FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Parents, Alumni, and Friends of Jesuit,
2 JESUIT PERSPECTIVES • WINTER 2020-21
The current issue of Perspectives
shines a light
on community service at
Jesuit, especially on those
students who have found creative
ways during the pandemic to
help others in need.
Throughout the school year we
have worked hard to keep things
as normal as possible, ensuring
that our students continue to
receive an outstanding education
and to have great opportunities
to develop their talents, become
strong leaders, and develop
long-lasting friendships. Naturally,
the possibilities for community
service, whether mission trips
or even local service projects,
have been restricted. Therefore,
it’s all the more wonderful to
see the generosity of certain
students in their willingness and
availability for service, and also
in their creativity in finding new
ways to help those in need.
In addition, the “holy boldness”
of the Jesuit Tigers illustrated in
this issue forcefully reminds all
of us that community service at
Jesuit is Christian service. It is a
means to serve others with the
love of Christ, and in serving
them, to bring Christ to them and
to bring them closer to Christ.
The effectiveness of service in
Christ cannot be measured by
the ordinary data used by economics
or sociology. Our community
service consists largely
of corporal works of mercy that
touch souls. The worth of that
service can only be measured by
God.
This perspective on the Christlike
service of those in need is
captured beautifully in the diary
of St. Peter Faber, one of the
first Jesuits and a most trusted
companion of St. Ignatius. In
his diary entry of November
13, 1548, he wrote, “I became
aware of another instruction
as I reflected on the feelings of
aversion commonly experienced
by those who do charitable work
with the sick, especially the sick
poor. These feelings are aroused
by the dangers of infection,
the poisonous odors, or other
harmful things likely to cause a
person to contract the same or
other illnesses. This taught me
that a person engaged in that
kind of service or in any other
kind of good work solely for the
sake of Christ should be ready
to lay down his life gladly at that
work in whatever place he may
find himself.” This lofty and even
radical perspective of St. Peter
Faber, beyond the powers of
most people, may nevertheless
encourage us all to go beyond
the natural tendency to make our
own well-being, contentment,
and self-satisfaction the goal of
community service.
Instead, like the young Jesuit
students featured in these pages,
we are always called to great
generosity and creativity in our
service, aware that in serving
them we serve for the sake of
Christ, who desires to meet
others in their need.
Yours In Christ,
Rev. Richard C. Hermes, S.J.
Rev. Richard C. Hermes, S.J.
President
JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL
PRESIDENT
Rev. Richard C. Hermes, S.J.
PRINCIPAL
Barry Neuburger
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
FOR ACADEMICS
Debra Pacheco
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
FOR DISCIPLINE
Mike Scicchitano ’01
ASSISTANT DISCIPLINARIAN
Brian Greenfield
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Nicholas Suszynski '98
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
Pete Young
Contributing Photographers:
Pete Young, Scott Purks, Mark Stine '15
Gigante Productions, Inc.
Contributing Writers:
Pete Young, Mark Stine '15
Perspectives is a magazine for and about
the students, alumni, parents, faculty, staff,
friends, and supporters of Jesuit High
School in Tampa, Fla. It is published three
times a year by Jesuit's Development
Office, in addition to an Annual Report.
E-mail or phone: Pete Young,
Communications Director,
communications@jesuittampa.org
813-877-5344 x. 705
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