The Padua Franciscan High School community gathered to celebrate a Holy Hour for Peace Prayer Service on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
In cooperation with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Padua’s student body and faculty heard messages of peace, about putting differences aside to serve a greater purpose, and the importance of treating others with respect.
“I remember the answer to one homework question was that God was trying to show the face of His son Jesus through the person that we least want to love,” Principal Bob DiRocco said, referring to his experience as a religion teacher. “My own learning, though, came along the way and was more powerful than that.
“It came in the realization that I could recognize the lepers in my own life. I came to understand that the disease and the dislike and the distaste was never about the other person. They didn’t need to be transformed or heal in order for me to see the face of Jesus. Rather, I needed to have my eyes opened, to be confirmed, to be transformed, so that I might be able to see Jesus’ face in each person that I meet every day.
“The only direction that will help us to be peacemakers that we are called to be, we turn to Jesus, the Prince of Peace.”
Following his opening remarks, DiRocco introduced the keynote speaker, Sister Jane Nesmith, the Director of African American Ministry for the Diocese of Cleveland.
Nesmith is a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, the order founded by St. Katharine Drexel. St. Katharine Drexel’s mission was to share the Gospel message with the poor, and to challenge all forms of racism, as well as the other deeply rooted injustices in the world.
Throughout her career, Nesmith has served as a teacher, campus minister, pastoral associate, executive director, pastoral life coordinator, chaplain, instructor, and vice president for religious community in Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Jamaica, The West Indies, Indiana and Seattle.
“God has called us all to realize His goodness in us,” Nesmith said. “And God has called all of us to come to realize the goodness that He can share through us.
“Father, as you call us together, come by here. Come by here to touch. Come by here to heal. Open up our minds and our hearts to Your mighty presence with us and in us. You are the alpha, and the omega. Open up our hearts to do the things that You have challenged us to do: to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothes to the naked, visit those in prison, wherever we can make a difference in the lives of others. To realize that You are God with us, God within us, God above us, God around us, let me see Your wonders in our midst.”
Nesmith shared many messages during her speech, including one of God sharing a conversation with a mystic who had a gift to hear the thoughts of people during liturgies.
“One day, the Lord said to her, ‘Did you hear anybody say they loved Me?’” Nesmith said. “She said, ‘Well, no. Some of them are trying to figure out where they’re going to go after mass. Some of them are trying to get their recipes together for dinner, or get ready to go to the game, or to call a friend, or to make an arrangement. But I didn’t hear anyone say that they loved You.’
“These are the words that we all cherish and wait to hear, somebody loves me. Somebody cares about me. Each of us carry that longing in our heart because this God who loves us so much, sees us each as very special, and at the same time, He sees us all as one.”
Then, Nesmith retold the story of a young woman who was a freshman at a school where she served as Campus Minister.
The student was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer and was told that she would not make it to graduation. At first, her family thought about keeping her at home instead of sending her to school. However, Nesmith convinced the family that the school would be a loving, supportive environment for their daughter.
Despite all of the challenges that came with her treatments, including physical weakness and the loss of hair, the young woman went into remission and graduated from the school.
“If we’re willing to admit that we are our brothers and sisters, that we are one, and if you have a problem, let’s see what I can do,” Nesmith said. “What does that look like? Holding a door, helping with homework, eating with someone who is sitting alone. We may not be able to do a lot about the war-torn countries. You may not be able to help the Haitian people who are being ostracized in so many ways, but we can do something right here, right now, among my brothers and sisters. Maybe I can listen more. Maybe I could be more attentive to their needs. Maybe I cannot laugh at a joke that puts people down, and say, ‘That’s not right. We shouldn’t be doing that.’
“If you bully someone, you might have a bigger crowd, bigger following. Too many young people are throwing themselves away because in their eyes, they don’t feel wanted, they don’t feel anybody needs them. They don’t feel relevant, and yet, God loves each and every one of us the same way.”
Nesmith ended her presentation with a line she utilized many times during the prayer service.
“God is good all the time. All the time, God is good.”
The Prayer Service concluded with Eucharistic Adoration, where students and faculty came to the center of the gym floor and knelt in prayer and reflection before the Blessed Sacrament.
