Sudden Inspiration: A Letter from a Friend

Posted on December 6, 2016 by admin

In the rush of running a lively boarding school for boys, it is easy to lose sight of the impact that our work brings to individuals and thereby to the world. When one lives every day with singing jugglers, monastic culture, an ongoing conversation about the highest things, and the constant support of friendship and the sacraments, it is easy to take even these blessings for granted. Every once in a while, however, something happens that brings the effect of our efforts dramatically to the fore—and it is always a humbling experience. Every now and again, I am reminded of the wonderful importance of our work, and often suddenly, through a conversation, a phone call, a reaction from people we meet on our adventures, or, in the case I would like to share with you, a letter.

Dear Mr. Fitzpatrick,

I am a retired accountant, educated in the public schools, 70 years old. I was raised in the Episcopal Church, from which I became estranged many years ago. I have not attended any church service in over 30 years.

I have been receiving your great newsletter, The Minstrel, for a couple of years now. I don’t remember how it first came to me, but it doesn’t really matter. You might ask, as I have asked myself, why a fallen-away 70-year old Protestant would contribute to a Catholic school for boys, 3,000 miles away. I read your newsletter carefully. It inspires me. As nothing else has in more than three decades, it makes me feel closer to God. I greatly admire your mission to turn boys into Godly, strong men. Our country very much needs Godly strong men. I read the letter from your founding Headmaster, Alan Hicks with his description of the elements of education at Gregory the Great, including “…Latin, poetry, music, Classical Logic, Rhetoric, the Great Books, rugby, the direct experience of nature…” That is the description of a classical education, something that is non-existent in the public schools, public universities and even many Catholic universities.

God bless you, your staff and your boys. Keep up the great work!

I received this letter recently from a man I do not know, but who knows us, and reminded me of who we are and what we are doing. I am deeply grateful to him for his acknowledgement, for his encouragement, and for his support—but especially because he told me how we have touched his life. It is a gift, perhaps even a grace.

The Great Guilds Program

Posted on November 20, 2016 by admin

Over the last four years, one of the more striking developments in the curriculum at Gregory the Great Academy has been the introduction of the great Guilds Program. On Thursday afternoons students and staff alike retire from the normal routine of academic study in order to pursue the development of artistic and craft oriented skills.

Teachers and staff members have been developing their own unique guilds according to their individual interests, hobbies, and talents. One staff member has equipped his classroom with the tools and materials of the traditional leather working trade. His students fashion books, wallets, belts and the like with elaborate designs and the insignia of boyhood pursuits. The school’s cook, who is also an accomplished painter, instructs his guild members in the principles of drawing and illustration through a disciplined series of exercises. Andrew Smith, the Academy’s artist in residence, alternates between a sculpture guild which focuses on clay modeling techniques and a printmaking guild. Another teacher is sharing his interest in the art of pysanka (the Ukrainian folk tradition of decorating eggs with elaborate, colorful designs) with a small group of students, while, at the same time, dorm father John Prezzia shares his expertise in the fundamentals of wrestling. The bush-craft guild, lead by another dorm father, David McMyne, teaches leadership and wilderness survival skills within the context of the great outdoors.

Students cycle through this broad array of guilds over the course of the academic year, spending six to eight weeks with each discipline, and, over the course of their time at the Academy, have the opportunity to explore at least a few guilds more than once.

Beyond being good in and of itself, the guild program gets at the core of the educational model that characterizes Gregory the Great Academy. That is, that students will come to know the good, the true, and the beautiful through exposure to teachers who are in love with their own disciplines and are committed to forming bonds of friendship with their students.

Experiencing the Feast of All Saints – 2016

Posted on November 7, 2016November 8, 2016 by admin

On November 1st the Church celebrates the Feast of All Saints. This solemn holy day, established more than twelve-hundred years ago, honors all of those who have finished the race and achieved the final goal: Heaven and life with God. Becoming aware of the liturgical calendar and the proper observation of feasts is part of the Saint Gregory’s educational experience. The Church provides her children with many beautiful reminders – both to feast and to fast – throughout the year. These special days in the calendar of the Church are there to nourish our spirits and to help us in our journey throughout this life.

The banquet began with grace during which Father Christopher blessed a special bread he baked for the feast. The traditional bread contained fruits and nuts, symbolizing the saints in the bread which represents the world. The bread began the main meal, after which Headmaster Sean Fitzpatrick gave a talk on sainthood and the Beatitudes.

As you can see in the pictures, the refectory was decorated by four beautiful banners, made by the four different classes at the school. Each banner was made in honor of a particular saint chosen by the individual classes. The seniors made a banner honoring Saint Joan of Arc, the Juniors’ banner commemorated Saint Augustine, the Sophomores chose Saint Michael, and the Freshmen selected Saint Maximilian Kolbe. During the evening, delegates from each class came to the podium to explain the imagery on their banner and to give a toast to their saint.

There were other forms of entertainment sprinkled throughout the evening. Mr. Stephen Fitzpatrick and senior John Paul Fitzmaurice performed a folk song, senior Daniel Weichert played some tunes on his uilleann pipes with Daniel Snyman accompanying on the guitar, and alumni Joe Long and Zach Bateman sang a few songs.

Overall the evening was extremely pleasant and a wonderful testament to joy and proper celebration. Thank you to our cook, Mr. Hastings, for spending so much time preparing the delicious meal. Thank you to Mr. Strong for organizing the banquet. And thank you to the Junior class for working the event and especially for cleaning up after it was over!

Freshmen Camping Trip

Posted on November 2, 2016November 3, 2016 by admin

A Camping Trip with the Freshmen

by Mr. McMyne.

On Monday October 17^th, Mr. John Prezzia and I embarked on a week-long excursion deep into the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York with the freshman class. After a five-hour drive and a two-hour hike in the dark lugging a canoe and two coolers, we arrived at our campsite where we would spend the next week relaxing, exploring, and learning different outdoor skills; or – as the old outdoorsman Nessmuk put it – smoothing over our typically rough and busy lives.

We brought no water filters and so we had to boil our water before drinking it. Unfortunately, the water still tasted very much like a pond. To remedy this, I taught Kevin Howerton how to build a primitive water filtration system. He constructed one (as you can see in one of the pictures) and it made our drinking water taste much better.

During the week I challenged any of the freshmen to a game of extended hide and seek. The rules were simple: the one hiding could go anywhere in the vast wilderness and was allotted a hiding time of one hour. Then I was allowed to seek him for three hours. James Smith took up the challenge but it only took me twenty-five minutes to find him hiding across the lake in the canoe. Better luck next time, James.

Unfortunately, the weather took a turn for the worse in the final few days of the trip. We experienced some rain and even snow! The rain was particularly heavy one evening and the lean-to over Christian Luther and Colby Robinson filled with water and collapsed, leaving them cold and wet. As my friends will tell you, I am a very deep sleeper under pretty much any condition so their cries of distress failed to wake me. It was a good thing that Mr. Prezzia was there to take care of them, giving them dry clothes and his sleeping bag.

The hike and canoe ride out were beautiful. It was snowing heavily but the views were incredible with the snow on water and tree, and the deep, beckoning silence over the land.

After it was over, I asked Leo Wagner how he liked the experience and he said: “Sir, I learned this week that the human body can handle a lot more than I previously thought!” I laughed and replied that this was supposed to be an easy week in the woods, learning about wilderness living. But Leo’s words made me reflect on an important truth when it comes to this world: God gives us what we need but not always what we want. We need to train ourselves instead always to want what He gives. Living in the silence and peace of the woods for a week can help do that.

We do not go to the green woods and crystal streams to rough it. We go to smooth it.

~George Washington Sears “Nessmuk”