October is recognized in the Catholic tradition as the Month of the Holy Rosary, and this year, we will also be commemorating our Jubilee Year. To celebrate this occasion, we plan to welcome Bishop Gregory Parkes of the Diocese of St. Petersburg to campus on Monday, October 13, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. to lead a prayer of the Rosary in the Sebring Commons, following the raising of the Flag of Vatican City. Coffee and light refreshments will be provided for those who wish to attend.

The flag of Vatican City is germane to CLSA because it symbolizes the spiritual and temporal authority of the Pope and represents the keys to heaven, as well as the Pope’s leadership over the Catholic Church. It is important to us that this flag be raised on campus to serve as a memorial to Pope Francis, who passed away this past April, as well as to celebrate the beginning of the papacy of Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope.

We aim to represent and serve not only the Catholic students at our school, as well as the more than 60 million Catholics in the United States, but also the global Catholic community of over 1.4 billion people. This flag-raising event will be an open event in which all students, regardless of religion, will be welcome to join.