
John Paul II High School students hold up an image of the former pope during an early morning celebration at the school. Students and the JPII community were celebrating the official announcement of the school’s namesake’s canonization next spring.
By David Sedeno
Texas Catholic
PLANO — More than 400 members of the John Paul II High School community got up especially early on Monday morning as they gathered to celebrate the official announcement of their namesake’s canonization next Spring.
With a life-size cut-out of the former pontiff in the bleachers and numerous face cut-outs of the former pontiff, the students, alumni, parents, faculty and staff gathered in the Plano school’s gymnasium for food, cheers, games and the celebration of April 27 as the canonization date for Blessed John Paul II and Blessed John XXIII.
“John Paul II was so focused on the youth and I believe our school community represented his belief in the youth, his hope in the youth and the future leaders who will make a difference in the world that we live in,” said Thomas Poore, the president of John Paul II High School. “The students who attended this celebration knew that it was their responsibility to represent the whole community from the past, present and future and I think they did a great job today.”
The school is working on different ways to honor its namesake in the months leading up to the canonization.