As is tradition in Jesuit schools throughout the nation and globally, Bellarmine College Prep celebrated Mass of the Holy Spirit on August 17 to begin the school year. All students, faculty, and staff gathered for the outdoor Mass held on the Leo J. and Mary G. Lucas Quad.
Rev. Mike Moodie, S.J., presided at the Mass, which was concelebrated by brother members of the Bellarmine Jesuit community including Mario Prietto, S.J., superior; Jerry Wade, S.J. ‘55; Thomas Flowers, S.J. ’02; and Joseph Specht, S.J. ’55.
In his Homily, Bellarmine president Chris Meyercord ’88 announced that this year’s school justice theme will be Walking with the Excluded, which is one of the Four Universal Apostolic Preferences selected by the Society of Jesus for all Jesuit ministries. “I would guess that every person here has felt excluded at one time or another – and some of you might feel that way often,” said Mr. Meyercord. “But I want you to know that you belong here. Every one of you. You are seen and important and we need you. You belong. But there might be days where it doesn’t feel like that. So, let’s make a special effort this year to make sure that every one of our classmates knows in the core of their being that they belong. And then once we’ve done a really good job of extending that sense of belonging to those in our immediate circle who might at times feel excluded, then let’s extend it beyond our campus to make the elderly, the houseless, anyone who feels excluded all the time, know that they, too, belong.”
Several students participated in the Mass of the Holy Spirit, which was coordinated by Campus Ministry who partnered with school groups Agape, Athletes for Justice, Companeros, and Unity Council.
Mr. Meyercord conclude his remarks with words of encouragement for students. “I hope you all will go on to do profound, dramatic, incredibly impactful things that will radically change our world for the better. But it starts with something small. To be a man or woman for others, we first have to be men and women with others. If we each commit ourselves to walking with others this year, then I know that it’s going to be a great one.”