Blue Jays Participate in Inaugural Retreat of St. Francis Borgia Leadership Institute

Posted August 14, 2014 / Last updated August 15, 2014

Student Council President Joseph Dupré leads a session during the St. Francis Borgia Leadership Institute Retreat.

From Aug. 5 – 7, 100 student leaders traveled to Camp Abbey in Covington, La. for the inaugural leadership retreat of the St. Francis Borgia Leadership Institute. The goal of the retreat was to reflect on the role of the student leader at Jesuit and to plan activities for the year for three of the major student organizations on campus: Student Ministry, Student Council, and the National Honor Society.

The retreat began with Mass and a presentation based on the Alexandre Havard book “Virtuous Leadership,” by director of student activities Mr. Matt Orillion. The book focuses on two key virtues of leadership: magnanimity and humility; as well as the four coordinal virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance.

The first full day of the retreat began with a presentation on the history and traditions of student life at Jesuit by Alumni Director Mr. Mat Grau. After lunch, students listened to talks on leadership in the spiritual life of the school by Campus Minister Mr. Jeremy Reuther, leadership in the life of service by Director of Service Mr. Kevin Murphy, and on leadership in student organizations by Mr. Orillion. After Mass celebrated by Rev. Raymond Fitzgerald, S.J. ’76, Blue Jays brainstormed about the strengths and weaknesses of Student Life on campus.

Before the students boarded the buses to travel back to campus on the final day of the retreat, they set goals for the year, which will be revisited throughout the coming months.

The St. Francis Borgia Leadership Institute was formed to identify students interested in becoming leaders and those students who currently serve in leadership roles of school co-curricular activities, to develop in these students qualities and characteristics necessary to serve as leaders while at Jesuit and to prepare them for future leadership roles, and to promote collaboration and fraternity among the various co-curricular activities. The program seeks to integrate the role of service, school culture, and spiritual life of the students in formation.

Galleries

St. Francis Borgia Leadership Institute Retreat, August 2014

Jesuit alumni director Mat Grau ’68 shares insights on the history and traditions of student life at Carrollton & Banks.
Jeremy Reuther ’01, who is Jesuit's director of campus ministry, and senior Francis Plough discuss important matters with student campus ministers during an organizational meeting.
Mike Prados ’83, who coordinates Jesuit's Alumni Service Corps, serves delicious fudge cookies during lunch.
Freshmen student council senators, from left, Jake Keubel, Leo John Arnett, Cutty Ashley, John Howell, and Andrew Ryan play an intense game of Scrabble during one of the breaks.
Student activities director Matt Orillion ’98 leads a small group session on leadership in student life.
Kevin Murphy ’00, who is director of service projects, leads a small group session on leadership in the life of service.
Senior Patrick LaCour contributes during Kevin Murphy’s session as Fr. Fitzgerald and other students listen closely.
Senior William Tittle gives an impassioned response during one of the sessions. Students were asked to give their input on the perceived strengths and weaknesses of student life at Jesuit.
Student Council president Joseph Dupré, a junior, led a large group discussion one evening about the strengths and weaknesses of student life at Jesuit. From this list, goals were set for the year for the major organizations represented. In this picture, senior Evan Duhon recommends an item for the list of strengths.
The leadership of student campus ministry, (from left) seniors Sam Johnson, Francis Plough, Patrick Fine, Patrick LaCour, and Peyton Markey, discuss their goals for the year.
On the second night, sleep was disturbed due to a malfunctioning alarm at Camp Abbey. Thanks to the dedicated men and women of the St. Tammany Fire Department, order was restored and the Jesuit students were able to get back to their dreams safely and soundly.
Seniors Steven Stradley and Josh Talbot lead a discussion in a group meeting of the National Honor Society during the St. Francis Borgia Leadership Institute retreat.