This September, a group of seven Seattle Prep students got to experience an opportunity of a lifetime. Juan Bernal ’16, Al Bernal ’17, Maxwell Buchanan ’17, Annika Bjornson ’18, Rosa Carter ’18, Andrea Talty ’18, and Teresa Zepeda ’18 joined 42 other Jesuit schools on a pilgrimage with Ms Bernal to see Pope Francis in Philadelphia. All claim to have been inspired by what they experienced.

Juan Bernal says, “I applied (to go on the trip) because I sought a larger Catholic community of people my own age and students of similar beliefs.” Such a community was one which he was greeted with. Over four hundred Jesuit students from around the country stayed on the beautiful campus of St. Joseph’s Preparatory School from Thursday, September 24 to Monday, September 28. Zepeda reflects that, “It was great to walk down the halls and have people I’ve never met before ask me how my day was going. However, I have to say the most unique part of staying at Saint Joes’s was waking up to Eye of the Tiger blaring from the intercom every morning.”
Thursday consisted of opening ceremonies and festivities, as well as a mass and breakout sessions. Friday was spent in fellowship with other pilgrims and listening to guest speakers in the cathedral, which was built in 1851. On Saturday, the large group paraded through the streets to Independence Hall and waited for six hours to see the pope drive by before he addressed the crowd. Spirits were high in the crowd as people pressed forward against the rails to catch a glimpse of the man’s joyful face. Talty says of the experience that, “The pope really inspired me because of the many ways he showed his generosity and humanity towards others. It was moving to see him bless and meet the disabled, kiss babies, and wave to the people who most look up to him.”

The next day, all went down to the Ben Franklin Parkway for a citywide mass which included 2 million people. Pope Francis passed twice just 10 feet away from the Prep students on this occasion, for which they had reserved a spot by waiting seven hours. Before flying out the next day, the travelers went sightseeing around Philadelphia via the subway. Attractions they visited include Independence Hall and the steps leading up to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, better known as the “Rocky Steps.”

The significance of this journey is incredible. Not only did the students get to know on a personal level many people with their shared values, but they also witnessed firsthand the impact of Pope Francis’ ability to love openly. Says Fr. Fitterer SJ of how the pope is impacting the Catholic church, “He lives what he speaks. You find a lot of saying but not a lot of doing…He walks his talk and that’s what he’s inviting us to do.”