MCKEESPORT, Pa. — A local Catholic school principal is traveling from McKeesport to Washington, D.C. with the hope of having Pope Francis bless 1,000 pins for his students.
“Personally, I couldn’t be more faith-filled and excited with this happening. This will be something remembered forever,” Serra Catholic High School Principal Tim Chirdon said.
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Serra Catholic High School is named after Brother Junipero Serra, who Pope Francis will canonize as a saint during Wednesday’s Mass. Fifteen students and faculty from the McKeesport school will be sitting in the pews to witness the moment.
“It’s the first time in our nation’s history that a saint will be canonized on American soil. It’s extremely historic and a great time and celebration for our school,” Chirdon said.
Tucked away at Serra Catholic High School is a small chapel built in the style of the mission churches that Junipero Serra built in southern California. From those churches, the cities of San Diego and Los Angeles rose.
“His motto, ‘Always forward; never back,’” Chirdon said.
Chirdon said he hopes to have the pins blessed at Wednesday’s Mass and plans to hand them out to his students when he returns.
WPXI
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