#LasallianLife
Open Jar
September 15, 2023
During a General Audience in June, Pope Francis offered the following reflection:
“A missionary is anyone who lives as an instrument of God's love where they are. Missionaries are those who do everything so that, through their witness, their prayer, their intercession, Jesus might pass by.”
This reflection left me with a lingering question: How do we reflect God’s love where we are?
This past summer, two current students and a graduate from this past spring traveled to the heart of New York City’s Theatre District to attend a weeklong performing arts program called “Open Jar.” Throughout the week, sophomore Lily Barrett, senior Sofia Santa Ines, and 2023 graduate Kai Glavin immersed themselves in masterclasses led by some of Broadway’s best vocal coaches, acting teachers, and choreographers.
Each year, “Open Jar” visits our CBA campus and teaches a masterclass to all of our performing arts students. At the end of this past summer’s program, one of our parents inquisitively asked the program director, Sue Teater, “There are enormous schools with huge theater programs, how did you ever choose a small Catholic school in Upstate New York to partner with?” Ms. Teater responded with a simple, yet sincere, answer: “CBA Syracuse students are kind. We seek out students and schools who share our values.” She then passionately shared the following story:
"One afternoon, we were holding a workshop for CBA students in the main gymnasium. The gym was packed with student performers who were engaged, attentive, enthusiastic… and kind. Midway through the lesson, the entire football team walked into the gym. Strikingly, many joined in! Others watched politely and cheered passionately. They were ALL notably kind."
We instill in our students a responsibility to be “Saints in the moment.” There are opportunities in each moment of our lives to share gifts of love and kindness. As Lasallians we seek to be watchful and attentive for these moments - responding to the needs around us. Being a missionary does not necessitate a geographical movement but always requires a movement from the intent of our heart to action in our life. Pope Francis remarked, “Let us note: not only those who are canonized, but the saints ‘next door’, so to speak, those who, by the grace of God, strive to practice the Gospel in their everyday lives. Among these saints we also find ourselves; perhaps someone in our family or among friends and acquaintances.”
Our Lasallian mission is founded and fortified by the keystone belief that each person is created in God’s image and blessed with unique gifts and talents. While we help every student develop their talents in academics, the arts, and athletics, we also strive to reveal each student's intrinsic goodness. Each day, we seek to remind our students that their greatest gift is sharing God’s love and kindness - being “Saints in the moment.”
Whether it is students like Kai, Sofia, and Lily representing the core values of our community, or an athletic team seizing an opportunity of virtue, may the upcoming year continue to yield moments of grace where the innate goodness and blessings within each student shine! Let us be instruments of God’s love “where we are.”
Sincerely,
Mr. Matthew Keough
President, Christian Brothers Academy
