Blessing the Oratory

On Friday, November 4, the entire school community gathered to bless the Oratory, St. Sebastian’s new outdoor worship site located adjacent to the Burke Family Center.

Designed by our architect, Rob Olson P’15,’18, the Oratory features a gorgeous statue of The Blessed Mother holding the Christ Child, sculpted from marble in Italy by Steve Shaheen, and a stone wall built by Jim Schmidlein and the other gifted, hardworking artisans of Architectural Paving & Stone of Weymouth. This beautiful space was made possible by funds raised from the 2021 Christmas Auction. Thanks in large measure to the leadership of then Guild President, Julie Mulvey P’17,’21,’26, and Auction Co-chairs, Grace White P’18,’22 and Susan Weiss P’23, the necessary funds were raised in a matter of moments during “Raise the Paddle” and we are beyond grateful to the many parents, alumni, trustees, and friends who gave so generously to this inspiring project.

The idea of the Oratory had long been in Headmaster Burke’s head and in his heart. In late August of 2007, Eric Ward ’09, a rising St. Sebastian’s junior, died in an automobile accident in his hometown of Medfield. After learning of Erik’s death, Arrows studying at the University of Notre Dame gathered at its famous Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes to pray for him, his family and friends and their beloved St. Sebastian’s School. Their response in this moment of tragedy, and the special place where they grieved together, inspired Headmaster Burke’s dream of creating an outdoor worship site on St. Sebastian’s campus. Notre Dame’s Grotto replicates on a one-seventh scale the famed French shrine in Lourdes, where Holy Mary, mother of God appeared to Saint Bernadette. Fittingly, a stone brought back from a pilgrimage to Lourdes by science teacher John Ryan and five Arrows this past summer is placed in the wall of The Oratory.

With the vision finally turned into reality, the blessing of the Oratory was a momentous and moving occasion for St. Sebastian’s. As the student body, faculty and staff surrounded the site and watched from above on the balcony outside of Martin Hall, Fr. John delivered beautiful words of scripture and prayer, calling on “all who gaze upon this sculpted image to be moved to know and embrace the reality it represents.” During his remarks, Headmaster Burke encouraged members of the school community to visit whenever compelled. “A place open to the heavens 24/7. No need to unlock the Church or the Chapel. This Oratory, this holy site, is now and ever shall be accessible to all. Individuals and groups can come here to pray, to meditate, to worship. Before and after tests and performances and games. You name it. Any time is a great time, the right time to pray, to pray without ceasing. And what a place to pray, on this hill above the waters of the Charles River!”

Joining in the blessing were Jim and Peggy McDonough, loving parents of their only child, James P. McDonough ’05, who tragically died in an accident in 2011. The McDonoughs have long shared the dream of this worship site with a memorial to their son and have given generously of their prayers and of their resources to support this project. The plaque, integrated into the stone wall, reads: “In Loving Memory of James P. McDonough, Class of 2005, A True Arrow of Passion and Grace.” During his remarks, Headmaster Burke remembered James as “a high energy, happy, multi-talented, deep-thinking, deep-feeling, kind and giving, lovable and loving gift to our world. He loved St. Sebastian’s and he loved life, and made sure everyone around him did, too. May we all strive to live our lives as James lived his, exuding and inspiring the good, the true, and the beautiful, each of us resolving to become ever more fully ‘A true Arrow of Passion and Grace.’”

In this community of spiritual depth, the Oratory is the perfect new addition to our campus—a sacred space open to every member of our St. Sebastian’s family, at any hour every day of the year.