Is Whispering Pines Elementary Welcoming The Pope?

School Announces “Beatification” Set For January

BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) — We assume it’s a spelling error unchecked by the Principal or administration of Whispering Pines Elementary School in West Boca Raton, but if not, an optional charge showing up today on the school district’s payment system — and in an email blast — is unprecedented for a public school.

There is — according to an email sent to hundreds of parents — a “beatification program” set for late January.

Beatification is a time when the Pope affirms that a dead body is en route to Heaven.

From Webster’s Dictionary:

“The official act of the pope whereby a deceased person is declared to be enjoying the happiness of heaven, and therefore a proper subject of religious honor and public cult in certain places.”

The Whispering Pines beatification is set for January 24th. There are apparently options that parents can purchase as well — although they’re unlisted at this time. The school’s mascot is a unicorn, so presumably “Unicorn Wafers” will be among the optional additional charges.

No immediate response from the Vatican. No confirmation — or clarification — from the school district as to whether this is in fact a beatification, or more of a school cleanup.