Elected officials and other dignitaries joined parishioners of Mayor Bob O'Connor's parish last night to pray for the mayor's recovery.

The voices echoing in St. Rosalia Church in Greenfield could be heard outside, where people gathered on the sidewalks to join a special Mass.

	Alyssa Cwanger, Post-Gazette The Rev. Bob Vular hugs Judy O'Connor before last night's Mass for the ill mayor at St. Rosalia Church in Greenfield. Click photo for larger image.

"Since we all cannot be at the hospital with him, we send our prayer and healing," said Mr. O'Connor's pastor, the Rev. Joseph Reschick, who instructed congregation members to rise, face in the direction of UPMC Shadyside, and raise their right hands.

"We will send the healing touch of God over the neighborhoods to Shadyside Hospital into the mayor's room," he said.

Father Reschick was joined by the mayor's son, the Rev. Terry O'Connor, as he asked the city to pray for the mayor while he undergoes treatment for a rare form of brain cancer.

The mayor was in stable condition in intensive care yesterday after he received a third 20-minute treatment of intensity-modulated radiation therapy. IMRT allows doctors to direct more radiation to cancerous areas while minimizing the exposure of healthy tissues.

In a statement, UPMC said the treatment was well-tolerated.

At the church where Mr. O'Connor made the early steps of his political career, shaking the hands of fellow parishioners after Mass, a friend and member of the parish council said the mayor "inspires us here."

"He makes us feel good about living here -- coming to church -- being simple, friendly, caring people, no matter what our faith, background, position," said Michael Bartley.

"We also take pride knowing that a Greenfield native named Bob is often the last guy to leave the back of this church after Mass, shaking hands, laughing with that Irish twinkle in his eyes," Mr. Bartley said.

State Treasurer Bob Casey, who happened to be in Pittsburgh, canceled an 8:30 p.m. flight back to Scranton and rented a car to drive back so he could attend the Mass.

Mr. Casey said the mayor's struggle reminded him of when his father, then governor of Pennsylvania, was in Pittsburgh in 1993 for a transplant operation.

"My father was a fighter -- a fighter like Bob," Mr. Casey said. "I know Bob will be back as strong as ever."

Mr. O'Connor has had two treatments of whole-brain radiation and three IMRT treatments since he began radiation therapy last Thursday, said UPMC spokeswoman Clare Collins.

It is too early to know if his cancer is responding to the treatment, Ms. Collins said. But she noted that the mayor's symptoms, like headache and lethargy, have improved.

A brain scan would be needed to determine whether his tumors are shrinking in response to radiation, she said. The test was not scheduled this week, and Ms. Collins said she did not know how soon he would have another scan.

Alyssa Cwanger, Post-Gazette Worshippers face toward Shadyside, where Mayor Bob O'Connor is hospitalized, as they recite a healing prayer at last night's Mass.

Mr. O'Connor began receiving radiation therapy after four brain tumors did not respond to three rounds of high-dose methotrexate chemotherapy.

He started radiation treatments several days earlier than expected because of worsening symptoms of his rare brain cancer, according to his doctors.

At last night's service, Father O'Connor came to the rostrum toward the end of the Mass.

He placed a framed letter from the Vatican, sent to the mayor during the initial stages of his illness, and a statue of the Virgin Mary given to the mayor by a supporter nearby as he spoke.

"He has his good times and very tired moments," Father O'Connor said, but added if he asked his father if he wanted Holy Communion "his eyes would open."

His son said Mr. O'Connor gave him a message for the parishioners last night: "Thank them. Thank them."

Leading people out at the end was Michael Lazo, an usher at the church for 25 years.

"You know what would be beautiful?" Mr. Lazo said. "Seeing him walk through those doors."