Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the Winter 2016 Issue of Reflections.

Before the sun rose on the last Friday in September 2015, 32 Carroll High School students and 15 other members of the Carroll community left Dayton on a charter bus and made a trip that some called an experience of a lifetime.

“I was in awe. It was so cool to be able to see the leader of the Catholic Church up close.

-Lindsey Harper '16

Those 45 people traveled more than 500 miles to Philadelphia to partake in a weekend celebrating the Catholic faith with Pope Francis during his first visit to the United States.

Carroll was the only Dayton area high school to sponsor such a trip to Philadelphia for the Holy Father’s Apostolic Journey to the United States. The Papal Pilgrimage to Washington, New York, and Philadelphia was part of the Festival of Families which culminated in a Papal Mass Sunday. All 32 Carroll students attended Pope Francis’s speech at Independence Hall Saturday. Carroll senior Lindsey Harper '16 was one of the students who made the trip.

“I grew closer to a lot of people on the trip. Being around so many people in Philadelphia who are there for the same reason, no matter how different we might be, is what I remember most about the trip.”

With demand for hotels in Philadelphia at historic levels, the Carroll group camped in New Jersey with other student groups who chose to sleep in cabins rather than miss Pope Francis’ visit. Saturday’s trip to Independence Hall to take in Pope Francis’ speech at the Festival of Families brought the group closer to the Pope than they ever imagined. Harper estimates they stood about 30 feet away from him during the procession to Independence Hall.

“I was in awe. It was so cool to be able to see the leader of the Catholic Church up close,” Harper said.

“His message is especially powerful for young people,” Campus Minister and Service Coordinator Melissa (Balsom) Fisher, ‘83, said. “We are excited to reinforce the Holy Father’s message at Carroll High School and in the Dayton community.”

The group stayed in Philadelphia Sunday while Pope Francis led Mass before heading back to Carroll. Harper said Pope Francis isn’t the only one who made a lasting impression.

“We were in line for Mass Sunday, and we saw a group of people drumming and singing," Harper recalled. "I joined in, and so did the rest of the Carroll group. It really showed me how easy it can be to praise God even in moments when you feel bothered or upset by something.”