Led by a bagpiper and dressed in khaki pants, dress shirts, ties and navy blue blazers, members of the Saint Ignatius High School freshman class streamed into the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist the morning of Sept. 2 for the Mass of the Holy Spirit, the traditional start of a new school year. They joined the rest of the school’s more than 1,500 students, faculty and staff for the liturgy.
The celebrant was Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost, a 1976 Saint Ignatius graduate. Father Raymond Guiao, SJ a 1982 alumnus and school president, and several other Jesuits affiliated with the school, concelebrated the Mass.
(See photo gallery above.)
Bishop Woost reminded the congregation about the story of the school’s namesake, St. Ignatius. He was the 13th and youngest child born to a prominent family in Loyola, Spain in 1491. The bishop talked about how young Ignatius enjoyed his comfortable lifestyle and liked to make an impression. He had a reputation as a sharp dresser, a womanizer and a rogue. Ignatius joined the army and at age 30 was seriously wounded by when a ricocheting cannonball shattered his leg.
During his lengthy recovery, he had little to do so he began reading the available books, including religious works. These had a profound influence on his life. “God used those books to make a change in Ignatius’ life,” the bishop said. “He had been living for himself but he realized that was not the way to live. He realized God was calling him to live for others, to become a man for others and he began to change.”
Bishop Woost said the changes Ignatius made and the way he lived the rest of his life continue to influence people today. “Will history say the same thing about us?” he asked. “With the grace of God, he changed.”
During his senior year at Saint Ignatius, Bishop Woost said he already decided that God was calling him to the priesthood, something he shared with his counselor as he began preparing to answer the call to his vocation.
A letter written by St. Ignatius to a friend several years after his conversion said it was important to attend Mass often, even daily, noting the Eucharist would influence his heart with love. “Let the Eucharist guide you. Take the time to attend Mass more often,” the bishop said, echoing St. Ignatius.
“You give something of yourself to this community, to your family, to your friends and the world. Be men for others. Is that not what Ignatius was all about?” he asked. “You can be men for others as you are called to be.”
During the Mass, the bishop also commissioned the new faculty and staff members, who were introduced by Father Guiao.
After Mass, Bishop Woost received a bag filled with Saint Ignatius swag items.
Click here to view an archived copy of the Mass, which was livestreamed.
Saint Ignatius was founded in 1886 as Cleveland’s Jesuit high school with the motto “Men for Others.” Students perform more than 15,000 hours of non-required service annually.