May 30, 2026

Pope Francis Prep graduates share joy and gratitude

REGIONAL
Story and photo by Michael Pedro

SPRINGFIELD – With great joy and pride, families, friends and faculty gathered to celebrate the Pope Francis Preparatory School Class of 2026 at commencement, Thursday, May 28 on the grounds of the school on Wendover Road in Springfield. Bishop William D. Byrne presented diplomas to 96 graduates.

“You have to become an ‘I’ before you become a ‘we’. That means you have to develop who you are…There’s a whole lot of time to do that, but college and the next adventure, whether it be military or work, is going to be a time where you have to figure out who you are,”” the bishop told the graduates, reminding them God chose them as his own and to figure out where they are being called.

The class had two co-valedictorians, twin brothers Marcus and Oliver Tran. The pair, who had come to Pope Francis from the public-school system, reminisced about their journey. 

“I personally came into this school not knowing anyone, really,” Oliver Tran said. “Just being able to reflect on the friendships I’ve made, all of the close friendships I’ve developed over the past four years, is really special,” he said.

“I was involved in the full band… with my brother, [we both] played the violin,” Marcus Tran said, reflecting on the various extracurriculars he took part in.

“I was also on the varsity tennis team as a co-team captain, and I was also a co-founder of the Rubik’s Cube Club,” said Marcus Tran.

Both Marcus and Oliver will be going to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the fall. Marcus will be majoring in mechanical engineering, while Oliver will start as undecided, potentially going into chemical engineering.

Though it can be sad for the faculty to see them go, they gave the students advice to take with them on their next chapter. One of those teachers was Michael Dewey, who teaches theology.

“Find your passion and go make the world a better place by living a happy, good, full life,” Dewey said.

After the last student received his diploma, the graduates moved their tassels to the left and threw their hats in the air to celebrate.

On Wednesday, the Class of 2026 gathered at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Springfield for the Baccalaureate Mass, celebrated by Father David Aufiero, the chaplain at Pope Francis Preparatory School and pastor of St. Patrick Parish in South Hadley.

A video version of this story will be on an upcoming edition of “Real to Reel” which airs Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. on WWLP-22 NEWS