Friday began with Mass of the Holy Spirit and concluded with a flag raising for the 50th Walker Cup Golf championship. Needless to say, it was a very "thick" day. Fans of the writer and political/cultural commentator David Brooks might agree.
St. Ignatius College Prep is one of many Jesuit academic institutions and Catholic schools that begins the academic year with a traditional Catholic liturgy. This mass calls on the third person of the Trinity—the Holy Spirit—to lead and guide us in our studies and sports, creative endeavors and co-curriculars. With the priest dressed in a red vestment, songs like "Come Holy Spirit," and art work by students featuring a dove flying amidst tongues of fire—this faithful gathering marks the beginning of a new year.
During his homily, Father John McGarry, SJ referred to one of my favorite Opinion pieces by Brooks, entitled "How to Leave a Mark on People."
McGarry read from it. He said, "Some organizations are thick, and some are thin. Some leave a mark on you, and some you pass through with scarcely a memory." He added, "I haven't worked at SI for long, but it's obvious to me, this place is thick. You are wondering what that might mean." Brooks writes
A thick institution becomes part of a person's identity and engages the whole person: head, hands, heart and soul.
Such institutions have a set of collective rituals. They have shared tasks, which often involve members closely watching one another, the way hockey teammates have to observe everybody else on the ice.
Such organizations often tell and retell a sacred origin story about themselves. Many experienced a moment when they nearly failed, and they celebrate the heroes who pulled them from the brink. They have a common ideal -- encapsulated, for example, in the Semper Fi motto for the Marines.
Father McGarry embellished on Brooks' works in adding, "It's also important to have an idiosyncratic local culture. Thick Institutions leave a mark on their students, and today you are being marked by the Holy Spirit."
What a powerful message, but what might that mean? Ignatius of Loyola said "go forth and set the world on fire." He believed that all we do should be done for the "greater glory of God," AMDG. His messaging resonates with all that the Mass of the Holy Spirit invokes. We are blessed to inherit such a legacy and command. It's worth passing down from one generation to the next. #SoThick.
After mass, I left San Francisco for the shores of Pebble Beach to get inside the gates of Cypress Point Golf Club. Friday consisted of a practice round and the official flag raising ceremony to commence the tourney. The guest of honor was none other than George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States. His great-grandfather Herbert (Bert) Walker founded the championship in 1922 as a way to foster international goodwill through golf. Yes, the W in George W. Bush stands for Walker.
The ceremony opened with a stirring U.S. military flyover, followed by a warm welcome from USGA President Mike Whan. Three national anthems were played as the Union Jack, the Irish tricolor, and the Stars and Stripes were raised.
I started to get choked upon hearing the Star Spangled Banner. I felt a wave of emotion as I watched President Bush, knowing he had devoted his life to serving the country for which both the song and the flag stand.
This moment hit me in as I was thinking ahead to this week, knowing we will watch "Nine Innings from Ground Zero." It is an HBO documentary that explores how baseball became a unifying force for collective mourning and hope. George W. Bush makes an indelible mark in my Sports and Spirituality curriculum as he threw the first pitch inside Yankee Stadium in the 2001 World Series. The message he sent by showing up, standing tall and throwing a strike spoke volumes. It left a mark. And the beauty of that memory is that it still does today.
At 79 years old, President Bush was attentive, personal and affable. The USGA did a great job of capturing his interaction with the players (see their social media postings!). I wanted to shake his hand and tell him about my class. I wish I could have told him how much my sister and I appreciate his art. He was swept away by friends and secret service. He is one of my heroes, and for reasons you might not expect. Please ask me about it.
His remarks were brief, but they captured what made the event so meaningful. He shared memories of his great-grandfather and reflected on the values of sport and the privilege of competition. He took time to recognize the men and women working behind the scenes—the people we might not think to thank—for making the weekend possible. Most impressively, he didn’t overemphasize his own role; he stepped aside graciously, making space for the current USGA president, Fred Prepall.
Prepall spoke of the many gifts golf offers—friendship, fitness, competition, and a love of nature. He invited the crowd to pause, saying, “Close your eyes. Take in this moment. The fact that you are standing here means you have lived a great life.” A hush fell over the audience; no one could disagree.
I stood on the fairway of one of golf’s greatest cathedrals, surrounded by beloved friends, framed by towering cypress trees. The sun was shining, and beyond us stretched the Pacific Ocean and Monterey Bay. It was a sacred moment—one that was made possible by what else? thick institutions.
Thick institutions demand something of us. I can't leave my time and experience from the Walker Cup and remain unaware or ungrateful. Though tired, I took a lot of time on Sunday preparing for school as it is an important week.
My roommate recently asked why I work so often after school and on weekends. “What is it about teaching that asks so much of you?” she wondered. I shared a few thoughts about what the school year demands and why summer break feels so essential for renewal. Then she asked, “Well, it sounds like a lot. What’s the reward?”
Without hesitation, I pulled out my phone and showed her a photo from the weekend of a former student and his mom. “This,” I said. “It’s about the relationships.”
That relationship exists because of a “thick institution”—a community with shared history, rituals, and values that hold us together.
I told Neal I’d be showing Nine Innings from Ground Zero in class this week and asked if he remembered it. Without missing a beat, he replied, “Yes. It recalls how Bush threw the first pitch in the World Series.” Clearly, it left its mark.
Come Holy Spirit.
Photo Credits
Thank you to my friend Malia, for always taking great photos. #appreciated!
Cypress
No comments:
Post a Comment