Feast Cements Foundation of Community
August 5, 2009
On July 31, the Jesuit community -- both at Georgetown and worldwide -- celebrated the annual Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola Mass to honor the traditions held by the Society of Jesus, the work the order does and the future of the brotherhood.
The Georgetown community gathered in Dahlgren Chapel of the Sacred Heart for the Friday afternoon Mass. The celebration is a special day for Jesuits, and for those who espouse Ignatian principles, notes the Rev. Philip Boroughs, S.J., vice president of mission and ministry.
"For Jesuits and our colleagues this day gives us a reason to gather and enjoy who we are becoming within this tradition," Boroughs explains. "Around the world at other Jesuit schools and institutions people like us are working together to promote spiritual growth, community development and social justice. And as people who generally work very hard, having a great excuse to celebrate life is always a good thing!"
For one Georgetown Jesuit, this year marked the first time he celebrated the founder’s Mass on campus. Though the Rev. Patrick Rogers, S.J. has been a part of the Georgetown community for the past four years, he was traveling during recent Feast of St. Ignatius Masses. Staying on the Hilltop this year meant Rogers also could attend a later Mass held at nearby Holy Trinity Church just for members of the Society of Jesus from Washington, Maryland and northern Virginia.
"What I love about the Feast of St. Ignatius is that it brings all of the local Jesuits together," says the director of Main Campus Ministry, "and I get to see people I don’t see everyday. It’s very much like a family reunion."
