"It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience," said Mike Oliver of Cary, who won two tickets to see the pope in Washington, D.C. "As a devout Catholic, you don't get to see anyone higher on our Church's organizational chart -- at least while you are on Earth."

Three bishops, 50 priests and 300 hundred Roman Catholics from across North Carolina will trek to Washington, D.C., and New York City this week to join thousands of others in welcoming Pope Benedict XVI on his first official visit to the United States, which begins today.

Among those attending will be former Raleigh City Councilman Kieran Shanahan and his wife, Tina, and U.S. Rep. Walter Jones, a North Carolina Republican, who were invited by President George W. Bush to attend the arrival ceremony Wednesday on the South Lawn of the White House.

On almost every leg of Pope Benedict XVI's five-day trip, North Carolinians from the Diocese of Raleigh will be there to greet him.

* Wednesday: Private prayer service at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Diocese of Raleigh, Bishop F. Joseph Gossman, retired of the Diocese of Raleigh, and Bishop Peter Jugis of the Diocese of Charlotte will attend.

* Thursday morning: The pope will offer Mass at the new Nationals Park in Washington. One hundred Catholics from the Diocese of Raleigh and 50 from the Diocese of Charlotte will attend, including more than two dozen priests.

* Thursday evening: The pope will address 195 diocesan education directors and 235 Catholic colleges and university presidents on the importance of Catholic education. Michael Fedewa, the superintendent of Catholic formation and education in the diocese of Raleigh, will be among those attending the event on the campus of the Catholic University of America in Washington.

* Saturday morning: Two newly ordained priests from the Diocese of Raleigh will join the pope at Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City.

* Saturday afternoon: The pope will meet with young Catholics, at St. Joseph Seminary in Yonkers, NY. Thousands of young people, including 15 seminarians from the diocese of Raleigh, are expected to participate.