The traditional end-of-year all-school Mass for the Saint Ignatius High School community was more memorable than usual this year because it was the first time the entire community was able to be together in one place due to pandemic-imposed safety guidelines.
The 1,500 students, 110 faculty members and 100 staff members traveled to Progressive Field where Bishop Edward Malesic, at the invitation of Father Ray Guiao, SJ, Saint Ignatius president, presided at an outdoor liturgy coordinated by Augie Pacetti, director of campus ministry. Most walked from the school and crossed the Hope Memorial Bridge on their way to the ballpark.
The liturgy also marked the 500th anniversary of St. Ignatius’ conversion.
(Watch a short highlight video from today's Mass, click here.)
“It is so fitting that we’re here in this major league ballpark as we give thanks to God for the graces he bestowed on a very special baseball player who is well known to the Saint Ignatius community -- Robbie Boyce -- who, through your prayers, the hard work of his medical team and the grace of God, overcame a serious health challenge and who now is able to resume playing the sport he loves,” Bishop Malesic said. “Thank you for showing us the grit and determination of a person who believes that God always leads us forward. Thank you for showing us hope and faith.”
He reflected on the past year, which was impacted in countless ways by the coronavirus pandemic, noting the challenges of experiencing high school through the pandemic to the excitement as the academic year closes. “We come together to give thanks to God who has seen us through the good times and the challenging times. But our Scriptures tell us to be grateful in all things.”
Among the things we can be grateful for are coming together on campus, in person, as a community to continue learning, experiencing retreats, service opportunities and extracurricular activities – something many other students couldn’t do. There also was a willingness to adapt and make sacrifices by the entire school community, as well as medical advances that are helping to end the pandemic.
"And we should give thanks for our senior class who will be graduating at the end of the month and all of their contributions to the life of the school, especially during this last year,” the bishop said.
“God rewards us when we act with grace when times get tough, when we carry the cross with faith. Sometimes, enduring challenges with faith can lead us to grow in wisdom and come to know what truly matters in this life as we ultimately prepare for the next life,” Bishop Malesic said, noting this happened to St. Ignatius of Loyola, after whom the school is named. He shared the story of St. Ignatius, a man focused on military service and wanting to make a name for himself. But all that changed after he was wounded 500 years ago by a ricocheting cannonball that shattered his leg, forcing him to spend months recuperating. During that time, he read about Jesus and the saints and decided that he wanted to be like them. He gave up his military career and set off to discern God’s will for his life, eventually founding the Society of Jesus.
“Jesus asks us to pick up every cross and follow him to the Resurrection,” the bishop said.
During the past few months, Bishop Malesic said he’s wondered what good God will make of the pandemic. “I hope it changed us for the better, made us realize that life is fragile and that we are in the same boat and we must row together. I hope we have a deeper sense of what type of faith God demands of us who say we trust in him. I also hope we come out of this pandemic with a greater respect for life, a greater respect for one another and a greater sense that we need to be together in community. I hope that we come out of this pandemic as stronger Christians who hunger more for the Eucharist and know the importance of being Church. Let God inspire all of us to be better people because of the cross we have been carrying together for the last year.”
The bishop asked those in attendance to think about the Saint Ignatius motto: “Men for Others,” asking them to reflect on how that takes shape in their lives. It’s something they should consider and pray about, while also reflecting on what God is asking them to do with their lives.
“Listen for the voice of God, speaking to you heart to heart. Take the spiritual wax out of your ears,” he said, telling them that if they listen, the Lord will provide direction.
He encouraged them to be prepared like the baseball players who come to Progressive Field, ready to do their best. “Like a soul that wants to fly all the way to heaven, to be a saint. That is the direction Jesus has set for you. Aim high and in the direction of God and then give it your all. And when someone throws you a curve ball, it can still turn into a home run,” he said. “Ask God how to respond to those unexpected and unwanted events, those curve balls that come your way. He will show you how to respond. God is a good coach. He gave us Jesus on the cross as our best example.”
The bishop also urged the group to embrace the invitation of Jesus and to follow him, using the unexpected events as an opportunity to change for the better.
“St. Ignatius, who was bedridden long enough to ponder God’s mysteries was transformed into a soldier for Christ. And like all of the students here who had a challenging year and rose to the occasion, being stronger as ‘Men for Others.’”
At the end of Mass, Father Guiao recognized students at Welsh Academy, established in 2019 to help prepare boys of modest economic means for high school. He also gave a belated welcome to the Saint Ignatius freshman class and offered congratulations to the seniors who are completing their high school careers.
Bishop Malesic received a Saint Ignatius “swag bag” containing sunglasses and a sun hat, “two things that would be useful today,” Father Guiao quipped.
“Thank you for being a good and present shepherd for us in the fashion of the Good Shepherd,” he said to the bishop.