Dear Friends,

Greetings from Prep! As the cover of this Prep Today so elegantly captures, we ended our winter season with the resounding exclamation of Fairfield Prep’s 19th Hockey State Championship. The sense of community at that game was electric and a decisive reminder of the power of Prep’s remarkable brotherhood. Congratulations to newly minted Head Coach Vin O’Hara ’01, to his staff, and to the boys in their first season together. Hail Fairfield!

State championships always make the headlines, as well they should. However, what you can only read in the fine print is that, a few short days following the hockey championship, three varsity hockey seniors climbed on a bus to lead our final Kairos retreat of the year. As the fight song reminds us, “Fairfield men are never done!” I am so terribly proud of the way our young men, especially the Class of 2023, continue to live the full witness of what it means to be a Prep man for others in the Jesuit tradition.

While Fairfield men are never done, there are natural beginnings and endings to the chapters of every journey at Prep. This year we will bid a fond farewell to two giants of Fairfield Prep, Dr. Donna Andrade and Mr. Robert “Bob” Ford, Jr. For my part, I will simply offer that my own life as an Ignatian educator and Prep Dad have been profoundly impacted by Donna Andrade and Bob Ford, Jr. Donna has been a mentor, counselor, and friend beyond compare to me and hundreds of Prep faculty, along with thousands of our young men, who have had their lives changed by her fierce intellect, her impeccably high standards, and her boundless compassion. Donna was a trailblazer in every aspect of her Ignatian vocation and her lifelong contributions are never to be repeated at Prep or in the national and global Jesuit Schools Network.

Bob Ford, Jr. was one of the first faculty members I ever met at Prep. I knew immediately that he represented the “great generation” of Prep teachers. His wry wit and keen intellect have long been a tonic for veterans and new faculty alike. As a parent, I owe Bob a debt of gratitude for his unmatched skill as a motivator and cross-country coach to hundreds of our sons. Bob’s legendary coaching career, the majority of which was assisted by his beloved father “Ford Senior,” is one of the most indelible athletic legacies at Prep. Bob leaves us at the peak of his game, as coach, teacher and avid outdoorsman and traveler. To Donna Andrade and Bob Ford, Jr., for over eighty years of combined service, I say well done good and faithful servants. Prep is profoundly better for your contributions, and you will be sorely missed. God bless you!

As prompted by Father Ignatius, I am filled daily with gratitude at the myriad ways in which our young men, our faculty, coaches, mentors, and staff give selflessly to our mission. I am equally humbled and filled with awe at the resounding support given by our parents, past parents, and our alumni brothers. Prep is strong today because of this remarkable spirit of excellence, generosity, and philanthropy.

We continue to garner remarkable support for “Be Ignited! The Strategic Plan for Fairfield Prep.” Since last year at this time, we have secured philanthropic support in direct gifts and bequests of over $15 million toward our strategic objectives, led prominently by our Prep alumni and friends. In Jesuit life, we call this spirit of generosity the Magis, which comes from the Latin for “the more,” or “the greater,” as in the greater glory of God!

My heart is overflowing for the graces we all share in our life at Prep. Thank you for continuing to shower your prayers and support on Prep’s vital mission. May God continue to direct all our thoughts and actions to the greater glory of God and God’s people most in need. Go Prep!

+AMDG

In peace, Christian

J. Cashman, P’15, ’23 President