The Superintendent of Schools Office in the Archdiocese of New York has announced a Week of Prayer and Remembrance in honor of Pope Francis, inviting students, faculty, and families to unite in mourning and reflect on his life and legacy.

In her statement on Pope Francis’ passing, Sister Mary Grace Walsh, ASCJ, Ph.D., Superintendent of Schools, emphasized his profound spiritual impact, stating, “A man of unwavering prayer, Pope Francis demonstrated what it means to place complete trust in God’s mercy. He repeatedly reminded us that our prayer is more than words; it is an encounter with the Lord who loves us.”

Pope Francis’ historic 2015 Apostolic Visit to the United States left a lasting impression on the Archdiocese of New York, as he became the first pope to visit a Catholic school in the U.S. During his visit to Our Lady Queen of Angels School in East Harlem, he offered words of encouragement and hope to students, saying:

“Wherever there are dreams, there is joy, Jesus is always present. Because Jesus is joy, and he wants to help us to feel that joy every day of our lives.”

To honor Pope Francis’s memory, Catholic schools across the archdiocese will observe a Week of Prayer and Reflection beginning Monday, April 28, 2025.

The week’s activities will include:

• April 28: School-wide recitation of the Rosary
• April 29: Holy Hours of Eucharistic Adoration offered for the soul of Pope Francis
• April 30: Recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet for Pope Francis’s soul
• May 1: School-wide Memorial Prayer Service for Children in Remembrance of Pope Francis
• May 2: Archdiocesan School Region Masses in Manhattan, Staten Island, the Bronx, Central Westchester, and the Upper Counties School Regions

In addition to remembering Pope Francis, Sister Mary Grace Walsh called upon school communities to pray for His Eminence, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, and his fellow cardinals as they prepare for the upcoming conclave.

“I also ask for continued prayers for His Eminence, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, and the College of Cardinals as they undertake the sacred task of discerning the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the upcoming conclave to elect the next pope,” she stated.

For more information on this solemn observance, remembering Pope Francis’ life of service and faith, and his prayerful impact on Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York, please visit: www.catholicschoolsny.org/Remembering-Francis