.m.The pre-Mass programme begins, with music, prayer and reflections from a number of well-known Catholic voices.

1:30 p.m.The procession begins. Be in your seat before this.

2:00 p.m.The Mass of Beatification.

4 to 6 p.m.Veneration of the relic.

What happens at the rite

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, who presides as the representative of Pope Leo XIV.
Photo: Perrant, via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY 3.0.

The Rite of Beatification comes at the very beginning of the Mass. A short life of the new Blessed is read aloud. The Cardinal then reads the Apostolic Letter of the Holy Father in Latin, and it is repeated in English. With that declaration the title Blessed is granted. The image of the new Blessed, now shown with a halo, is unveiled, and a relic is brought forward for veneration and incensed. After a hymn of thanksgiving the Mass continues with the opening prayer proper to the new Blessed.

If you have never seen a beatification, the unveiling is the moment to watch for. It is the point at which the Church says aloud what many people have believed quietly for years.

Getting there

The MetroLink Convention Center station platform in St. Louis — Convention Center station is under 500 feet from the doors.
Photo: Mx. Granger. CC0.

By light rail. The simplest arrival. The MetroLink Convention Center stop is served by both the red and blue lines.
By car. The Dome has no car park of its own. Nearby public parking will fill, so book a space in advance through one of the St. Louis parking apps and allow for a walk at the other end.
By coach. Groups arriving by coach must arrange drop-off and pick-up with the event security team beforehand.

Accessibility

ADA seating is in Row U on the Concourse (100) level, Row J on the Club (300) level, and Row E on the Terrace (400) level. If you cannot find ADA tickets on any level, the Dome box office accommodations line is 314-342-5155.
Hard of hearing. Seating can be arranged through that same line.
Distances. Expect a walk from your parking to the building, and up to about 1,000 feet from your concourse to your seat. Lifts and escalators serve every concourse. If anyone in your party has difficulty walking, bring a wheelchair or mobility scooter.
Family restrooms with changing tables are on the 100, 300 and 400 levels, and every standard restroom has accessible stalls. There is no dedicated nursing room, but staff at the Guest Service Centres by sections 117, 145, 417 and 445 will find you a private space.
Low gluten hosts. A station will be available on every level, and ushers can point you to the nearest.

Before you set out

The Dome is cashless. Cash is not accepted anywhere inside. Bring a card. A reverse ATM on the Concourse (100) level beside Guest Service Center 117 turns cash into a prepaid card.
Bags. The Dome operates a clear-bag policy for large events. Check the current rule before you pack, and carry as little as you can.
It is a long day. Doors at eight, Mass at two, veneration until six. Dress comfortably, and eat something before the procession if you mean to stay to the end.

Bishop Fulton J. Sheen by the Sea of Galilee

Two o’clock in St. Louis is 3 p.m. in New York, 8 p.m. in London and in Lagos, 9 p.m. in Warsaw, 4 p.m. in São Paulo, and 3 a.m. on the Friday in Manila. Whatever the hour where you are, you might keep the day by praying the World Mission Rosary he created, or the prayer for his canonization, which that afternoon becomes a prayer for a Blessed.

Details on this page follow the official schedule and FAQ published for the beatification. Ticketing, timings and venue policy can still change, so please confirm before you travel.