Not quite ready to retire from throwing darts, senior quarterback Beau Perez, slings a “snowball” at the opposing team during today’s “frozen” game of dodgeball.  The event is the first in a series of winter-themed lunchtime activities hosted by the Student Council Executive Board to get students excited about the upcoming Christmas season. Tomorrow’s events include pictures with Santa and a gingerbread house making contest. The week concludes with the annual Ugly Christmas Sweater contest on Friday. Photo Credit: Pre-Freshman Jax Dagley.

The Biology Club and Jesuit Medical Society were pleased to host Dr. Jorge Belgodere, a renowned researcher in Hematology & Medical Oncology at Tulane University. The presentation took place over lunch in the Madonna Della Strada conference room. Dr. Belgodere enlightened our students about his work at the forefront of medical research, particularly his work on “hydrogel synthesis,” a technique used for accelerated wound healing. This event, accessible to all students, complements the Jesuit Medical Society’s broader objective of acquainting students with a variety of medical disciplines that may pique their interest in the future.For more information about the Biology Club or the Jesuit Medical Society, click here. Photo credit senior Peter Le.

The Sodality of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception hosted a a walking pilgrimage to St. Patrick’s Cemetery #1, aiming to obtain a plenary indulgence for souls in purgatory. The event saw the participation of Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Sodalities, fostering a sense of unity. Co-Directors of Campus Ministry, Mr. Miraflor, S.J. and Mr. Blair, S.J., emphasizing the importance of prayers for the departed, led the students through the streets of Mid-City to the cemetery . The event concluded with a simple lunch, providing students with a moment for reflection and brotherhood. This event not only deepened their spiritual connection but also emphasized the significance of collective prayer and empathy in the Catholic faith. During the month of November, Jesuit will offer each daily Mass for the souls of all those departed in the Blue Jay community. If you would like to add the name of a loved one to be remembered at Mass, please submit their name to the Holy Souls Form.

The Student Commons was packed Friday at lunch as the video game Fortnite took center stage. The battle royale styled video game recently received an update bringing the gameplay back to its original maps and functionality. With a mix of nostalgia and excitement for the new season, Blue Jay fans of Fortnite were glued to the screens as the streamer Ninja revealed the updates ability to bring the game back to its “old days.” Jesuit is home to recent E-Sports state champions, Gizzard Gaming, and is working on a new gaming room for future practices. Wild Photo Credit Lucas Nicholson-Uhl and Nate Sanders.

Broadcasting from “Studio 128, hosts of the Ten Minute Break podcast, Sanad Hamdan and Jeremy Rink, interview Jesuit High School chaplain Fr. John Polce, S.J. Combined with his love of cooking, fantasy football, and puns, Fr. Polce offers a unique window into the priesthood and his role as a spiritual guide to the student body. Stay tuned for more episodes, posted every two weeks, with unique perspectives, untold stories, and engaging discussions that reflect the heartbeat of student life at Jesuit. Photo by senior Ahmad Farrukh.

On the Feast Day of the North American Martyrs, sophomore Joe Accardo takes his final quarter one exam under the watchful eye of one of St. Isaac Jogues S.J., a Jesuit priest martyred while serving the Huron tribe in present day Canada. The North American Martyrs were a group of French Jesuit missionaries who, in the 17th century, ventured into the wilderness of North America to spread the Christian faith. St. Isaac Jogues was captured and tortured by a rival tribe of the Hurons and had his fingers chewed off. After recovering from his injuries in France, Jogues decided to return to North America and continue his work with the Hurons. He served in the missions faithfully until he was captured and killed by the Mohawk tribe. St. Isaac Jogues, S.J. saw his torment, and the anticipated death that would ensue, as a means to emulate and thus share in the suffering of Jesus’ passion. 

October 19th – The Feast of the North American Martyrs

Meet one of our podcast co-hosts, Sanad Hamdan, ready to carry forward the legacy of the Ten-Minute Break, Jesuit’s student podcast, along with fellow seniors Jeremy Rink, co-host, and Ahmad Farrukh, podcast coordinator.  They’re all set to introduce you to the vibrant voices of our school community, kicking off with a bang and an insightful first episode featuring Jesuit’s student body president and vice-president, Luke Couret and Kyle Collins. 

In the upcoming episodes, our co-hosts will bring fresh perspectives, untold stories, and engaging discussions to the Blue Jay community. As they continue to explore the heartbeat of student life, you can expect an ever-expanding roster of guests from faculty members to athletes to students who will inspire, inform, and entertain. So, stay tuned for a series of episodes that promises to be both informative and entertaining.

Photo by senior Ahmad Farrukh.

Nolan Clark ’23 honed his skills at Jesuit by photographing numerous athletic contests and school events as part of the student communications initiative. Now a freshman at the University of Alabama, Clark continues to develop his talents as a student athletic photographer in Bryant–Denny Stadium. Below is a photograph of Clark on the field in action during the recent Alabama vs. Ole Miss game on September 23, 2023.

Jesuit’s MCJROTC cadet leadership conducted a platoon inspection on Wednesday during their class period. These weekly exercises serve as one of the methods through which cadets establish a foundation of military structure and tradition.

Blue Jays are immersing themselves in the fundamentals of photography in the new media class instructed by Mr. Peter Flores. The media class covers a wide range of skill sets that encompass various forms of media, including digital media, video production, photography, and editing, among others. As part of their coursework, students are currently focused on mastering the exposure triangle. In a recent lesson, they had the opportunity to refine their skills with the guidance of Jesuit’s Communications Specialist, Melissa Jurisich.

Photo Taken by Nate Sanders ’24

During the 8th grade retreat, students reenact the transformative cannonball moment in the life of St. Ignatius that ultimately guided him towards his path to sainthood.

LtCol Craig P. Himel ’91 USMC (Ret) pinning Cadet Private Haffner for his promotion to Cadet Private First Class this week.

Welcome week continues for the Blue Jays with Donatello’s ono axe throw. Students attempt to hit the target while others worked their throws to douse Shredder in the dunking booth.

The Student Council Executive Board kicked off Welcome Week with an exciting lunchtime event featuring ninja turtle races. Students enthusiastically competed by maneuvering through cones, navigating toddler-sized hamster tunnels, skillfully dodging water balloons, and racing to the finish line with their pizza boxes.

On Mondays and Fridays, students, faculty, and staff assemble in the Traditions Courtyard for morning assembly. Though the tradition dates back many decades, the content of each assembly can range from athletic updates to club meeting times to alumni speakers. The bustle after assembly is a quintessentially Jesuit moment for Blue Jays to greet their friends and catch up with their classmates as they head to class from the courtyard.

1930 – Original Blue Jay Band taken at Loyola field.