At the beginning of each school year, the Jesuit community begins in prayer. This year, it began with a prayer service on the first day of school, August 20th, and the Mass of the Holy Spirit on August 26th. This year, the theme is building community, and both of the gatherings played into the theme.
First Prayer Service
In terms of building community, Jesuit does a great job. From community service to Ranger Day, it is very apparent that Jesuit is a community. However, in his reflection, Mr. Mike Earsing, President of Jesuit Dallas, called the students to go deeper than that. He encouraged students to build community in their everyday interactions. He encourages the student body to build community not only by doing big things like service sights, but also in small things, like making a classmate feel included. These small actions are what truly make Jesuit Dallas a community.
Mass of the Holy Spirit
The Jesuit community came together on August 26th to celebrate the Mass of the Holy Spirit. Typically the first mass at many Jesuit high schools and universities, this tradition dates back to 1548. The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Sylvester Tan, SJ. In his homily, he talked about the Holy Spirit guiding us through the year. For every vice there is a virtue, and the spirit should guide us to choose the virtue.
The mass was also special for two other reasons. After the homily, Fr. Tan asked all those who will be serving as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMoHC) to stand. Those students were given a blessing.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to know that i help my brothers and many others in the jesuit community recieve something as sacred as Christ’s body.” -Henry french ’26
Additionally, the new faculty and staff were given a blessing as the whole school community welcomed them into Jesuit Dallas. Here are their names:
Teachers, Coaches, and Counselors:
Paola Alva
Jon Barger
Augusto Bueno
Darryll Craft
Louis La Mont
Rachel Lytle
Greg Meek
Charlie Miller
Michel Nkwocha
Nyemike Okonkwo
Jacqueline Ortiz
Hector Perez
Allie Ramirez
J.D. Waggoner
Staff
Kelly Frank
Brian Henry
Yvette Konstanzer
Trevlan MacGregor
Megan O’Sullivan
Viviana Stanford
Alumni Service Corps
Steven Campos
Julian Garcia
Chase Peppard
Kevin Utz
Throughout the next few weeks profiles on each of them will be released. Stay tuned to The Roundup for more coverage of campus ministry and profiles of our new faculty and staff!
