In 2013, the Roman Catholic Church elected Jorge Mario Bergoglio Pope. The priests, scholastics, faculty, and students at Jesuit Dallas along with many other Jesuit schools across the country became ecstatic at the news as Bergoglio etched his name in history as the very first Jesuit to become Pope. Now, just over two years later, Bergoglio, now known as Pope Francis, makes his way to Philadelphia for a trip in which he will interact with students and faculty similar to our very own.
On September 24, six students will travel to St. Joseph’s Prep to represent Jesuit Dallas at a gathering of Jesuit students from the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Father Hooks, S.J. explained that they “are going as representatives of Jesuit College Prep to take part in a few days of pilgrimage and activity.” The students will live in simple accommodations to fully immerse themselves in the spirit of pilgrims, sleeping on classroom floors and walking miles to some of the programs and liturgies.
Additionally, the students will learn about other Jesuit high schools throughout the country by participating in breakout sessions and talks with students from across the country and beyond.
Hooks also explained his confidence in the group of young men representing Jesuit, saying “some of these guys aren’t guys you always see on the scene of campus ministry or reading or altar serving, but their essays showed that they were a strong group of reflective students.” The six students from the sophomore, junior, and senior classes earned their spots on the team through a selective application process with many qualified candidates.
Tabor Jones ’16 expressed his excitement for the trip, describing that he “wanted to apply because it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to travel with [his] Jesuit brothers to be around the Pope and other people who want to grow spiritually.” He recognized the importance of experiencing Pope Francis in our own country as a path to deepening his own faith. Similarly, Jose Rivera ’16 said, “the most exciting thing would be getting to meet kids from other Jesuit schools around the country to see how their educations and spiritualties relate to ours.” However, he also joked that the “least exciting thing will probably be sleeping on the floor.”
The representatives will remain in Philadelphia for four days, concluding the trip on September 28th. You can follow along with their trip by using the hashtag #2Philly4Francis to stay updated on their adventures.
