HOUSTON – Seven Houston area students are getting ready to head to Philadelphia for a trip of a lifetime to see the pope.
The seven Cristo Rey Jesuit students include Nohemi Almaguer, Christienne Celestino, Manuel Lopez, Genesis Meza, Servando Ortiz, Ashley Rivera and Nicholas Vivanco.
They were selected in April after completing a lengthy application process.
Wednesday afternoon, the school held a special assembly in the gym to send off the students.
They'll be chaperoned by three faculty members, and they will stay at St. Joe's Prep, which is a Jesuit high school in Philadelphia.
"It hasn't really hit me until today," said senior Christienne Celestino.
"My hands were shaking when I came into the gym."
Wednesday's sendoff assembly was followed by a special Mass on campus for the students and their families.
They say it won't compare to the papal Mass they plan to attend on Sunday.
"I feel like it would be an out of world experience just seeing the pope in front of me and a million other people," Celestino said. "Everyone just coming together as one big family."
The students plan to bring with them a special Cristo Rey Jesuit stole to be blessed at the Mass.
The stole will then be put on display on campus.
The group leaves early Thursday morning and returns Monday night.