On April 5, 2023, the Junior Class of 2024 underwent a day-long retreat on campus. Juniors were divided into groups led by PALS (junior service organization) members. Throughout the retreat, students completed many activities from ranking the best senior experiences to listening to faculty talks about faith and leadership. Later that evening, the Junior Cross Mass was held to celebrate the Class of 2024 and signal its transition to be school leaders for next year.
RETREAT
In the Terry Center, dozens of tables were set up. Each table represented a retreat group, led by a student in PALS (a junior service organization) and a faculty member. As the masses of juniors assembled, Mr. Lingel and Mr. McDaniel greeted the class and soon, the retreat was underway.
Throughout the morning, retreat groups completed several activities together. The first activities were icebreakers conducted by retreat leaders. Afterward, retreat groups worked on creating a slogan to represent the Class of 2024’s leadership next year. Slogans included “United Through All,” “Committed to Serve,” and “God is Among Us.”
The morning session included presentations by the junior counselors, reflecting on Biblical stories like Zacchaeus’ story. In addition, Dr. Knize told the story of Larry Bird’s pregame ritual. Specifically, this story was about how Larry Bird always looked at a hockey banner prior to his game, giving him comfort and strength. Then, Dr. Knize talked about how the cross in the Terry Center was his banner and how we should follow this example. Afterward, juniors were called on to reflect on St. Ignatius’ sacrifice of the sword on the altar at Montserrat. Displaying the refined sword in front of the enthusiastic juniors, Principal Garrison applied St. Ignatius’ story to the Jesuit mission and where we would put aside our earthly desires and prioritize our calling.
Halfway through the retreat, the juniors were allowed to have a recreation period. During this time, juniors enjoyed outdoor activities like football and spike ball. After the recreation period, to commence the afternoon session, JURB performed a drumline for the students. Certainly, for us, the drumline recalled distant memories from freshman year.
The drumline was followed by Mr. Hanley’s presentation of what it means to be a Christian leader, especially through our service. After this presentation, Coach Chris Hill introduced the bracketology activity. Based on March Madness brackets, students would rank 16 Jesuit senior privileges, ranging from graduation to the senior parking lots. In the end, the majority of groups voted on graduation and senior parking lots as the best privileges.
At the end of the day, in order to help senior counselors know more about them, juniors filled out a brief questionnaire on SCOIR about their qualities and interests. Soon, the retreat ended with a reflective examen led by Mr. Joe Howard.
CROSS MASS
At 6 PM, the Terry Center was packed again with not only students and faculty members but also parents and relatives of the Class of 2024. The Junior Cross Mass was celebrated by Fr. Carlos Esparza. During this mass, faculty members bestowed the Jesuit cross upon all juniors, providing them with inspirational words of wisdom. This momentous celebration not only signified the shift in the Class of 2024’s role as leaders but also the importance of the cross itself.
Mr. McDaniel said the following about the Cross Mass: “In my opinion, the Cross Mass is a solemn occasion, unlike other school events. The Cross Mass is designed to be symbolic. You’re not just accepting the Christian faith, but more importantly, you are accepting your roles as leaders in the community.”
Mrs. Farrell, one of the faculty members bestowing the crosses, noted, “The cross is a symbol of atonement, reminding us of Jesus’ sacrifice for us. I pray that it is a daily reminder to humble ourselves before God. Most of all, the cross serves as a reminder that Jesus defeated evil, disarming all forces against him. I pray that the members of the class of 2024 embrace that truth as they continue to disarm the forces that try to keep them from living in light of His undying love.”
STUDENT THOUGHTS
Peter Loh ‘24 (PALS retreat leader): “I really appreciated the new social connections I forged with some people who I did not know beforehand. In addition, the faculty members’ presentations were very insightful into the Class of 2024’s role as leaders in senior year.”
Jacob Morales ‘24: “I really enjoyed playing the drums and participating in group activities at the retreat. The speakers were inspirational. Personally, the Cross Mass connected me closer to the Jesuit community.”
Nicholas Christon ‘24: “I enjoyed the icebreaker activities with my group and I met a lot of new guys who I hadn’t talked to before. It was a great way to grow the Jesuit brotherhood and getting our crosses that night also made me feel more connected to my fellow Jesuit brothers.”
INTERVIEW WITH MR. MCDANIEL
Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Junior Counselor and PALS Faculty Leader Mr. McDaniel so they can share their thoughts on the Class of 2024’s Jesuit formation.
What do you think is significant about the Cross Mass?
Mr. McDaniel: “In my opinion, the Cross Mass is a solemn occasion, unlike other school events. The Cross Mass is designed to be symbolic. You’re not just accepting the Christian faith, but more importantly, you are accepting your roles as leaders in the community. So, when I call the names of the juniors with Mr. Lingel, I really appreciate how serious and reverent everyone is. Also, I hope that the recipients will understand the gravity of receiving the crosses. This is something more spiritual and interpersonal, unlike receiving a class ring that symbolizes your graduation. So, I always think that the Cross Mass is so special because it signifies juniors’ shifting to active leadership in our community.”
What are your thoughts on the Class of 2024’s shifting to a more active leadership role in our school?
Mr. McDaniel: “At this point in their Jesuit experience, juniors are not only preparing to transition into the final phase of leaving Jesuit and getting into a good college, but also preparing to be leaders. This is what the junior retreat was mainly about. Specifically, the retreat focused on explaining the ideas of juniors’ upcoming responsibilities to lead the Jesuit community. For instance, the Class of 2024 is expected to exemplify self-care and serve as role models for underclassmen.”
What is the most unique aspect of the Class of 2024?
Mr. McDaniel: “Well, I think that the junior class’ unique trait resulted from being freshmen during COVID. Based on my observation, it seems that the juniors are closer as friend groups and the intensity in friendship has been higher than previous classes. As classes grow, it becomes more difficult to maintain this strong community bond, whether it is through being Men for Others in service or upholding the Profiles of the Graduate. However, when I walk around the cafeteria or the commons, I see a better appreciation of the Jesuit community and intensity in meaningful friendships among the junior class. Overcoming adversity in freshman year is hopefully something the Class of 2024 will take into their senior year. In addition, I hope that this class will emphasize the values of friendship and appreciation of our community to the underclassmen and incoming freshmen next year.”
Thank you to all the Jesuit faculty and staff for making this meaningful retreat and Cross Mass possible. Congratulations to all juniors who received their crosses. Stay tuned to The Roundup for more news regarding our Jesuit community.
