One hundred sixty-four rising freshmen, accompanied by chaperones Roger Bacon, Matt Firmin ’10, DJ Galiano ’07, Derrick Martin, Nick Nolfe, Jon Orillion ’01, Matthew Orillion ’98, and incoming ASC members, took part in Jesuit’s annual Pilgrimage to San Antonio. After attending Friday morning Mass at Jesuit, the group boarded four charter buses named after the four house patrons, Jesuit saints: St. Jean de Brébeuf, St. Peter Canisius, Blessed Miguel Pro, and St. Francis Xavier.

Students made their first stop at the Retreat Center and former novitiate in Grand Coteau. There, they toured the grounds, visited the gravesite of Fr. Raymond Fitzgerald, S.J., former president of Jesuit, and celebrated Mass.  Following a picnic lunch, the buses departed for Baytown, Texas, pausing at Buc-ee’s before arriving at Antonian College Prep in San Antonio, where an evening of gym night activities concluded the first day.

On day two, Blue Jays headed to Schlitterbahn waterpark in New Braunfels for a full day of water slides and poolside fun. That evening, they tested their skills at Dave & Buster’s arcade before returning to Antonian for another gym night.

The final day opened with Mass at San Fernando Cathedral, followed by visits to the Alamo and Mission San José. Students spent the afternoon at Six Flags Fiesta Texas, enjoying roller coasters and carnival games, before boarding the overnight charter back to Jesuit. By the time they returned, the rising freshmen had deepened their bonds of faith and friendship, carrying memories and class bonds into the year ahead.