Guided by the principle of servant leadership, Blue Jays live out the mission to be men for others through their dedicated and selfless service to the community. At Jesuit, the call to be “Men for Others” is the cornerstone of a transformative education. The school’s service program is intentionally designed to form young men of competence, conscience, and compassion by placing them in direct, meaningful contact with the community. For students, service is not just a requirement to be fulfilled but an integral part of their formation, teaching them to see the world with empathy and act with a sense of justice. Students that understand this commitment, truly understand the heart of the Jesuit experience.

A Foundation of Service

The journey of service at Jesuit is a structured, four-year progression that deepens as students mature. It begins with foundational experiences like the annual Thanksgiving Drive, which introduces students to the immediate needs of the New Orleans community. A tradition since the 1920s, the student-led drive brings together the entire Jesuit community—students, faculty, staff, alumni, and parents—to provide Thanksgiving baskets to over 500 local families each year. This event has a lifelong meaning for generations of Blue Jays, as alumni often return to campus with their own families to participate, demonstrating the enduring call to serve. As students advance, this spirit of giving is formalized through required service hours each year, working with a diverse range of non-profit organizations that serve the elderly, the sick, the unhoused, and those with disabilities.

This journey culminates in the Senior Service Project, a capstone experience where each senior dedicates at least 100 hours to a single agency. This immersive project challenges them to build relationships, understand complex social issues, and reflect on their role in creating a more just world. Throughout their time at Jesuit, students serve people from all walks of life, both locally and through service immersion trips abroad, ensuring their education extends far beyond the classroom walls.

A Partnership in Compassion: Grace at the Greenlight

One of the most powerful examples of this mission in action is the school’s long-standing partnership with Grace at the Greenlight, a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the unhoused population of New Orleans with dignity and love. For nearly eight years, Jesuit students have been a consistent, caring presence at the St. Jude Community Center, where Grace at the Greenlight serves a hot breakfast 365 days a year.

On many Thursdays throughout the school year, well before the first school bell rings, Blue Jays arrive to help serve. This commitment is shared across the entire school community; groups from the Sodality, Student Council, and the basketball, robotics, and quiz bowl teams all take turns. On other days, individual students step up to answer the call to help. Juniors Gareth Berner and George David both attest to how their efforts to help others also fill them with gratitude.

“I chose to work with Grace at the Greenlight for two main reasons. After my dad passed away, I promised myself that I would try to help others going through something similar. Also, it really bothers me—and honestly feels wrong—that our society can’t even provide everyone with the basic things they need like food, shelter, and clothes. Grace at the Greenlight gave me an easy and real way to work toward fixing that. My experience there has been amazing. The people running it are some of the kindest and most caring people I’ve ever met. Every time I go to help out, I feel fulfilled, and it’s one of the few places where I really feel like I’m making a difference that counts.”

Junior George David

By preparing plates, pouring coffee, and sharing a moment of conversation, students learn firsthand about the organization’s mission to provide not just food but also community and hope. They become a part of providing “Meals With Love” and learn the importance of a warm, welcoming environment. For many, this work becomes more than a school activity. Some students are so moved by the experience that they volunteer beyond their designated times, drawn to the profound opportunity to be a bright spot in someone’s day. This sentiment is echoed by young alumni like Wilson Frischhertz ’25, who volunteered frequently during his time at Jesuit. “I loved helping the New Orleans community,” Frischhertz shared. “Through Grace at the Greenlight, I was directly able to help people in need. It was a rewarding way to start my day before school. I highly recommend giving it a chance; it is an eye-opening experience.”

“Thursday mornings at Grace at the Greenlight are usually the highlight of my week. It’s a wonderful way to start my day with humble service. It’s definitely worth waking up an hour earlier just to see the smiles on the faces of the people we serve. The fact that we feed about 200 people every morning shows how much a small sacrifice can truly make a difference. It has taught me to be grateful for my own blessings and how much happiness comes from being a man for others.” — Gareth Berner

Through this partnership, Jesuit students learn invaluable lessons about humility and human dignity. They are not just serving meals; they are building a more compassionate community, one plate at a time, and in doing so, are truly living out the mission to be men for others.

If you have an organization in need of volunteers, reach out to Community Service Project Director, Scott Delatte ’06 504-483-3872.

Jesuit welcomes prospective families to register for a campus tour to learn more about the numerous service opportunities and ways Blue Jays serve in our community as men for others.