What are area Catholic schools doing for the Pope’s visit?

1. St. Joseph, Sylvania:

-         5^th grade class will get a lesson on the Pope using http://www.pflaum.com/popesvisit/ -

-         Religion class will spend a week utilizing the information packet created by the USCCB. Some of the children had the opportunity to visit Italy and they will share their knowledge of the papal residence with pictures and religious medals, rosaries blessed by the Pope.  Students will clip out articles from the newspaper and add it to the packet.  Students will also discuss how forgiving our former Pope John Paul II was to his assassin.

1. St. Michael, Findlay:

-         Kindergarten students will talk about the history of the Papacy, learn songs, read the book Joseph and Chico  (A cat recounts the life of Pope Benedict XVI) and make a Pope Hat

1. St. Wendelin, Fostoria

-         St. Wendelin is sending a delegation of 11 students,  and 3 staff members to the Mass at Yankee Stadium.  The school will bless these delegates at Mass on Wednesday April 16 and the students will share their experience with the student body when we return.

1. St. Anthony of Padua, Columbus Grove

-         The sixth grade class will pray a Prayer for the Holy Father each morning as the school day begins.  Students will include the intentions of Pope Benedict as they pray after meals in the afternoon as well, and will continue this prayer throughout April.

1. St. Patrick, Bryan

-         The Fifth grade class is registered for the Birthday Blessings for the Pope, and have committed 26 hours of community service in his honor. The Fifth graders will also tune into events surrounding the Papal visit and hopefully celebrate Mass with him via TV.

-         The Kindergarten through Sixth Grade students are writing a response to the following: The Pope is coming to visit America.  What would you ask him if you could meet him face to face?

1. St. Thomas Aquinas, Toledo

-         Students will be using the resources found on the USCCB site to learn about the Pope and watching the Mass on EWTN

1. St. Joan of Arc, Toledo

-         The 7^th grade at St. Joan of Arc is creating story books about the Pope and his visit the U.S. for the kindergarten students. The 7^th graders plan to read their books to the kindergarten students on the 17^th.

1. Lial, Whitehouse

-         Lial is celebrating the Pope's visit on Tuesday, April 15 and Wednesday, April 16. On Tuesday the Intermediate students are doing an act of service for our gift to the Holy Father (picking up sticks on our property) followed by a s'more roast.

-         Wednesday is a whole school celebration in honor of the Pope. The celebration will begin at 2:00 p.m. with a prayer service prepared by a group of Middle School students.  Then they will have some cheers in honor of the Holy Father.  They will conclude by singing "Happy Birthday" and enjoying a brownie and ice cream treat in honor of the Holy Father's recent birthday.

-         Classes will tune into EWTN at various times during the week so the students have some idea of the happenings and where the Holy Father is visiting.

-         Middle School students are traveling to Washington, D.C. and hope to see the Holy Father on his birthday.

1. St. Patrick of Heatherdowns, Toledo

-         St. Patrick of Heatherdowns School is keeping track of the Holy Fathers travels with daily updates via their morning announcements on WSPH Channel 17. They are also having daily trivia questions on the Pope and the past visits of the other popes.

1. St. John’s, Lima

-         St. John's, Lima religious ed students all took home a packet of activities about the Holy Father and his visit to the United States. These materials were found at www.pflaum.com/popesvisit  Activities include puzzles and stories appropriate for younger children through young teens

-         Students also submitted prayer requests for the Pope's celebration of Evening Prayer with the US Bishops on April 16th- his birthday.  This can be done through April 11th at :  http://xaddr.com/3ba

1. St. Pius X, Toledo

-         For the 3rd quarter, one of the 7^th grade classes did an in-depth study of the Holocaust through fiction, non-fiction, music and screen.  To follow-up the teacher used an article in the April 'Columbia' Magazine about the pope and his commitment to the relationship between Catholicism and Judaism. During the visit the class is going to watch the power point on Pope Benedict provided by the USCCB and then read the article 'Gratitude and Cooperation'.  We are going to follow the article up with a letter to Pope Benedict in gratitude for his interest in the Jewish people and his commitment.

1. St. Peter, Mansfield

-         The sixth grade religion classes will be learning about St. Peter as well as Pope Benedict next week.  They will be talking about the importance of Peter and the Pope as well as the different responsibilities of the Pope.

1. Immaculate Conception, Bellevue

-         One of the students is attending Mass with the Pope on April 20th at Yankee Stadium, and class is making a special sign for her to take along and hold up at an appropriate time during the weekend.  The sign reads: We Love You, Pope Benedict! Bellevue, Ohio

-         The school also provided a disposable camera for the student to take so she can share some special moments with us upon her return.

1. St. Rose. Perrysburg

-         A fifth grade class will be studying Vatican City, its history and geography. Their teacher just returned from Rome and will show the kids some pictures of St Peter's Basilica and Vatican City. They will also discuss past and present Popes and their role in the Church. We will start the project April 15.