The Most Reverend Richard G. Henning speaks to the “personal” nature of Jesus’s ministry
At Wednesday morning’s all-school Mass inside the Dianne and Ray Carey ’67 Field House at the Leo and Joan Mahoney Wellness Center, special celebrant and Archbishop Richard G. Henning, S.T.D., D.D. plainly told Prep students that they “possess the power of God, which is the truth of love and the truth of Jesus Christ.” The occasion formally celebrated Catholic Schools Week as part of a 51-year tradition to offer the prayers of the Mass, a ritual at the center of what it means to be a Catholic school.
“Our Catholic faith is a personal faith,” added Archbishop Henning, appointed by Pope Francis and installed in October of 2024. “We see this in Jesus’s ministry. He does not come at the head of an army. He’s not a man of wealth or influence. He’s born into poverty. What you see in his ministry is his gift of himself for others. He desires to be with us and to strengthen us to see in him not only the revelation of God, but the truth that you and I were made to be in the image and likeness of God.”
Throughout this week, nearly 6,000 Catholic schools across the country are sharing in a time of reflection upon the transformative nature of an inclusive, Xaverian, Catholic education, including how we can live in service of the values set out in the Gospels as well as our call to be active participants in our School and our world. Father Jim Ronan ’62 presided at the Mass with seminarians Joe Jasinski ’06 and Alex Charow ’12 along with Deacon Tom O'Shea ’79 serving as attendants.
This week-long pause for reflection explores the essence of what it means to be a Catholic school: Seeking and finding opportunities to step outside our comfort zone and make others feel seen, valued, and loved. In his remarks, Head of School Ed Hardiman P’19 ’21 ’26 underscored the convergence of faith and scholarly demands at the heart of his own Catholic education.
“I’ve been part of a Catholic school community since 1975 when I started first grade,” said Head of School Ed Hardiman P’19 ’21 ’26. “My faith was integrated into that journey of learning and journey of becoming. My faith-based education has challenged me academically and called me beyond myself to soup kitchens in Boston, to the barrios of Duran, Ecuador, and the rural poverty of Native American reservations in South Dakota as well as the poverty of Central Appalachia. In each of these experiences I have encountered faith, hope, and love.
“These virtues were expressed by the people we accompanied in these experiences, by my teachers, and my classmates,” he continued. “They shaped not only what I learned, but who I was becoming. To be an authentic servant leader who influences every situation we encounter for the good of others, we need to embody those values.”
Dr. Hardiman also used the opportunity to publicly thank St. John’s faculty and staff in addition to recognizing attendees Bro. Bob Green, C.F.X ’65 and Brother David Mahoney, C.F.X. ’66 of Xaverian House. The event coincided with the Church’s Feast Day of St. Thomas Aquinas.
The 10th bishop and seventh archbishop of the Archdiocese of Boston, Archbishop Henning closed his homily with a call to action for Prep students.
“As young as you may be, you possess the power of God, which is the truth of love, the truth of Jesus Christ. You can practice and live by that power in the here and now. Let that change you and let that give you life.”
THE ROOTS OF GOOD
Catholic Schools Week also serves as a platform to celebrate moments of servant leadership as the St. John’s community continues to embrace the call to seek out situations in our day-to-day lives where we can make a positive impact on others. This school year, there are many examples of how students, faculty, and staff have sought out experiences that use their own gifts and talents as a way to improve the world around us.
As part of a tradition amongst the Middle and High School Religious Studies Departments, juniors and seniors are leading grade 8 students on a themed scavenger hunt where they will explore different corners of campus this week in search of elements that flow from the School’s inclusive, Catholic, and Xaverian identity. Not only does this search encourage cross-grade collaboration, but it also deepens students’ appreciation for those sacred spaces and symbols that define our community.
In the same vein, the recent renovations to the chapel that took place in 2025 serves to modernize the founders’ original vision: a warm and welcoming space for members of the Prep community, grounded in Catholic faith. This effort to develop the sanctuary into a space befitting its history and importance was spearheaded by Fr. Ronan, the School’s chaplain.
Also in the run-up to Catholic Schools Week, the School’s oldest middle schoolers explored different topics in environmental and climate science as part of the Catholic call to care for creation and all life with whom we share a home. The projects highlighted the impacts of climate change on our globally interconnected community.