Carrig schoolgirl designs Pope's vestments

Jane Boland, a Fifth Class pupil at Carrig National School, Ballycommon, has won a nationwide competition to design a set of vestments for Pope Francis for his visit to Ireland.

World Missions Ireland, Pope Francis’ official charity for overseas mission, formally announced the winner with a big celebration at Carrig NS last Wednesday.

Wishing to give Pope Francis something very special to commemorate his time in Ireland, the charity invited over 3,000 Irish Catholic schools to enter their ‘Pope Francis Competition’. With a massive response of over 4,500 individual entries, the charity had a tough time picking the winner.

“I was completely shocked that I was chosen from 4,500 other people!” said Jane (11) on winning the competition.
“I really like Pope Francis. I particularly like how he says that ‘artists make the world better’ because art is my favourite subject. I love to draw and paint; it makes all my worries disappear.

“My design shows that even though we are similar in what we like, we are all very unique and that we’re all connected by one great world.”

Julieann Moran, from World Missions Ireland said: “We were knocked off our feet by the number of entries, and totally blown away by the standard! However, Jane’s design really jumped out. It depicts so much that’s positive and important in our ever changing world – creativity, community, embracing different cultures, nature, and technology – to name but a few. 

“We can all learn something wonderful from the children who entered – they care about those less fortunate. They care about their family, about their friends. They care about their communities and their churches.

“They care about their planet. In fact, we’d love to see all the entries being made into real vestments to be worn by our priests celebrating Mass. It would certainly bring much colourful conversations, and endless joy!”

Jane’s winning entry will now be sent to tailors in Rome, who’ll recreate it into a life-sized garment. The charity will gift the vestments to his Holiness when he attends for the World Meeting of Families in August.

World Missions Ireland will also display a replica of the winning vestment at their stall, number 23 & 24, during the World Meeting of Families in the RDS from August 22nd – 24th.