Padua Franciscan High School marked Holy Thursday and Holy Week with an all-school prayer service in the school gymnasium Thursday morning.
The service began when students and staff members portrayed key figures in the Passion of Jesus Christ, including disciples, several Apostles (James and Peter), Judas Iscariot, a Roman soldier, Caiaphas, Pontius Pilate, Simon of Cyrene, Simon the Leper and Joseph of Arimathea.
Then, Friar Johnpaul Cafiero, OFM placed the Blessed Eucharist in a Monstrance for Adoration. Following the leadership of the senior class, an overwhelming number of faculty/staff and students left the bleachers and knelt on the gym floor in honor of Jesus and His sacrifice for His followers.
After the Adoration, Principal Bob DiRocco spoke to the attendees.
“We have a role in this story all the time,” DiRocco said. “The goodness of God is running after us all the time.”
“I would encourage you to walk through this day and everybody you look at, everybody you run into, consider for a moment that there might be a burden that they’re carrying. We thank God for the opportunity to lay them at the foot of the cross, at the foot of our Savior and join with Him to be healed and whole. That’s what I ask you to do today. Because the tomb was empty, we are a saved people.”
DiRocco concluded his address by reminding everyone of the opportunities to express gratitude for the sacrifices made by Jesus Christ to save mankind.
“We have a choice tonight to go to church,” DiRocco said. “We have a choice tomorrow (Friday) to reflect on the Way of the Cross. We have a choice on Saturday to mourn, for a moment, the great sacrifice Christ, our Lord, has made for us. And then, we have the choice to stand, as a people, to praise the God who saved us.”
