For two weeks, the academic team of Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis, Indiana – United States, tried to keep our regular bell schedule online.  Slowly but surely, we recognized that our community does not hold the same capacities as we did even a short month ago.  Students of limited electronic resources, developing organizational skills, and grief of losing milestone events, such as Prom, sports, school plays and concerts, remind us.  The frustrations using new instructional technologies, responsibilities of family, self, and work, and grief of losing our foundation remind us.  Fear for our loved ones reminds us.

In this context, we have learned how much we belong and need each other.

In my academic and mission and identity role, I have been blessed with seeing several surprised of grace.  I have seen cross-department collaboration between our Environmental Science and Social Justice faculty, they developed AP Environmental Science, an environmental justice lesson plan which asks students to review what they learned through the lens of the Universal Apostolic Preferences of ‘Walking with the Excluded’ and ‘Caring for Our Common Home’.

I have seen our formation groups still meet to experience and reflect on topics of our Ignatian charism.

I have seen the Assistant Principals of the Midwest Province come together for weekly video chats to support our larger network.

Our Jesuits continue to offer daily Mass in our school chapel.  Our students continue to offer end of day Examen.

We are connected.  We are in relationship with self, others, and God.  This is the hope alive in our schools.  All for the Glory of God.