The prayers of a popular Greenport business owner were answered when she learned she was one of the lucky winners of tickets to see Pope Francis when he visits New York City next week.
Sharon Sailor, owner of the Front Street Station, was overjoyed this week to hear that she’d been chosen in the random lottery to attend the historic, once-in-a-lifetime event.
Pope Francis begins his United States visit on Tuesday, and will visit Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City. Sailor will see the Pope when he wends his way through Central Park on Friday, September 25, traveling along the park’s West Drive before his scheduled mass at Madison Square Garden.
The visit has sparked a media frenzy, with reports of “Pope Mania” sweeping the region and merchants revving up to meet escalating demands for Pope-related souvenirs.
Sailor said she entered the contest as a “fluke” after she saw the raffle on a news site, which linked readers to the official New York City raffle website; local politicians also offered links to the official site.
“It was only one person on each site, so I entered,” Sailor said. “Never did I think that I would be picked out of the 7-million plus people in New York City.”
With the visit being the Pope’s first, Sailor said she was sure there were thousands of entries in the New York City area, as contestants could also enter through the NYC 311 system if they did not have internet access.
The raffle, she said, was only open for a few days and tickets were not for sale, only random raffle winners would receive them.
“I really take it as a sign that there is always something bigger and more out there, looking over and watching us. I truly believe that the universe sends you signs, you just have to be open to receiving them,” Sailor said.
And, she said, the universe was sending a major sign with the raffle win: The date of the Pope’s visit falls on the exact two-and-a-half year anniversary date of her closing on Front Street Station.
It’s also the very same day as the Land & Sea gala for the Maritime Festival, where her son Paul will be honored as “Police Chief for the Day”; the event is the kickoff for this year’s East End Seaport Museum and Marine Foundation’s Maritime Festival. On Sunday, Front Street Station will host the 2nd Annual Paul Drum Pirate & Mermaid Breakfast, with all proceeds to benefit the Paul Drum Nautical Education Fund.
Sailor said she’s sure her son Paul will give her “his blessing to attend” the Pope’s event, “and then be back in Greenport for the festivities.”
Winning the raffle, she said, just proved what she’s always known: “I am truly blessed to be where I am and to be able to do what I love. This just confirms it.”
