--- title: A Catholic School Welcomes Pope Francis description: Barb Szyszkiewicz, OFS describes how one Catholic school in suburban Cinnaminson, New Jersey marked the occasion of the Pope's trip to the USA. --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/10/03/a-catholic-school-welcomes-pope-francis#) # A Catholic School Welcomes Pope Francis Oct 3, 2015 11:00:26 AM  |  by [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) Located 20 minutes from Center City Philadelphia, where the World Meeting of Families was in full swing and final preparations were bring made for Pope Francis' visit to the city, one Catholic school in suburban Cinnaminson, New Jersey found plenty of ways to mark the occasion of the Pope's trip to the USA. You knew it the second you walked in the door of St. Charles Borromeo Parish School. [![Copyright 2015 Barb Szyszkiewicz. All rights reserved.](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/SCB-papal-visit-1-550x259.jpg?width=550&height=259&name=SCB-papal-visit-1-550x259.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/SCB-papal-visit-1.jpg) Copyright 2015 Barb Szyszkiewicz, OFS. All rights reserved. On Monday morning, the pastor brought a cardboard cutout of the Pope to the front of the school to greet the students for morning car line, setting the scene for a week filled with Pope-related art, writing, and religion projects. [![Copyright 2015 Barb Szyszkiewicz. All rights reserved.](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/WMOF-Graffiti-Wall-SCBS-533x400.jpg?width=533&height=400&name=WMOF-Graffiti-Wall-SCBS-533x400.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/WMOF-Graffiti-Wall-SCBS.jpg) Copyright 2015 Barb Szyszkiewicz, OFS. All rights reserved. In art class, students used computers to generate "graffiti" celebrating the World Meeting of Families. This was added to a graffiti mural near the school office. [![Copyright 2015 Barb Szyszkiewicz. All rights reserved.](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/SCB-Pope-Wall-2-550x364.jpg?width=550&height=364&name=SCB-Pope-Wall-2-550x364.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/SCB-Pope-Wall-2.jpg) Copyright 2015 Barb Szyszkiewicz, OFS. All rights reserved. [![praying with my fingers](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/praying-with-my-fingers-397x400.jpg?width=198&height=200&name=praying-with-my-fingers-397x400.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/praying-with-my-fingers.jpg)Older students mused on what it would be like to spend an hour with Pope Francis, writing essays describing their imaginary experiences. Third-graders, after learning about the Pope's life story, shared their own #PopeSelfies along with three facts about Pope Francis. Inspired by the Papal Coat of Arms, students in some classes crafted their own coats of arms and explained the symbolism behind them. The 3-year-old pre-kindergarten students learned the "5-fingers prayer" popularized by Pope Francis by reading ***[Praying with My Fingers](http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1612615252/catholicmom)***. [![Copyright 2015 Barb Szyszkiewicz, OFS. All rights reserved.](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/PreK4-God-Bless-Our-Pope-545x400.jpg?width=545&height=400&name=PreK4-God-Bless-Our-Pope-545x400.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/PreK4-God-Bless-Our-Pope.jpg) Copyright 2015 Barb Szyszkiewicz, OFS. All rights reserved. The youngest students colored their own paper Popes and made mitres to wear to Friday's prayer service. [![Copyright 2015 Barb Szyszkiewicz, OFS. All rights reserved.](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Praying-at-Flagpole-533x400.jpg?width=533&height=400&name=Praying-at-Flagpole-533x400.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Praying-at-Flagpole.jpg) Copyright 2015 Barb Szyszkiewicz, OFS. All rights reserved. To conclude the week, students joined the parish at Friday morning Mass, then gathered at the flagpole to pray the [World Meeting of Families prayer](http://www.worldmeeting2015.org/about-the-event/prayer/). [![SCB tweet](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/SCB-tweet-494x400.jpg?width=494&height=400&name=SCB-tweet-494x400.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/SCB-tweet.jpg) Screen capture of school tweet of the #Popeselfie. On the way back in to school, everyone lined up for a whole-school #PopeSelfie. These fun and faith-filled instructional activities helped students of all ages learn more about Pope Francis as they anticipated his visit to the area. **How did your local Catholic school celebrate the World Meeting of Families and the papal visit?** *Copyright 2015 Barb Szyszkiewicz, OFS.* * Photos copyright 2015 Barb Szyszkiewicz, OFS. All rights reserved.* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F10%2F03%2Fa-catholic-school-welcomes-pope-francis%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F10%2F03%2Fa-catholic-school-welcomes-pope-francis%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F10%2F03%2Fa-catholic-school-welcomes-pope-francis%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=A%20Catholic%20School%20Welcomes%20Pope%20Francis) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F10%2F03%2Fa-catholic-school-welcomes-pope-francis%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2015%2F10%2F03%2Fa-catholic-school-welcomes-pope-francis%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/BSzyszkiewicz%202022.jpg) ### [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) Barb Szyszkiewicz, senior editor at [CatholicMom.com](http://catholicmom.com), is a wife, mom of 3 young adults, and a Secular Franciscan. Barb enjoys writing, cooking, and reading, and is a music minister at her parish. Find her blog at [FranciscanMom](http://franciscanmom.com) and her family’s favorite recipes with nutrition information at [Cook and Count](http://cookandcount.wordpress.com). Barb is the author of *[The Handy Little Guide to Prayer](https://amzn.to/2LQB2oL)* and * [The Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours](https://amzn.to/3wbDB8k)*, available from Our Sunday Visitor. ## Related Blog Articles [ Book Notes: Pope Francis Takes the Bus Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/07/21/book-notes-pope-francis-takes-bus) [ Pray for the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/pray-for-the-holy-father-pope-leo-xiv) [ New Books for Lent from Franciscan Media Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2017/02/22/new-books-lent-franciscan-media) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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