Friends,
I hope you all had a merry Christmas and a bright, blessed New Year. This time of year presents us all with the opportunity for self-reflection as 2018 has drawn to a close. I'm grateful that discernment is at the very center of Jesuit education. Each new year gifts us with the chance to consider what we've done well over the past 365 days, and what we would like to improve in the days to come.
And so we turn over a new leaf and begin again this year. Our students, faculty, and staff have returned fresh and rested from a well-deserved break and life has returned to Morrissey Boulevard. Our dedicated young men have returned to their studies and a sense of enthusiasm particularly fills our seniors, who grow more excited with every college acceptance received. While many are anxious to find out where the next stage of life will take them, and everyone has begun looking toward spring, the Class of 2019 remains committed students who bring their very best to class each day. There are many exciting things in store for BC High in the new year, and as our Principal Search continues I encourage you to
visit this page
for the latest updates.
On behalf of everyone at BC High I wish you and your families the very best in 2019!
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A Wonderful Christmas Season
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Our Christmas season was full of so many celebrations and festivities thanks to our terrific performing arts groups. Kudos especially to the cast of the Arrupe musical,
A Christmas Carol, and Janet Petitbon, our Concert and Chamber Choirs with Dr. Marina Rozenberg, the Jazz Big Band, Chamber Orchestra, and Concert Band with Dr. Matthew Finnegan, and the Liturgical Musicians with Margaret Felice. These groups kept our community filled with light, music, and cheer throughout Advent and especially during the last day of school with performances throughout the day.
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Bill McCall '51 is passionate about Jesuit education and the impact it has had on his life. To inspire others and support the Jesuit-educated leaders of tomorrow Bill pledged to match every gift made to BC High up to $50,000 on December 27. Nearly 200 alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends answered that call. Because of your support our community was able to raise more than $100,000 for The Fund for BC High in just a single day. I am deeply grateful for Bill's inspirational generosity and for the support of everyone who joined the challenge. Your gifts help to shape our young men into leaders of conscience, competence, and compassion.
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Upcoming Alumni Receptions!
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The BC High alumni network is a powerful force for friendship and professional development. Whenever and wherever alumni meet, their passion and enthusiasm is palpable. Many years or many miles may separate you from Morrissey Boulevard, but we would love for you to join us at an upcoming event!
- 01/17/19 - Young Alumni Winter Sip n' Support: The Classes of 2007-2015 are invited to Brick & Beam Tavern for a reception from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Admission to this event is complimentary and includes shared appetizers and one drink ticket. Donations to the Fund for BC High are encouraged! To register visit this link.
- 01/22/19 - Los Angeles Alumni Reception: Join me and fellow BC High alumni for a reception at Sony Pictures Studios from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Special thanks to Fritz Friedman '68, President, The Fritz Friedman Co., for his assistance with this wonderful event! To register visit this link.
- 01/23/19 - San Francisco Alumni Reception: Calling all Bay Area alumni! Join me and Peter Chouinard '84 for a reception at Bluxome Street Winery from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. To register visit this link.
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The holidays are a time for welcome rest and relaxation, but I was also glad for the opportunity to share and celebrate our community! Here are just a few of my favorite memories encountering the BC High spirit in Boston and beyond:
- More than 75 BC High students, faculty, and staff volunteered at Christmas in the City. The event brings Christmas – dinner, gifts, and entertainment – to families experiencing homelessness. Our BC High volunteers helped operate an amusement park called Winter Wonderland that brought joy to many children. It was a truly special day.
- Patrick Kearney ’13 was sworn into the Massachusetts House of Representatives on January 2. I was thrilled to celebrate Patrick's accomplishment at the UMass Club with several of his classmates and fellow BC High alumni. We wish you the best!
- The Boy Scouts of America presented Nick Hajjar '19 with his commendation to Eagle Scout this week. I was honored to be in attendance and so proud of Nick and all our young men for their community involvement.
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BC High Celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King
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On Friday, January 18 our community will celebrate our 21st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Service. We welcome you to join us for a pre-service coffee reception at 8:00 a.m. in Cadigan Lecture Hall hosted by our CASA Parent Group and BLSU students.
The prayer service at 9:00 a.m. in McNeice Pavilion will feature ministry from Rev. Atty. Rahsaan D. Hall,
Director of Racial Justice Program, ACLU of Massachusetts and music by Soloist Paul White. We're also proud to have Alberto Vasallo III '85, President and CEO of El Mundo Newspaper, television producer and host, in attendance as our honorary alumnus and speaker.
If you are interested in attending please email Mike O'Brien, Senior Director of Alumni Engagement, at
mobrien@bchigh.edu. We hope you can join us!
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The Class of 2019 is Flying High
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If you stop outside the BC High Guidance Office you'll see a maroon wall quickly being swallowed up by miniature neon pennants. Each pennant represents an acceptance that students from that Class of 2019 have received from colleges and universities around the country! We have so much fun watching the display grow day by day.
As each new pennant is added I hope it serves as a physical reminder to our seniors and underclassmen of the rewards for their hard work and dedication. Each acceptance speaks to the commitment of our young men and the self-reflection they must practice in discerning their future.
Some notable acceptances to date include:
- Harvard University
- College of the Holy Cross
- Wesleyan University
- University of Chicago
- Georgetown University
- Boston College
- Boston University
- Providence College
- Wake Forest University
- Santa Clara University
And many, many more... Keep and eye on social media as we celebrate our seniors and their acceptances!
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Remembering Rev. Larry Corcoran, SJ
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I'm deeply sad to announce that beloved former BC High faculty member and coach Rev. Larry Corcoran, SJ passed to eternal life at Campion Center this weekend at the age of 86. In the words of Mike McGonagle '70, Larry was "deeply spiritual, widely read and blessed with a mischievous wit, he was revered by students, runners, and colleagues alike."
He brought such a tenacious love of poetry and literature into the classroom - it's not surprising that many of his former pupils have become wonderful teachers and writers. Alumni who knew Father Corcoran have been sharing their favorite "Word of the Day" memories in person and across social media. That tradition lives on at BC High to this very day with faculty who inspire the next generation to expand their vocabulary.
Notes of condolence to Fr. Larry's brother Francis (Frank) X. Corcoran are welcome. They may be sent to 110 Audubon Drive Acton, MA 01720-4256.
“Because I could not stop for Death – / He kindly stopped for me – / The Carriage held but just Ourselves – / And Immortality.”
- Emily Dickenson
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Back to the Point Podcast: Ryan Walls '04
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Tune in to the Back to the Point podcast as Rick Goulding '04 sits down to chat with his classmate, Ryan Walls '04, who is a writer and producer on ABC's 'Modern Family.' They discuss the process of writing the show, what it's like to have your ideas bomb in a writer's room, how Ryan got involved at BC High, and a lot more! Subscribe and listen now on
iTunes or
SoundCloud.
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| Boston College High School | 617.474.5001 | www.bchigh.edu
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