News Detail
Xaverian Gathers to Celebrate Founders Week
From December 3-7, the Xaverian community observed Founder’s Week, a celebration of Xaverian’s history and the traditions that are cherished as a school sponsored by the Xaverian Brothers.
The week began with a Mass on Monday to celebrate the feast of the Patron Saint, St. Francis Xavier. Students, faculty, and staff gathered to celebrate, along with graduates from Mission Church High School. Highlighted in the Mass were the six Xaverian juniors who were commissioned to attend a Xaverian Brothers Sponsored Schools (XBSS) retreat in March. “Each year, Campus Ministry nominates six juniors to the XBSS retreat, as well as one senior who participated the year before,” Mr. Conley explained. The six juniors chosen to participate were: Michael Collins, Alex Di Martino, Luke Babicz, Ben Alfond, Luke Strachan, and Sam Stearns, accompanied by senior Jack McCormick. Alex Di Martino ’20 said that everyone is, “very excited to be part of this unbelievable opportunity. We could not be more excited to continue the legacy that our founder, Theodore Ryken, started nearly 180 years ago.”
At the end of Mass, the Theodore Ryken award was presented by Headmaster Brother Daniel Skala, C.F.X. and Principal Dr. Jacob Conca ’94. The award is given annually to a faculty member who is living out the work of Ryken in our world. Mr. Courtland Morse ’71 was this year’s recipient. Click here to read more about Mr. Morse.
On Wednesday, members of the Francis Xavier Division’s grade 7 attended a field trip to St. John’s Prep, another Xaverian Brothers sponsored school, in order to learn more about the Xaverian Brothers’ history and mission. Among other activities, the students visited with the Brothers in residence and were given the opportunity to pay their respect at the graves of Brothers who have passed, including our own Brother Raymond Hoyt, C.F.X. ’70, long-time assistant principal.
Throughout the week, students were asked to consider the statement, “I am with Ryken because…” Their answers ranged from the brotherhood at Xaverian, to the education they receive, to specific people in the Xaverian community who inspire them.
SpiritHawk took on a Founder’s Week theme as well. Xaverian students and the campus ministry team welcomed representatives from other Xaverian Brothers Sponsored Schools to their weekly fellowship gathering.
And finally, each year during Founder’s Week, all students submit nominations of their peers for the Xaverian Values Awards, and art students compete in the Founder’s Week Art Contest. The winners of these awards were announced at the Christmas prayer service on December 18. They are listed below.
When writing about Founder’s Week to Xaverian families, Brother Daniel Skala summed up the real importance of the celebration, which is more than the sum of one week’s activities. He wrote, “It’s important to remember that our Founder’s Week celebration is about more than history and traditions, more than what has passed. It is a reminder to all of us associated with Xaverian that we are the mission today. We acknowledge that everyone is “created in the image and likeness of God.” Our mission is to reflect God’s love in our everyday encounters and to be an inspiration to one another by accepting people as they are without trying to change them. Our mission invites us to cherish not what should be, but what is. With this attitude, we just might catch a glimpse of what God is like and what we are called to be. Together we make Xaverian’s mission grow, as we become more aware of the many blessings in our lives and in the Xaverian community.”
Xaverian Values
Jack McCormick ’19 - Zeal
Sam Gelso ’19 - Compassion
John Meawad ’19 - Compassion
Alex DiMartino ’20 - Trust
Mark Pioch ’19 - Simplicity
Justin Sayah ’19 - Humility
Founder’s Week Art Contest
Adam Driscoll ’20 - First Prize
Nick Daoust ’21 - Second Prize
Andrew Santos ’20 - Third Prize
Justin Troia ’19 - Honorable Mention
Xaverian Brothers High School
Phone: 781-326-6392
Fax: 781-320-0458
Directions | Contact Us | Privacy Policy
EIN (Tax ID Number): 04-2314036
Fax: 781-320-0458
Directions | Contact Us | Privacy Policy
EIN (Tax ID Number): 04-2314036
Xaverian is a Catholic, college-preparatory school for boys in grades 7-12. As an inclusive community, we embrace diverse experiences and perspectives, welcoming students and families from all faiths and backgrounds. Through exceptional academics, athletics, the arts, faith formation, and service opportunities, we help young men discover their unique gifts and talents so they can share them with a world in need.
