Posted September 15, 2020

Catholic high school students returned to class last week for the first time since last March and the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Archbishop Nelson Perez visited Villa Joseph Marie High School in Holland, Bucks County Sept. 10 to celebrate Mass for the young women and offer them words of encouragement as they begin a new academic year. Meanwhile, freshmen and other incoming students, including those transferring from public schools offering only virtual instruction, entered Pope John Paul II High School in Royersford, Montgomery County Sept. 9, welcomed by upper-grade students and the school’s administration and faculty. Like all archdiocesan high schools, Pope John Paul II offers a hybrid instruction model in which half the students alternately attend in-person and virtual classes each day.

  • Archbishop Nelson Perez poses proudly for a photo with the Villa Joseph Marie High School community during his visit to the private Catholic girls’ academy Sept. 10. (Photo by Sarah Webb)

  • Students lead the entrance procession into the Villa Joseph Marie auditorium where Archbishop Perez celebrated Mass. (Photo by Sarah Webb)

  • Archbishop Perez preaches his homily during Mass for Villa Joseph Marie High School. (Photo by Sarah Webb)

  • A student proclaims a reading from Scripture during Mass. (Photo by Sarah Webb)

  • Archbishop Perez distributes holy Communion during Mass. (Photo by Sarah Webb)

  • (Photo by Sarah Webb)

  • Archbishop Perez enjoys lunch with a group of Villa Joseph Marie students. (Photo by Sarah Webb)

  • Welcoming freshmen and new students on the first day of school Sept. 9 at Pope John Paul II High School are Student Council President Hanna Tulli (left) and Student Council Secretary Kallan Bustynowicz, both seniors this year. (Photo by Shannon Villa)

  • A group of incoming freshmen students walk up to Pope John Paul II High School to begin their new academic year. (Photo by Matthew Gambino)

  • Student leaders and school president Father Brian Kean (right) welcome new arrivals to Pope John Paul II High School Sept. 9. (Photo by Matthew Gambino)

  • (Photo by Matthew Gambino)

  • Presidential Ambassador and senior Grace Drewicz has her temperature checked as soon as she enters Pope John Paul II High School for the start of the day. (Photo by Shannon Villa)

    Pope John Paul II High School senior Grace Drewicz has her temperature checked as soon as she enters the archdiocesan high school in Royersford, Montgomery County on the first day of school, Sept. 9. (Photo by Shannon Villa)

  • Students sit at a safe social distance in their classroom, thanks to the A/B model of education in which half the student body attends school for in-person instruction, and the other half attends virtually from home, with each group alternating each day. (Photo by Shannon Villa)

  • (Photo by Shannon Villa)