Ice cream social, backpack blessing greet St. Thomas of Villanova students

In celebration of the start of the new academic year, St. Thomas of Villanova School in Palatine welcomed students to meet their teachers and new principal, Matthew Martino, and enjoy an ice cream social on Aug. 15, 2022. At the end of the evening, Father Kris Janczak, pastor of St. Thomas of Villanova Parish, blessed students’ backpacks.(Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Principal Matthew Martino greets students and their families. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Principal Matthew Martino greets students and their families. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Principal Matthew Martino greets students and their families. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Emmy Sanchez Gonzalez laughs after meeting his new teacher. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Social studies teacher Jason Wheeler talks with students during a teacher meet-and-greet. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Right, third grader Dylan Kopeny visits with a friend in his brother’s classroom. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Jose Ramirez completes an exercise while he visits his new classroom. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Sean Kopeny checks out his new locker. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A student listens during the backpack blessing. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Students make the sign of the cross at the end of the blessing. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Father Kris Janczak, pastor of St. Thomas of Villanova Parish, blesses students’ backpacks. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Alexa Ramirez smiles after her backpack was blessed. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Advertising