Faith, Fellowship, and Some Holiday Fun

St. Augustine wrote City of God over the course of 14 years between 412 and 426. Although this historical, theological, and philosophical treatise is nearly 1,600 years old, its teachings are timeless. Just before the Thanksgiving break, I returned from a trip to Walt Disney World with the Class of 2023. This class trip is an annual rite of passage – a pilgrimage of sorts and capstone experience for the graduating class that created memories that will last a lifetime.

While I doubt St. Augustine was thinking about senior class trips when he wrote City of God, I suspect he was thinking about healthy social interactions that strengthen our relationship with God and neighbor. An Austin Prep education is about forming the whole student and class trips such as these provide lessons not found in any book or classroom. The trip, like so many other experiences, is part of the unwritten curriculum that creates an education for a lifetime.

The annual Senior Class trip to Disney kicks off the busy season of Thanksgiving and Christmas. December, in particular, is a month filled with Austin Prep traditions – door decorating, our rendition of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, and Lessons and Carols to name a few. A centuries-old tradition, Lessons and Carols is a heartwarming journey that foretells the prophecy of the birth of Christ through scripture and song, including Christmas carols that we all know and love to sing.

Austin Prep’s annual and sometimes unconventional performance of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker has been an uninterrupted tradition under the direction of Art and Design Faculty Chair Marla Pascucci-Byrne P’26 for nearly 30 years. This year, the performance was held at the Collins Center and it was the best one to date!

The last few weeks have been bursting with activities grounded in faith, fellowship, and some holiday fun. The Office of Communications pulled together some images and videos that bring to life the Augustinian keystones of veritas, unitas, and caritas. The images capture Austin Prep’s Christmas spirit through the Feast of the Immaculate Conception Mass, Lessons and Carols, The Nutcracker, supporting families in need in partnership with St. Mary of the Assumption in Lawrence, the Parent Association Signature Event, the Baseball and Girls Ice Hockey Teams receiving their championship rings and induction into the Head’s Medallion Fellowship, the Football and Cheerleading Teams at Fenway Park, the Head of School’s Christmas Open House for the Class of 2023, and other festive holiday events.

Right after Christmas, I’ll be traveling to Rome with Austin Prep’s Choir and I look forward to sharing photos and videos when I return. There are more than 90 members of the Austin Prep family traveling on this pilgrimage, which includes a public concert for the citizens of Rome and an audience with the Holy Father.

May the Christ Child be welcomed into your hearts and homes as you gather in the coming days to celebrate the gift of His birth. Merry Christmas and blessings for the New Year!