S T. S E BA S T I AN ’S M

Features

16 Our Year of Wisdom

Headmaster Burke’s remarks on “Wisdom,” the one-word theme for the academic year

24 Blessing the Oratory

The School community gathers to bless St. Sebastian’s new outdoor worship site

28 Dedication of the Burke Family Center

A day of festivities celebrate the official naming of the West Campus Center on September 22

44 Henry T. Lane Memorial Mass & Rink Rededication

The Lane Family and friends of Arrows hockey celebrate Henry’s legacy and the renovated rink

24 Blessing of the Oratory

St. Sebastian’s School Mission Statement

A Catholic independent school, St. Sebastian’s seeks to engage young men in the pursuit of truth through faith and reason. By embracing Gospel values in an inclusive, nurturing community and by inspiring intellectual excellence in a structured liberal arts curriculum, St. Sebastian’s strives to empower students for success in college and in life. The ideal St. Sebastian’s graduate will be a moral and just person, a gentleman of courage, honor, and wisdom, a life-long learner who continues to grow in his capacity to know, to love, and to serve God and neighbor.

Headmaster

William L. Burke, III P’95,’97,’00,’04, GP’23

Assistant Headmaster

Michael P. Nerbonne

Director of Advancement

Richard F. Arms P’14

Editor and Designer

Christine Y. Robertson, Director of Communications

Principal Photographer Brett Crawford, Visual Media Coordinator

Contributors

Allie Colgan, Communications Associate

Editorial Advisor

Michael Deschenes, Director of Library & Information Services

St. Sebastian’s Magazine is published two times a year by the Communications Office.

Correspondence concerning the magazine should be sent to: communications@stsebs.org

St. Sebastian’s School 1191 Greendale Avenue Needham, MA 02492 781.449.5200 www.stsebs.org

COVER:

Headmaster Bill Burke with his wife, Patty, and four sons, Dan ’97, Will ’95, Matt ’00 and Sam ’04, at the dedication of the Burke Family Center on September 22, 2022.

INSIDE COVER:

The main entrance to the Burke Family Center glowing at night.

From

The

desk of the headmaster

William L. Burke III

We Are One

When chatting with outstanding English teacher, Dean Adams, the other day, I was struck by a poster on his classroom wall depicting one of my heroes, Frederick Douglass. Beneath the image of this great man are these stirring words: The Soul that is within me No man can degrade.

As I let that message sink in, C.S. Lewis’s memorable assertion came to mind: Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses.

When we rightly regard every person as a gift from God endowed with a soul made for eternity, we realize that we walk on hallowed ground. We are inspired anew to hold sacred our relationships, and we grow in our resolve to love God, to work hard, and to take good care of one another.

Every October, during our Admissions Open House program, we promise prospective families that our students will be known and loved and called to greatness by great people. Happily, before the year is out, so many of our new family members tell us that we overdeliver on our promise.

In our mission statement, we proclaim that ours is an inclusive, nurturing community All are welcome here. We are one. If you doubt this reality, please visit our Chapel some morning and listen to our young men pray for one another and applaud one another and watch them embrace one another at the sign of peace as they strengthen the bonds of their brotherhood.

In his Chapel speech this week, one of our 9th graders, in celebrating the beauty and truth of his St. Sebastian’s experience, asserted: No one is excluded.

Clearly, our culture is one of unity and harmony. And it is the responsibility of every student, every family member, every faculty member, every staff member, every alumnus, every trustee, and every friend to welcome, to include, and to uplift one another.

I thank you all for all that you do to advance the most important mission of your most grateful School.

May we connect soon and often, and may God continue to bless you and your loved ones every sacred step of the way.

With love and gratitude,

William L. Burke III Headmaster