Pride in Who We Are

Dear Parents, Friends and Sons of Xavier:

Reading this edition of Xavier Magazine, I found myself overwhelmed with pride. Pride in who we are. Pride in what we do. Pride in how the mission of Xavier is given life on 16th Street in, for and by our students. Pride in how that mission is given life beyond 16th Street in, for and by our alumni and their families. Each page is great. Every story a chance to encounter God at work in us and in the world. Stories of the goodness of humanity even in the midst of difficulty and struggle. Stories as close to home as Manhattan and as far away as Warsaw. I am delighted to share this magazine with you.

Xavier Magazine has several purposes. We want to share the good news of Xavier. We want to keep the community connected and informed. Most of all we want to advance the mission by educating and encouraging, by sharing stories of the mission alive in our community. Those stories abound. They are examples to inspire us all. In any magazine we can offer but a glimpse of the breadth and depth of Xavier, but what a glimpse this is!

The story of Xavier’s Sons in the New York Fire and Police Departments is a moving testament to public service. These are thoughtful, smart, dedicated public servants. The city is better and stronger the longest article ever to appear in Xavier Magazine. Shawna Gallagher Vega did an outstanding job crafting the article from many interviews. The profile of Michael Sheehan ’69 and the wonderful adventure of his life is another compelling piece of her writing. because of them. The men highlighted in these pages are but a glimpse of the many Sons of Xavier in law enforcement—FBI, Secret Service, DEA, ATF, Treasury, Port Authority and police jurisdictions across the country. And there are the firemen, EMTs, paramedics and others in public service beyond the borders of the city. This feature is a tribute to them all. This may well be

From News from 16th Street to Class Notes, we see the wonder and goodness of God made real in teachers and students, fathers and sons and their families. We celebrate the arts (writing operas, acting on Broadway, the art teaching of two distinguished alums and their mentor); we explore new disciplines in new spaces; we celebrate promotions as we recognize Xavier’s newest generals, Bernard Harrington ’93 and Vance Kuhner ’90 P’24. (Both proudly returned to Xavier for their promotion ceremonies.) We share news of Jim Young ’89 and his great work in Poland supporting Ukrainian refugees. We celebrate milestones, and we remember our dead.

I hope you will read each and every word of the magazine, and as you do, I hope you feel the pride in Xavier that I feel. Pride made real in the lives you, the Sons of Xavier, live. Our mission statement closes with the words, “Ultimately, Xavier forms young men who will go forth to transform the world for God’s greater glory.” The stories in this magazine make that very clear. To God be the glory.

Keep living the mission. Keep writing your story. Your story will always be part of the Xavier story. Continue to share those stories with us. I hope to see you on the Xavier Summer Tour. Happy summer. Be assured of my prayers.