Senior Roland Waguespack prays in front of Jesuit’s St. Joseph Altar located in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs. Tracing its tradition to old Sicily, the devotional practice of decorating an altar of St. Joseph made its way into the customs of the Crescent City. St. Joseph’s altars can be found in churches and schools across the New Orleans area and are traditionally celebrated each year on the feast of St. Joseph. For more information about St. Joseph Altars you can read about the practice on the Archdiocese of New Orleans website.

While they were preparing for this week’s exams, Blue Jays took a few minutes to prepare their March Madness brackets as well with art teacher Meg Jennings and basketball coach Christopher Jennings ’79. The entry fees for the March Madness brackets went to the mission drive, which this is supporting a Jesuit apostolate in Texas. Photo by senior Nolan Clark.

John Kling ’17, Jake Keubel ’18, and Ridge Retif ’19 weigh in on Jesuit’s student-run podcast, Ten Minute Break, hosted by seniors Roland Waguespack, Killian Lyon, and Patrick Dowd. These three alumni teachers are currently participating in Jesuit’s Alumni Service Corps, a special program that gives Blue Jay alumni the opportunity to devote a year of their lives to their alma mater between completing college and moving on to graduate school or a career. The volunteer program is founded on the four components of service, community, simplicity, and spirituality.

Senior Eddy Boudreaux helped famed pizza chef Ms. Angie cook up a special Valentine’s Day surprise for the Blue Jays. The pizza line is always a popular pick, but today’s slices had a little extra topping of love thanks to the heart-shaped pizza. 

This morning, Blue Jays in Jason Templet’s class heard from Gary Carroll ’91, a special agent with the U.S. Department of State. The discussion focused on the nature of the department’s work as well as Carroll’s international experience on various diplomatic missions around the globe. While Carroll and his family have lived in many places around the world, today he and his son, freshman Grant Carroll, found themselves together in room 229 on Carrollton & Banks.

Led by Scott Delatte ’06 and Susan deBoisblanc—and accompanied by scholastic Jeff Miraflor, S.J.—Jesuit students made a pilgrimage this week to our nation’s capital to support the cause for life. The trip is an annual tradition for Jesuit students and faculty members.

Win Schibler ’21 recently contributed to Tulane University’s Cotton Bowl victory. The team closed out the nail-biter against Southern California with a last-minute reception that brought the final score to 46-45. “I am very grateful for all of the support,” said Schibler before following up with, “As always, go Jays and roll wave!”

John Tobler, Deputy Secretary for Communications, Outreach and Promotions for the Louisiana Secretary of State and father of Jacob Tobler ’23, spoke to a standing-room-only crowd of Jesuit civics students during lunch on Friday, November 11. Tobler focused on the topic of election security.

On the first floor of the Madonna Della Strada Building, a special display contains a cross found inside the tomb of Jesuit’s founder, Fr. Jean Baptiste Maisounabe, S.J. He was buried alongside Fr. Joseph Soller, S.J., a preacher and pastoral minister, and Fr. George Blackney, S.J., a teacher and renowned preacher.

From local sports historian Derby Gisclair: “These intrepid lads are the 1918 Jesuit High School baseball team from New Orleans. Somehow, they managed to get in the full season without succumbing to the Spanish Flu epidemic. I located a couple of old box scores which list the last names of some of the players (in no relation to how they are shown in the photo); Kehoe (left field), Hart (centerfield), Montgomery (first base), Jung (catcher), Gately (shortstop), Mack (second base), Bernard (third base), Bolten (right field), Perrin (pitcher).”

With football season picking up, this pocket football schedule from 1953 calls to mind the long legacy of success of all of Jesuit’s athletic and co-curricular programs. Make sure to get out to a football event, cross country meet, or swim meet this fall to support fall sports on Carrollton & Banks.

Gizzard Merch is back! Get ready for fall sports season and get your Gizzard starter pack in the commons Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Starter packs are $25 and include t-shirt, headband, towel, and eye-blue. After Wednesday, Gizzard Merch will be sold out of the Blue Jay Shop.

To cap off the first full week of school of the 2022-2023 school year, big and little brothers enjoy a jambalaya lunch in Jesuit’s Traditions Courtyard. Not even the heat could keep these Jays from participating in the delicious tradition as pre-freshmen and upperclassmen rushed out of their fourth period classes to take part just like so many alumni did in years past. This event would not have been possible without the Class of 1993 who cooked and served the students throughout the lunch period.  

Pre-freshman Declan Womack, along with his classmates, processes toward his first class in a Jesuit uniform following the inaugural assembly in the Traditions Courtyard. The faculty and staff excitedly welcome everyone back to campus and cannot wait to see what joyous memories this year will create for students and teachers alike. 

Alumni Service Core members John Kling ’17 and Ridge Retif ’19 listen to assistant to the president for mission Jeremy Reuther ’01 lead an activity for new faculty on August 5. The new faculty members have been progressing through an introductory course to get comfortable on Carrollton & Banks in anticipation of the first day of school on August 11. Jesuit cannot wait to welcome another academic year in the coming days. 

Tyler Autin (Executive Aide), Andrew Newell (Executive Aide), Jacques Broussard (Executive Aide), Aidan Couvillon (Treasurer), Jack Lo (Senior Class President), Roland Waguespack (President), Will Sheridan (Vice President), Hollis McDaniel (Secretary), Luke Couret (Junior Class President) pose for a picture before starting their annual retreat. Each year, the Jesuit Student Council Executive Board embarks on a retreat where the board aims to grow in cohesion and plan major tasks for the upcoming school year like Welcome Week, Back to School Dance, and Rivalry Pep Rally. On Friday they met at Jesuit for a brief orientation and mass with new Jesuit Chaplain Fr. Jon Polce, S.J., before setting off for the Waguespack Farmhouse.