REFLECTIONS

The Way of the Spirit of  Xavier

Fr. Ismael Zuloaga, SJ

Posted Thursday, 15-Jun-2006 8:04 AM   

     Believe it or not, the Xavier Alumni are gradually taking over and renewing Xavier and that is very good news, full of hope for the future.  An example, Gary Garcia, batch 79 just came into my office to tell me to please write up a column for 64 Xavier Street.  Fr. Zuloaga his former School Director gladly obeys him.

     We all want to make our Golden Jubilee Celebration (2006-2007) successful in the Xavier way.  The way of the Spirit of Xavier.

     It starts with Francis Xavier dying in Sancian, China.  Matteo Ricci and Hsu Kuang Chi incarnating the Xavier Spirit into the civic and scholarly life of China.  Then, years later, Fr. Desautels, Fr. Pineau, Fr. Papilla, Fr. Cortina, so different but so one in the Xavier Spirit. 

     Today we are looking for Exemplary Alumni with the Xavier Spark.  The celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Xavier School intends to reach the whole Xavier family and spread the Xavier Spirit.  After the Jubilee, Alumni, Parents, Staff, Students will blow the Xavier spirit and turn it into an irresistible fire.

     There are many aspects of this Xavier Spirit that can be considered, let me consider just one, but very basic for us.

     Xavier School cannot be “a school for the rich only”.  We have to extend our student population to include a substantial number of the students who come from the lower financial bracket.  Social solidarity has to be lived within the school too.

     We are now in a proactive search for scholars.  We have been in touch with the Federation, with the Family Associations, with the Fire Brigade, with the Chinese Newspapers.   We need your help - spread this Xavier message.

     Under the chairmanship of Greg Yu, we have increased considerably the funds of our XSETF to be able to respond to this sense of social solidarity.  But more than just raising the necessary funds, we want to introduce a New Xavier Spirit concept into our families.  No Xavier Family without at least one poor student to support.  This way, the children of our Xavier families will grow naturally with the idea that it is expected from a Xavier family to also take care of the education of a student who otherwise could not afford it.

     May the Xavier Spirit continue to ignite all of us.

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