The recent death of Pope Francis touched the lives of Catholic school communities in the Diocese of St. Cloud. In response, many hosted prayer services this week and planned educational opportunities to honor his legacy and follow the future of the papacy.
Cindy Liliana Gonzalez, director of campus ministry at the College of Saint Benedict, led prayer at an on-campus Marian grotto.
“We humbly ask for [God’s] presence to be with us,”Gonzalez said. “We are thankful as we hold close the memory of our beloved Pope Francis, a true shepherd of the people who embraced everyone with open arms.”
During the prayer service, attendees made a pilgrimage from the grotto to Sacred Heart Chapel at St. Benedict’s Monastery in St. Joseph. Benedictine Prioress Karen Rose read the Pope’s Easter homily.
Saint John’s University also held a prayer service the evening of the pope’s death, with most students returning to campus from Easter break that day.
Junior Nick Hamak shared his reaction. “Pope Francis was a true steward of Christ’s mission here on earth. From efforts and work helping the poor to championing the environment, he truly inspired us to care for God’s creation and for one another.
“He was a champion for those on the margins and I hope his work continues to be driven by the Church going forward,” he continued.
Grade schools affiliated with Catholic Community Schools, a Catholic school system in the St. Cloud area, each held their own prayer services.
St. Katharine Drexel School gathered at St. Augustine Church in St. Cloud where principal Sheri Rutar encouraged students to “be like Pope Francis by being kind to all, caring for each other and looking out for those who are sad or alone.”
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School in St. Cloud set up an area with an image of Pope Francis, flowers and luminaries where students stopped throughout the day to offer a prayer for the late pope.
“I shared with the students how important it is to pray for people who have died, especially Pope Francis,” said Kelly Vangsness, SEAS school principal. “We wanted to create an area where students would see it throughout the day and remember to honor Pope Francis, especially this week, [the week of Earth Day] because of his love of the earth.”
Cathedral middle school and high school students attended Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral on Thursday.
Kiera Frederick, a middle school teacher, shared a message prior to Mass.
“Pope Francis proved different and revolutionary from his predecessors,” Frederick said. “He continuously served marginalized communities of people, living and dying under the heavy hands of poverty, war, hatred and discrimination. He reached out and made a rallying cry for the Catholic Church to return to her origins of serving all, no matter the cost and no matter the differences. He inspired millions to live by the Jesuit mission: be a person with and for others for the greater glory of God.”
All schools continue to pray for Pope Francis this week and are providing resources to students to share the papal conclave and processes involved with the election of a new pope.
“Pope Francis reminded us that God is close to us and that we experience the love of God when we draw close to one another — especially those who are hurting, excluded or forgotten,” said David Fremo, president of Catholic Community Schools.
“His words and witness continue to guide me, and they inspire us to live our Catholic educational mission — forming young people who see with compassion, think with courage and act with mercy.”