When Pope Benedict XVI arrives on April 15 for his much-anticipated five-day visit to the United States, some local Catholics will be taking part in the festivities.

Bishop George Coleman of the Fall River Diocese will travel to Washington, D.C., the first stop on the pope's journey, to take part in a prayer service and a meeting between the pope and the 350 American bishops. The bishop will also concelebrate the pope's April 16 Mass at the newly-opened Nationals Park in Washington.

Coleman encouraged local Catholics to listen to what the pope says during his visit.

"In so many ways, this visit of Pope Benedict XVI will be significant for our country and for the members of our Church here in the United States," Coleman wrote in a message to local Catholics, calling the pope "an envoy of peace and hope."

Also heading to Washington are George Milot, the Fall River Diocese's superintendent of schools, and the Rev. Mark Cregan, president of Stonehill College in Easton. They will both attend a speech by Pope Benedict on Catholic education at Catholic University of America. "I am really looking forward to it," said Milot, who previously served as principal at Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro. "What particularly excites me is the fact that the pope is dedicating a portion of his visit to focus on Catholic education. Given the many demands on his time, it's strong confirmation of its importance to him."

From Washington, Pope Benedict will be heading to New York, where among his other activities he will celebrate Mass for an estimated 57,000 people at Yankee Stadium. The Mass will focus on this year's 200th anniversaries of a number of East Coast dioceses, including Boston.

About 100 parishioners from parishes around the Fall River Diocese are planning to travel by bus to attend the huge service, said John Kearns, the diocese's communications director. The diocese was allotted 100 tickets to the Yankee Stadium Mass, which were handed out on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Two local priests, the Revs. Kevin Cook and David Pignato, will also be in New York to attend a special Mass in St. Patrick's Cathedral offered by the pope for priests, deacons, and members of religious orders.

Kearns will also be involved with the papal visit, but behind the scenes. He is part of the expanded communications staff coordinating media relations during the pope's visit. A total of 5,000 requests for press credentials have been submitted for the papal visit, Kearns said.

Pope Benedict's trip, which coincides with both his 81st birthday and the third anniversary of his election as pope, will also include visits to Ground Zero and the United Nations, a White House meeting with President Bush and an interfaith gathering.

TED NESI can be reached at 508-236-434 or at tnesi@thesunchronicle.com.