Ash Wednesday: Local immigrant children pray for families to be reunited
Ash Wednesday is a Holy Day of Obligation in the Catholic Church. But for inner-city school children at Saint Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, this day also symbolizes the freedom and honor they had to write directly to Pope Leo XIV. Their priest, Pastor Mario Torres, took the handwritten letters of children at the parochial school to the Holy Father in Rome.
They also created a banner with the words, ” Pope Leo We love you, pray for us. ” The church took a snap of those simple, heartfelt words, surrounded by smiling children.
Photos shared with FOX 11 show the pontiff receiving a large white envelope from Father Mario. The envelope contained the picture of the children holding the sign, and also cards and prayer intentions from the elementary school students.