Juan Pablo II School in Parla has celebrated the feast day of its patron, St John Paul II, with the opening of the Carlo Acutis computer room. The new space joins others already in place at the school, named after figures and places that inspire its educational and spiritual life. The day also included Mass in honour of the school’s patron.
The opening ceremony was attended by the mayor of Parla, Ramón Jurado, and the vicar general of the Diocese of Getafe, D. Javier Mairata, who blessed the space. The choice of St Carlo Acutis for the computer room reflects the link between the use of technology and a role model close to young people. Canonised in September 2025, this young Italian put his computing skills at the service of spreading the faith. His name invites a fundamental educational question: what technology is used for and what good can be done with it.
Besides the Carlo Acutis room, the school has other significantly named spaces. The Jérôme Lejeune laboratory is dedicated to the French physician and researcher, declared venerable in 2021, who contributed to the discovery of trisomy 21, the chromosomal alteration that causes Down syndrome. His scientific work was accompanied by a constant commitment to caring for people with intellectual disabilities and defending their dignity. Lejeune also had a close relationship with St John Paul II, who appointed him the first president of the Pontifical Academy for Life. His presence in the laboratory offers a starting point for introducing students to genetics and bioethics, as well as questions about the researcher’s responsibility.
The school’s prayer spaces also reflect its Catholic identity. The temple dedicated to St John Paul II expresses the educational community’s bond with its patron. The Divine Mercy chapel, dedicated to St Faustina Kowalska, brings students, families and teachers closer to prayer and to the message of trust in God’s mercy. The memory of the Polish pontiff is also present in the Wadowice classroom, which recalls the town where Karol Wojtyła was born, and in the Cracovia assembly hall, whose name refers to a city that was decisive in his formation and in his priestly and episcopal ministry. These spaces allow students to trace his biography and approach the historical and cultural context in which he grew up.
Context and relevance
The school’s plans include continuing to give other classrooms and spaces the names of people whose lives and legacies can serve as references for students. Each new name will be an opportunity to discover a story and link it to what is learned and lived at the school. With the addition of the Carlo Acutis room, Juan Pablo II School in Parla continues to give its spaces a meaning tied to its Catholic identity. The celebration of its patron thus becomes an occasion to recall that education is also transmitted through the role models a community proposes to its students.
The initiative underscores the importance of offering concrete models that unite faith and reason, service to others and respect for human dignity. In the case of the Carlo Acutis room, the connection between technology and a testimony of faith lived by a young person stands out. In the Jérôme Lejeune laboratory, the figure of a scientist committed to defending people with intellectual disabilities is highlighted. These references seek to inspire students in their academic and human formation, showing how different vocations can be oriented toward the common good.
Original source: diariofinanciero.com (published on 22 October 2026)
