HOUSE FEAST DAYS
Shaw dedicates day for formation and growth outside of the classroom
by Mr. Alex Cormier
Since the introduction of the House system at Archbishop Shaw, students have been competing, serving, and excelling to bring pride and honor to their cohorts.
For those who are unaware, the House system consists of four houses under the patronage of Saint Frances de Sales, Saint Giorgio Frasatti, Saint Dominic Savio, and Blessed Carlo Acutis. Each student is assigned a house at the beginning of their careers at Shaw and stay in that house until graduation.
Despite all of the competition, service, and opportunities to excel, House members also need to get to know other members of the house.
That's when Mr. Benjamin Russo, Director of Student Activities, came up with the idea for a day devoted for that very purpose.
"They sit together at Mass, we're at pep-rallies, but we never had the chance to bond with our house-members at this events," explains Mr. Ben Russo. "We're trying to build up those relationships, to know one another".
The day began when the Prefects of each house rallied house-members together and began a day filled with team-building activities, prayer, spiritual formation, and service.
"The Juniors and Sophomores did a great job [involving] the eighth-graders and Freshman. Mr. [Eric] Budd (one of Shaw's newest faculty members] did an awesome job leading field games".
It was, without a doubt, the field games that most students found as a good way to build up a sense of belonging to their House as well as fostering fraternity.
Perhaps one of the most unique moments of the day was the opportunity for students to hear vocation stories from seminarians from the Archdiocese of New Orleans and the Diocese of Lafayette as well as recently-ordained priest Fr. Ajani Gibson.
Fr. Gibson is currently the youngest ordained African-American priest in the United States, a fact that he is proud to share.
(Top) Fr. Steve Ryan, SDB, celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with concelebrant Fr. Ajani Gibson of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
(Bottom) Mr. Cuong Tran, graduate of Archbishop Shaw and seminarian in 3rd Theology for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, speaks to students about this discernment.
Fr. Gibson recounted his journey from entering seminary to ordination to the students. Like many young men who discern the priesthood, Fr. Gibson was initially hesitant to enter seminary.
"I had run out of excuses," explains Fr. Gibson, "so I agreed to enter seminary. My heart dropped; 'what did I just do?'".
Fr. Gibson then describes that, in that moment, he felt a peace wash over him unlike any he ever felt in his life. It was in that moment that he knew he was called to the priesthood.
Students were blessed enough to hear stories just like Fr. Gibson's; stories of young men willing to heed the Lord's call for their lives.
Mr. Reed Bellingham, 3rd Theology
Diocese of Lafayette, LA
I was most excited to share with the Students that God has a unique calling for each of them (that could be marriage, priesthood or religious life) and that he wants them to find out what it is.
I told them to ask God in prayer and then be open in their lives to receive his answer whether it comes through people they meet or circumstances they encounter. God will answer; they just have to be open to hearing and receiving his message.
I clarified that it is not just about whether or not we get married that we have to discern, but that even who we are supposed to marry should be brought to God and even the very little decisions of everyday life. God wants us to make him a part of our whole lives.
I was surprised that the students were so attentive. They were interested in what God desired for their lives and that he was interested enough in them to respond. God wants to help them to achieve what he made them for at every step of the way. I was really impressed that they seemed to be open to the challenge.
Some of the students asked what seminary was like or what sports I played in high school. They were surprised to hear that seminarians don't just pray all the time but are normal people with similar interests. I hope that made clear for them the distinction that seminary teaches you to properly order your life so that, when things get busy, the things that are not as important fall away. Through seminary formation, you come to desire to deepen (and never budge on) your relationship with God.
Shaw is already planning for its next House day for the Spring semester.
Mr. Alex Cormier is the Theology I educator at Archbishop Shaw. He attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA receiving a Bachelor of Arts in English and a certification in Philosophy from Saint Joseph Seminary College in Covington, LA.