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School News | Thursday, March 14, 2013

Habemus preschool papam

Theatine Sisters Day Care holds mock conclave

The cardinal-electors of the mock conclave that took place at the Theatine Sisters of the Immaculate Conception Day Care pray before taking their vote. Their teachers, from left to right, are Sister Reina Alvarado, Sister Paula Cervantes, Sister Belen Gomez, and Sister Nilsa Castillo. The “cardinals” are, from left to right, Antonio Santamaria, Gabriel Morejon, Alejandro Castillo, Lucas Viloria, Jose Salinero, David Hoyos, Osvaldo Ozon, and Santiago Rodriguez, who was named Pope Santiago.

Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO

The cardinal-electors of the mock conclave that took place at the Theatine Sisters of the Immaculate Conception Day Care pray before taking their vote. Their teachers, from left to right, are Sister Reina Alvarado, Sister Paula Cervantes, Sister Belen Gomez, and Sister Nilsa Castillo. The “cardinals” are, from left to right, Antonio Santamaria, Gabriel Morejon, Alejandro Castillo, Lucas Viloria, Jose Salinero, David Hoyos, Osvaldo Ozon, and Santiago Rodriguez, who was named Pope Santiago.

 
The “preschool of cardinals” votes to select their pope at their day care’s mock conclave March 8.

Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO

The “preschool of cardinals” votes to select their pope at their day care’s mock conclave March 8.


MIAMI | Pope Francis was not the only pope recently elected.

The Theatine Sisters of the Immaculate Conception Day Care held a mock conclave March 8 in which ‘Pope Santiago’ was elected by the college of cardinals - or in this case, the ‘preschool of cardinals.’

The four Theatine Sisters who run the small day care wanted a way to explain the complicated concepts of the conclave and papal election to their students and decided to do a mock conclave with the students in their Pre-K 3 and Pre-K 4 classes.

The conclave followed a week of prayer for Pope Benedict XVI and his successor, which began March 4 and culminated in the mock papal election.
Four-year-old Santiago Rodriguez was elected pope at the Theatine Sisters’ Day Care mock conclave and dubbed Pope Santiago. Here, he offers a prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO

Four-year-old Santiago Rodriguez was elected pope at the Theatine Sisters’ Day Care mock conclave and dubbed Pope Santiago. Here, he offers a prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.


“The idea was to show the children the significance of prayer and to answer Pope Benedict’s call to pray for him and for the new Holy Father,” explained Sister Nilsa Castillo, school director and mother superior of the Theatines in Miami.

“As church that we are, from a very young age they need to learn the values and mysteries of our faith,” she said.

In preparation for their mock conclave, Sister Paula Cervantes, the day care’s religion teacher, taught the students about the role of the cardinals in the church and oriented them on the conclave in an age-appropriate way. All the boys in the school then donned red capes and sat at a table to cast ballots to elect their pope.  

“In the process, the students learned to share, to work as a team, and to ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance,” said Sister Castillo. “They also learned that not everyone ‘wins.’ We live in a world where, sadly, many people are not happy for the good that others may attain. Some don’t enjoy seeing others’ successes. We wanted to teach the children to rejoice when others rejoice.”

When the cardinals elected their pope, Pope Santiago – four-year-old Santiago Rodriguez – the students and teachers all waved white tissues as if they were white smoke and rejoiced while they received his papal blessing.
Newly-elected Pope Santiago stands in the doorway to bless his teachers and fellow classmates as they wave white tissues signifying white smoke.

Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO

Newly-elected Pope Santiago stands in the doorway to bless his teachers and fellow classmates as they wave white tissues signifying white smoke.


“The joy of that moment was palpable and they learned the importance of prayer, of working together in the church and to bless and celebrate one another,” said Sister Castillo.

The Catholic day care located near SW 6th Street and SW 122nd Avenue has been instilling these values and teaching these lessons for the past 30 years, with families attending mostly via word of mouth.

Another way they teach important religious lessons is through their annual Christmas pageant. The nuns help the children rehearse beginning in October of each year and the children wear costumes and memorize and recite brief lines delineating the Nativity of Jesus, which are then performed for parents and relatives on stage in December.

“Now, we’re teaching the children of ‘our children’ and it gives us great satisfaction,” said Sister Nilsa. “People who attended the school as children call us when they have their own young children because they want their kids to receive the same education they did. It gives great continuity to the school and to the education they received.”

Contact the Theatine Sisters of the Immaculate Conception in Miami at 305-223-2512 or at [email protected] 

Comments from readers

Lisa Pinto - 03/17/2013 05:22 PM
Dear Sisters, there is no doubt that the Lord heard the prayers of your little ones! How beautifully creative to draw them into this historical and holy event in a fun and experiential way. May the Lord bring more children to your daycare! What a blessing for parents!

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