On Monday, October 6, Saint Joseph Basilica was filled with faith and joy as students at Saint Joseph School were formally commissioned as Little Missionaries of Pope Francis. The special prayer service marked a milestone in the life of the parish and school community, celebrating the continuation of Sister Jeanne Marie Akalski's Little Missionaries — Letters to Heaven Program.

In her welcoming remarks, Principal Beth Boudreau expressed heartfelt gratitude and joy at the opportunity to gather for such a meaningful occasion. She extended a warm welcome to the distinguished guests in attendance: Most Reverend Robert J. McManus, Bishop of Worcester; Most Reverend Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst, Delegate of the Dicastery for Evangelization and Catechesis, Vatican; Rev. Richard Polek, Pastor and Headmaster; Rev. Anthony Kazarnowicz; Rev. Janusz Stepniak; Dr. David Perda, Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Worcester; and Mr. David Dziena, Publisher at Bayard Publishing and Adjunct Professor at Assumption University. Mrs. Boudreau reflected that what began as a simple classroom idea—a collection of heartfelt letters written by students—had blossomed into something extraordinary, uniting children, parishioners, and the broader Church in a mission of prayer and hope.

The service opened with the hymn They'll Know We Are Christians by Our Love, setting the tone for a celebration rooted in service and unity. Scripture readings and the Prayer of the Faithful – were delivered by fifth-grade students Julia Biela, Sophia Bengtson, and Cameron Blodgett, with the Gospel proclaimed by Rev. Richard Polek. Following the readings, Bishop McManus offered a moving reflection on the power of faith in action and the call for young people to bring the light of Christ into the world.

During the Commissioning Ceremony, Bishop McManus asked the students to promise to live with joy, kindness, and courage, carrying the love of Christ to all they meet. The children responded with conviction: "We will, with God's help."

Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst then offered a blessing over the Pope Francis Medals—symbols of missionary love and service—and presented the students with special medallions he had brought from Rome, blessed by Pope Leo, as a tangible reminder of their missionary calling. Together with Bishop McManus and Rev. Polek, he presented these sacred tokens to each of the newly commissioned Little Missionaries.

A special blessing followed for the newly appointed student officers:

    • Guardian of the Mailbox: Sophia Bengtson
    • Readers of Intentions: Julian Gibbons & Persefoni Sgouritsas
    • Messenger of Hope: Cecilia Coan
    • Giver of Gratitude: Ariel Corbin
    • Keepers of the Flame: Rylan Shemansky, Luke Zeglen, Julia Biela, and Mia Reed
    • Coordinator of Compassion: Sr. Jeanne Marie Akalski, CSSF

In his prayer over the officers, Bishop McManus asked God to guide them in their roles of care, reverence, and unity. The celebration concluded with Presentation of Gifts of Gratitude to the special guests by fifth-grade student Julian Gibbons and the joyful hymn Go Make a Difference, reminding all present that the mission of faith begins with small acts of love.

A Mission That Began with a Letter

The Little Missionaries of Pope Francis program began when Dr. David Perda, Superintendent of Diocesan Schools, invited Sr. Jeanne's fourth-grade class to write letters to Pope Francis. Their heartfelt messages were hand-delivered to the Holy Father by Mr. David Dziena, Vice President of Bayard Publishing, who later visited Saint Joseph School to share photos of the experience and to present the students with rosaries blessed by Pope Francis himself.

Since that time, the students have continued their prayerful outreach—sending get-well wishes, anniversary greetings, and prayers to the Holy Father, and now continuing their mission through their Letters to Heaven. A life-sized image of Pope Francis stands in their classrooms beside two boxes: one for parishioners' prayer petitions and one for the students' letters to Pope Francis in Heaven. Each week, these intentions are prayed over by the Little Missionaries as they live out the Pope's call to be joyful witnesses of faith.

How You Can Participate

Parishioners and friends are warmly invited to join this ongoing mission by submitting their prayer petitions and letters to:

Little Missionaries with Big Hearts: Continuing Pope Francis's Legacy
c/o Sr. Jeanne Marie Akalski
Saint Joseph School
47 Whitcomb Street
Webster, MA 01570

Your intentions will be lovingly prayed for by the students as they continue to share the love, joy, and compassion of Pope Francis in our community and beyond.

As the bishops, priests, and special guests departed the Basilica, they were greeted with radiant smiles and a joyful "high five" line formed by the youngest members of Saint Joseph School—our PreK 3-year-old, PreK 4-year-old, and Kindergarten students—a perfect reminder that even the smallest hands can extend the greatest love.