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Archbishop Cupich To Celebrate Opening Of Pope Francis Global Academy

 The newly created regional academy that will merge the schools of four Far Northwest Side Catholic churches will be named for Pope Francis, Archbishop Blase Cupich said Saturday.
The newly created regional academy that will merge the schools of four Far Northwest Side Catholic churches will be named for Pope Francis, Archbishop Blase Cupich said Saturday.
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DNAinfo/Heather Cherone

GLADSTONE PARK — Archbishop Blase Cupich will celebrate the opening of Pope Francis Global Academy with a mass at St. Tarcissus Church, officials with the Archdiocese of Chicago said.

The academy — the first Chicago school named for the pontiff — will merge the schools of four Far Northwest Side Catholic churches that closed in June: Our Lady of Victory, St. Tarcissus, St. Pascal and St. Cornelius.

Cupich will celebrate the mass at 10 a.m. Aug. 29 at St. Tarcissus, 6040 W. Ardmore Ave., church officials said.

Cupich has said that the opening of the new school would mean "the end of an era" on the Far Northwest Side.

After the mass, Superintendent of Catholic Schools Jim Rigg will tour the academy, which will have two campuses — one in Gladstone Park at the former St. Tarcissus school and the other at the former St. Pascal school. Each campus will have preschool through eighth grade.

Pope Francis Global Academy's curriculum will focus on global studies in an effort to help students "develop into critical, analytical and creative 21st Century thinkers and problem solvers in a faith-filled environment," school officials said.

A picnic organized by the school's parent's club will take place from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the school's south campus, 6143 W. Irving Park Road. Students and their families are invited to bring food, drinks and a blanket. Music, face painting and popsicles will be provided.

The first day of school for Pope Francis Global Academy students is Monday.

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