Junior James Redmann reflects on the liturgical season of Lent. An excerpt from The Blue Jay Newspaper.

During Lent, many Catholics give up something to improve themselves and show love to God. Often, I find Catholics begrudgingly giving up something just because they are supposed to (myself included). We, as Catholics, should see the sacrifices we make are not just in vain, but to improve our relationship with God. There are many great ways, in which we can show our love to God and learn to appreciate him. Personally, I think adoration and silent contemplative prayer are outstanding ways to improve your relationship with God. I challenge everyone, including myself, to live our lives For the Greater Glory of God this Lent, and I invite all of you to join the Sodality of the Immaculate Conception in their Lenten journey of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Photo of Immaculate Conception Church by junior James Redmann.

Blue Jays gathered in the courtyard during lunch to celebrate the carnival season. Co-curricular groups hosted tables offering king cake and king cake ice cream for students to enjoy. The Student Council distributed traditional parade route snacks of cotton candy and Chee-Weez. The Blue Jay marching band paraded through, filling the air with lively Mardi Gras music, while the Pelicans mascot, King Cake Baby, made a special appearance. Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Members of the Jesuit High School Pro-Life Club have made their way to Washington D.C. for the annual March for Life. Students arrived by plane yesterday and spent the day touring the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land, the National Shrine of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception on the campus of the Catholic University of America, and then went on a walking tour of the monuments in the National Mall. Today they will hear a presentation from scholars at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, spend time at the Smithsonian Museums and make their way back to the Basilica for the Mass for Life.

Tuesday, January 9, members of the Class of 2020 returned to campus–without Covid provisions this time–to discuss class captains, 5-year reunions, and other alumni matters. Welcome back, Blue Jays.

Photo: Grant Jordan and Max Mancheski take a few minutes to catch up.

Elijah Morgan ’19, a varsity basketball standout under Coach Jennings during his tenure at Jesuit, recently entered the graduate transfer portal for The Citadel. In a remarkable display, Morgan played against his alma mater, Notre Dame, and delivered an outstanding performance. During his return to South Bend, Indiana, he led the game with 19 points, contributing to The Citadel’s 65–45 triumph on December 19. The Bulldogs’ victory marked a significant milestone, improving their season record to 7–4. Morgan’s profound understanding of the game, honed during his three seasons as a walk-on for the Fighting Irish, was evident. His performance, characterized by precision from the three-point range, underscored his unwavering confidence and the deep connection to his past experiences at Jesuit. Way to go, Blue Jay!

Anthony Amadeo, a pre-freshman at Jesuit, has taken the initiative to lead a personal service project in collaboration with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. His primary responsibility involves encouraging individuals to write Santa letters detailing their Christmas wishes and added to the Santa mailbox. For every letter collected, donors generously pledge to contribute $2. The funds raised through this project are dedicated entirely to the children supported by the Make-A-Wish Foundation. More letters, more wishes for children. Remarkably, Anthony began this charitable endeavor while in Kindergarten at Our Lady of Prompt Succor in Chalmette, and he has diligently maintained the tradition ever since. Since its inception, Amadeo has raised over $70,000 in donor matches to Make-A-Wish. Amadeo is anticipating surpassing the $100,000 mark this year. Anthony’s dedication to embodying the spirit of being “a man for others,” particularly during the Advent season as we anticipate the joy that Christ’s birth brings, inspired his classmates to write letters at their recent pre-freshmen Christmas party.

Pictured from left to right: Anthony Amadeo, Joseph Bertucci, and Thomas Denning

Sebastian Fernandez (French II, 1st place), Bassam Al Hariri (French III, 2nd place Immersion level), Nate Costantini (French II, 2nd place), and Frank Young (French IV AP, 1st place) recently garnered accolades at a city-wide high school French oratory contest held last November. In recognition of their exceptional performance, these students were honored at a reception on December 10, 2023, at the historic Degas House. A representative from the French Consulate, along with members of the Council of French Societies in New Orleans, presented the monetary awards.

The event was not only a celebration of academic excellence but also an opportunity for cultural immersion. Students and their families savored the festive atmosphere, highlighted by the traditional bûche de Noël and an array of other treats. This gathering underscored the value of language studies and the cultural ties that enrich the educational experience at Jesuit.

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.