3 minute read
One Community, One Prep
Anyone who knows me, even just casually, knows of my affection for our institution. And I know I am not alone in my love of “The Prep.” So many of us have the same, inherent affinity. But I often wondered, what is it that so captivates us? Why do I feel compelled to stop someone in their tracks to say hi, just because they’re wearing Prep swag? Recently, it hit me: togetherness. Despite our varied backgrounds before entering Prep, and the different paths we have taken upon leaving, it is that inclination, that drive, to always welcome one another that makes us unique. It makes us great.
Being a member of the Prep community brings us all together. Alumni, current students, faculty, staff, parents— we are all one. Our togetherness begins on our first day as “frosh” (or for some, at HAP), but it doesn’t end at graduation. It endures forever. Importantly, our togetherness is not limited to those from our own time at Prep; it transcends generations. To borrow a line from the movie, Jerry Maguire, “you had me at Saint Peter’s Prep.” Mention Prep, and you’re in! Togetherness is also the only rational explanation for the sustained involvement of so many. Alumni from as far back as the 1940s and ’50s continue to have a profound impact on Prep. This is in addition to the countless small, yet important, interactions that happen every day amongst our community.
Tony Azzarto, S.J. embodied the spirit of togetherness. He always drew us in, not just to him, or to Prep, but to one another. Prep on the Road with Fr. Azzarto was a unique way to bring us together, with a host opening their home to celebrate mass with any and all members of the Prep community. I’ll never forget the first time I attended a Prep on the Road mass at the home of Mary and Don McLaughlin, ’58. One could not help but feel part of something bigger. Tony also fostered a sense of togetherness with his cards and letters (although mostly illegible!), not to mention the many photos he sent out after every event. He even begrudgingly “allowed” Prep to celebrate his 80th birthday, bringing hundreds from the Prep community together. And sadly, but proudly, we came together once again to celebrate his life when he passed in April.
Another beacon of Prep togetherness is my predecessor, Phil McGovern, ’76, P’11, who served as Chair of the Board of Trustees for the past eleven years. We are all indebted to Phil for the care, counsel, and leadership he provided, and will continue to provide, as he remains on as Prep’s legal counsel. I know no better example of a Prep legend than Phil. Thank you!
Our togetherness is far-reaching, much broader than Grand & Warren. This is what I believe the Jesuit ideal of being “men and women for others” means—to make the world feel smaller to those we come into contact with—to be together. As I begin my journey as the new Chair of the Board of Trustees, the theme of togetherness will guide me. We are all one community, one Prep. I couldn’t be more excited and honored to be in this position. Go Prep!
