by Moira Cullings
moira.cullings@theleaven.org
OVERLAND PARK — As white smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on May 8, Father Justin Hamilton and Shaw Leach hurried to climb the steps of the rooftop at Holy Spirit School here.
Once the school community gathered in the parking lot below, Father Hamilton elatedly waved a white smoke bomb, letting them know a pope had been elected.
“When they saw the white, it was an eruption just like if you were at the Vatican,” said Father Hamilton, pastor of Holy Spirit Parish. “They were going crazy with excitement.”
The sound of wedding bells chimed joyfully to inform the wider community of the news.
Just a day before, Father Hamilton had stood in the rain waving black smoke as it appeared at the same time from the Sistine Chapel, to the sound of funeral bells tolling around him.
The idea for the smoke announcement was presented to Father Hamilton by Leach, the parish manager.
“We’d been chatting about ways to draw attention to the beauty and the joy of this time,” said Father Hamilton.
After the students and staff found out a pope had been elected, they headed into the church, where a live-stream of the scene at the Vatican played on projectors.
“Father Justin led the school in a rosary while we waited with the rest of the world for Pope Leo [XIV] to go out on the balcony,” said Leach.
The moment the Chicago native appeared was special.
“The kids in the church, we were trying to keep very somber and prayerful,” said Leach, “but when they heard that it was an American, the kids went bananas, which was beautiful to see.
“I don’t think any of them or any of us were really expecting an American pope.”
Dr. Maureen Huppe, Holy Spirit principal, was grateful Father Hamilton made the extra effort to make the day memorable.
“I love the way Father Justin helped make this incredible moment special for the students,” she said. “They were all cheering and some crying with joy.”
She and Leach believe the experience is one the students will always remember.
“I think it will absolutely create core memories for these kids that they can look back on,” said Leach. “And this is probably a pope that they will have for a lot of their life being as young as he is.”
“He really is a spiritual leader for our students and staff,” said Huppe of Father Hamilton, “and this is just one of the many ways he shows it.”
To top off the excitement of the day, Father Hamilton ran out for an errand later that afternoon.
“He came back with bags full of Chicago- style hot dogs,” said Leach. “He told me, in honor of our Chicago pope, ‘Please go pass these out to all the staff, anyone that you can find.’
“It’s great to see our pastor so joyful.”
Father Hamilton hoped the experience would help the students understand the magnitude of the Catholic faith.
“Our parish matters, our community matters, our archdiocese matters,” he said, “but the faith is something so much bigger.
“And I find it’s hard to communicate that. But then you have an event like this, and it falls into your lap.”
Sharing the historic moment with his parish and school staff was a bonus.
“To be able to celebrate with them was really special,” he said.
