The Jesuits remain deeply concerned about the disruption and dislocation that students, parents, and alumni have experienced as a result of the hurricane and flood and pray that the physical and emotional pain lessens as time goes by.

Jesuit High School has served as an anchor for the Mid-City neighborhood, as an anchor for the New Orleans metropolitan region, and as an anchor in the lives of its students, parents, and alumni.

In the first days after disaster struck New Orleans, the Jesuits recognized their sacred duty to preserve their community. The Jesuits resolved to do whatever was necessary to advance the school’s mission and continue to provide education and formation for the young men entrusted to it.

The Jesuits resolved not to join the long list of institutions that laid off their employees at a time when they most needed a job.

Honoring Jesuit’s commitments to its families and faculty has resulted in significant problems to our operations budget. We hope that greater participation and larger financial gifts to our annual fund drives -- the Living Endowment Fund for alumni and Parents’ Annual Giving for current parents -- will address Jesuit’s operations shortfall.

The damage to Jesuit was catastrophic and the school faces a daunting financial challenge as it begins reconstruction.

Jesuit’s Hurricane Restoration Project will address these immediate capital needs:

•    The switchboard area, 11 classrooms, and eight offices were destroyed.

•    The entire inventory of the Blue Jay Shop and Bookstore was lost.

•    The auditorium, which was renovated just two years ago, was ruined. The newly installed seats must be replaced, along with the stage floor and sound and lighting equipment.

•    All of the equipment in the cafeteria, including stoves, warmers, refrigerators, freezers, tables, and chairs, was destroyed.

•    Portions of our extensive heating and air conditioning system must be replaced.

•    The newly constructed Student Commons, the central location for our students to gather each day, and the site of many alumni and social events, has been completely gutted.

•    The Louis J. Roussel Jr. physical education building was heavily damaged, along with the roof, and the gym floor, bleachers, offices, locker rooms, and athletic equipment must be replaced.

•    The Chapel of the North American Martyrs sustained roof damage.

Construction costs alone are estimated to be $10-12 million. Replacing equipment and furnishings will cost another $3-3.5 million.

Potential insurance proceeds, a government loan, and reimbursements by FEMA will cover only a portion of the true costs of reconstruction. Jesuit is aggressively pursuing additional funding opportunities from private and corporate foundations.

Jesuit’s endowment is restricted in its use and is the sole source of financial aid for those students who are qualified to attend Jesuit but whose families cannot afford to pay full tuition. This year, Jesuit granted 85 families a total of more than $280,000 in financial aid.

This leaves a significant gap of more than $5 million that Jesuit must raise from outside sources.

Jesuit remains more determined and hopeful than ever of successfully reaching this goal, but we need your help. Jesuit is asking for your donation to help with rebuilding expenses that will not be covered by insurance or government grants. Please help Jesuit rebuild what was destroyed in the hurricane and subsequent flood.

Help restore the anchor in the lives of so many in the Jesuit community – current Blue Jays, parents, faculty, and our 12,500 loyal alumni.

Your donation is vital and will make a huge difference in the lives of our current and future Blue Jays.

With your help and your commitment, Jesuit can be restored.