Mission Renewal - The History
The History
Through a series of conversations, Stew Barbera, Michael Egan, and Bruce Maivelett developed an initial process for discernment and renewal. The process was designed to facilitate increased knowledge of the origins of our mission, to provide materials for individual prayer and reflection, to allow for candid and honest conversation and dialogue in a prayerful atmosphere that produces a shared understanding of our mission and a common commitment to advancing that mission by means of specific actions.
On 31 July, the Feast of Ignatius of Loyola, thirteen members of the Prep community gathered for a day dedicated to our mission. Participants included members of the Board of Trustees, administrators, and faculty members.
Apostolic Discernment and Mission Renewal
List of Participants
31 July 2006
| L. Stewart Barbera | Chair, Counseling Department | |
| William Byron, S.J. | President | |
| Bill Conners | Faculty Chair | |
| Sam Deitch | Director of Ignatian Service | |
| Michael Egan | Executive Vice-President | |
| Tom Farren | Chair, Modern Language Department | |
| Michael Gomez | Principal | |
| Mark Halligan | Dean of Students | |
| Rose Marie Kettinger | Registrar | |
| Timothy Klarich | Chief Financial Officer | |
| Bruce Maivelett, S.J. | Director of Ignatian Identity | |
| John McConnell | Member of the Board of Trustees | |
| Nancy Primick | Chair, Classics Department |
The one day meeting was preceded by eight days of preparation. During the disposition days participants prayed for two graces necessary for good discernment – interior freedom and wholehearted generosity; read and reflected on documents related to mission; and spent some time with the Lord in conversation each day. On the eighth day participants reviewed their work, reflected on the experience, and prepared points that expressed their individual understanding of The Prep’s Mission.
On the 31st participants gathered for prayer and then spent the morning attentively listening to one another’s thoughts on mission. Following time for individual prayer and reflection on what they had heard during the morning, participants spent the afternoon in conversation and dialogue. The day concluded with Eucharist, social and dinner, celebrating the Feast of Ignatius.
The day long meeting produced two concrete results:
- A decision to move forward with the design, production and placement of visual reminders of our mission. The Mission Statement, the Prayer for Generosity, and the five characteristics of a graduate of a Jesuit high school at graduation, will be displayed in all the classrooms. Banners and other signage will be displayed in the foyer, dining room, and other public spaces of the school.
- A document which reformats our mission statement.
The initial gathering far exceeded expectations. It was a Spirit-filled day that led us to a common understanding of our mission. This common understanding refreshed and renewed the spirits of the participants. The experience confirmed the decision to expand the work of apostolic discernment and mission renewal to other members of the Prep community.
On 24 August, forty two members of the Prep community gathered for a second day dedicated to Apostolic Discernment and Mission Renewal. Participants in this second meeting included members of the Board of Trustees, administrators, faculty, students, parents, and alumni.
Apostolic Discernment and Mission Renewal
List of Participants
24 August 2006
| John Anderson | Vice-President for Development | |
| L. Stewart Barbera | Chair, Counseling Department | |
| Jake Braithwaite | Member of the Class of 2007 | |
| Barbara Brown | Chair, Science Department | |
| William Byron, S.J. | President | |
| Susan Cook | Faculty, English Department | |
| Fran DeHoratius | Faculty, Science Department | |
| Sam Deitch | Director of Ignatian Service | |
| Mark D’Eramo | Director of Technology Services | |
| Michael Egan | Executive Vice-President | |
| Tom Fitzpatrick | Faculty, Science Department | |
| Anthony Fiume | Director of Building Services | |
| Bill Gillespie | Faculty, Counseling Department | |
| Michael Gomez | Principal | |
| Galen Grady | Member of the Class of 2007 | |
| John Groch | Faculty, Religious Studies Department | |
| Mark Halligan | Dean of Students | |
| Deb Hilton | Chair, Fine Arts Department | |
| Daniel Kaufmann | Member of the Class of 2007 | |
| Rose Marie Kettinger | Registrar | |
| Dan Kilpatrick | Faculty, Mathematics | |
| Timothy Klarich | Chief Financial Officer | |
| Bernard Kueny | Fathers’ Club | |
| Bruce Maivelett, S.J. | Director of Ignatian Identity | |
| John McConnell | Member of the Board of Trustees | |
| William “Speedy” Morris | Athletics, Head Coach Basketball | |
| Scott Mullen | Asst Dean of Students, Faculty Classics | |
| Brendan Murphy | Webmaster | |
| Jim Murray | Director of Athletics, Mathematics | |
| Joseph Nawn | Assistant Principal | |
| Sonia Nelson | Director of Library Services | |
| Nancy Primick | Chair, Classics Department | |
| Kathy Quinter | Faculty, History | |
| Ed Robson | Faculty, Science | |
| Paul Rourke, S.J. | Faculty, History and Religious Studies | |
| Joseph Ruggieri, Esq. | Member of the Board of Trsutees | |
| Patrick Sansoni | Member of the Class of 2007 | |
| Ed Turner | Faculty, Classics | |
| Steve Wood | Member of the Class of 2007 | |
| Kate Woody, G.N.S.H. | Director of Campus Ministry | |
| Jason Zazyczny | Director of Admission | |
| Al Zimmerman | Director of Alumni Relations |
Preparation for the meeting followed the same eight days of prayer and reflection outlined above. Furthermore, each participant reflected on the document “Mission Statement. Explanation and Intepretation,” and the context in which we exercise our mission. As the week drew to a close participants were asked to recommend specifics actions that advance our mission as a Catholic, urban, college preparatory school in the Jesuit tradition.
On the 24th participants gathered for prayer after being reminded of the need for interior freedom, wholehearted generosity, candid conversation, and attentive listening. The first morning session allowed time for participants to ask questions concerning the document “Mission Statement. Explanation and Interpretation.” Bill Byron, S.J. and Michael Gomez fielded the questions and guided the conversation. This session resulted in a revised statement that is produced below on page 4. Participants then worked in small groups, preparing presentations on the groups’ understanding of the context in which we live our mission and a list of specific actions that the group believed would most advance our mission. In the afternoon, groups made their presentations. The presentations were followed by conversation and dialogue that helped participants move toward a shared understanding of context and a shared commitment to a series of actions. The day ended with the celebration of the Eucharist and dinner.