Catholic schools and parish schools of religion in the Springfield diocese did their part to make Pope Benedict XVI's birthday a little bit happier this year. In all, 17 diocesan schools or PSRs were listed on a service pledge/birthday gift presented to the Holy Father on April 16, his 81st birthday.

In late February, the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), a national organization representing Catholic education at all levels, issued an invitation to young people to do voluntary acts of service in honor of the pope's birthday. At that time Jean Johnson, superintendent of Catholic schools in the Springfield diocese, suggested that diocesan schools and PSRs go on-line to donate hours.

"I just thought it was a wonderful idea," said Johnson. "What else could you give a pope? The idea of charitable acts happening on his behalf would be the most wonderful gift you could give him."

At Sacred Heart-Griffin High School in Springfield, students prepared for the Holy Father's visit by volunteering in the community. A total of 2,312 hours of service - to be completed by May 31 - were pledged by 365 students from the school.

Some of the ways students at SHG have volunteered include spring cleanup and/or tree planting at Lincoln Memorial Garden Nature Center, Henson Robinson Zoo, Camp Widjiwagan Girl Scout camp and the Springfield Muni Opera; fund-raising for a mission trip; assisting at an Easter egg hunt; retreat ministry; and visiting religious sisters who have retired from active ministry.

"The students at SHG are extremely generous with their time and talents," said Simon Cory, campus minister. "Community service is part of their everyday lives. We don't have to look far to have participants in an event like this."

On a national level, more than 1.7 million community service hours have been pledged by Catholic school students and other Catholic youths in honor of the pope's birthday, which was celebrated on the second day of his six-day visit to the United States.

NCEA President Karen Ristau termed the national response "both overwhelming and gratifying." She and several Catholic school students personally presented the gift of service hours - formally called a "Birthday Blessing for Pope Benedict" - to the Holy Father at a private meeting at the Embassy of the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See in Washington, D.C.

Three Catholic school students were chosen to give Pope Benedict the birthday greetings during a brief meeting inside the Vatican nunciature.

Kristina Wilson, a junior at St. John's College High School in Washington, gave the pope a birthday card on behalf of the National Catholic Educational Association.

Stephanie Joy Heredia, an eighth-grade student at Corpus Christi School in Falls Church, Va., gave the pontiff a gift-wrapped box that contained the names of all parishes and schools participating in the "Birthday Blessing for Pope Benedict" effort.

In addition, Jennifer Sharkey, an eighth-grader at St. Jane Frances de Chantal School in Bethesda, Md., gave the pope a birthday card with partial results of the "From Hunger to Hope" food drive conducted the weekend of April 12-13 by parishes in the Archdiocese of Washington.

For more information on the NCEA and to see a list of participating schools, go to its Web site, www.ncea.org.

(Contributing to this story was Mark Pattison from Catholic News Service.)