Students of Pope John Paul II High School load into a truck some of the meals collected for the needy.

Students of Pope John Paul II High School load into a truck some of the meals collected for the needy.

Posted November 28, 2016

Pope John Paul II High School in Royersford launched its biggest Thanksgiving drive ever on Tuesday, Nov. 22 as 40 students in the Community Service Corps delivered full holiday meals to local parishes, food pantries and community organizations.

The meals for 130 local families in need included turkey, gravy, green beans, corn, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, rolls and a pie.

This semester students collected a school record $6,000 for the food drive in theology classes. The previous weekend the CSC members were given money and a shopping list. Then they fanned out across the area to purchase items at various supermarkets.

The meal bags were gathered onto the stage of the school auditorium and blessed during a Mass Nov. 22 by the school minister, Father Brian Kean.

Local parishes benefiting from the food drive included St. Mary, Schwenksville; St. Aloysius, Pottstown; St. Patrick, Norristown; St. Francis of Assisi, Norristown; St. Ann, Phoenixville; St. Gabriel, Stowe; St. Philip Neri, East Greenville and St. Columbkill, Bally, Diocese of Allentown.

Other organizations included Martha’s Choice Food Pantry, Norristown (Catholic Social Services); St. Vincent de Paul Society (Sacred Heart Conference), Royersford and Fatima Catholic Outreach Center, Bensalem.

Father Brian Kean celebrates Mass for Pope John Paul II High School students Nov. 22, as the 130 Thanksgiving meal bags the students collected line the stage.

Father Brian Kean celebrates Mass for Pope John Paul II High School students Nov. 22, as the 130 Thanksgiving meal bags the students collected line the stage.