Grandparents are a gift, and the Padua Franciscan High School community recognizes this in a special way. Grandparents and other special guests came to Padua for the annual Freshman Grandparents Day Mass and Celebration on Friday, November 7, 2025.
The grandparents and students began their day by celebrating Mass in the Padua Gym. Then, each visitor and their student family members enjoyed refreshments and toured the school. The students had the opportunity to show their grandparents their lockers, classrooms and interact with their favorite teachers.
Including the 214 first-year students, more than 500 people attended the event.
Friar JohnPaul Cafiero, OFM presided over the liturgy and was assisted by Fr. Stephen DeWitt, OFM, Fr. William McIntyre, OFM and Deacon Matt Harley. During his homily, Cafiero reminded grandparents of their roles as influencers in the lives of their grandchildren.
“We are called to be influencers,” Cafiero said. “His influence, Jesus’ influence affects us down to this day. Thousands, millions of people continue to follow His message, the message that God is a God of mercy and a God of love. God loves each one of us as we are, who we are.”
“He asks us always to love one another in that great command. Today, as we celebrate you, our grandparents, and all of our grandparents, those who already share life in the kingdom, we remember the holy influence of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. But we also are reminded that each one of us is called to be a holy influencer in our families and in our world.”
To further his message of being a positive influence in the lives of others, Cafiero used scripture passages about the Miracle of the Wedding at Cana, as well as Joseph leading his family into Egypt to protect everyone from a decree from King Herod.
“Mary was certainly an influencer on her son,” Cafiero said. “She influenced him. We know the great story, the beautiful story of the wedding feast at Cana. Remember, a wedding feast would go on for a week. Imagine the embarrassment to this couple. Mary notices it, and she goes to Jesus and says, ‘Son, they run out of wine,’ and Jesus turns to her and says, ‘Woman, how does this concern of yours affect me?’”
“Jesus then does what Mary had asked him to do, and He changes that beautiful miracle of the water into wine. Mary influenced her son. Joseph influenced Jesus, certainly by his profession. We know that Jesus was called a number of times, ‘the son of the carpenter’ or even ‘the carpenter’ himself before He is baptized by John and continues His mission to share the word and the love of God.”
Following Mass, Padua President Dave Stec ‘86 spoke to the students and their grandparents. He reminisced about family influence in his life and explained how memories made with loved ones can bring joy long after the moments have passed.
Then, Stec encouraged the grandparents to continue being the support systems their families need to succeed.
“Thank you for being here today,” Stec said. “Thank you for your love, your encouragement, for your smiles, for your partnership in all that we do. You’re just so very important to us, and when you see the smiles on your grandkids’ faces, that’s what it’s all about. We’re going to continue to share our traditions and nurture strong faith to ensure that we become instruments of peace and difference makers. God bless you all.”
