Prep Talk
Welcoming Class of 2019 Freshmen to the Brotherhood
Posted September 11th, 2015
At St. Augustine Prep’s Brotherhood Ceremony we welcome our freshmen into the “Brotherhood.” The young men are called up by name where they are given a pin and their school blazer is put on for the first time by a member of the Student Council. Below is an excerpt from the script used in ceremony on September 9, which outlines some of our history and explains what it means to be a Hermit.
On a September morning in 1959, 27 young men entered the Allegrini monastery for the first day of classes at the brand new St. Augustine Preparatory School. The journey begun by these 27 young men will continue today as we induct the Class of 2019 into the Prep Brotherhood. What began as the dream for a group of Augustinian Friars in 1959 has blossomed into one of the finest college preparatory schools in the nation. Today, the Class of 2019 accepts the responsibility of continuing the tradition started by that first class.
Symbols are an important part of our Augustinian heritage. The Saint Augustine Preparatory School seal that we wear on our blazer each day tells us much about the values that each Hermit Brother comes to embrace:
THE HEART – It is the focal point of the seal, and is symbolic of God’s love for each of us and the love we are called to share with each other.
THE BOOK – It is the Scriptures – The Word of God. We are called not only to read the word, but to know it and to live it. The words on the book “Tolle Lege” – Take Up and Read – represent the words that Augustine heard during his conversion to take up the Scriptures and live them.
THE CROSS – It is the symbol of our salvation in Christ: it is a sign of hope even in the midst of suffering and death.
THE MITER and THE CROSIER – These are symbols of St. Augustine in his role of bishop. St. Augustine’s philosophy of education is the basis of our philosophy at the Prep. His words still guide and direct us each day.
The words, “Sapientia et Scientia”, Wisdom and Knowledge – Saint Augustine asserted that one must attain wisdom in order to know what he is seeking. Therefore, as Augustine believed, education is not a thing to be acquired but rather an ongoing journey.
The date, 1959 indicates the year St. Augustine Prep opened its doors for the first time.
And the words, “Unitas, Veritas, and Caritas” – Truth, Unity and Love – are the core values of the Prep. These words appear in every classroom. These core values drive the mission of our school.
Part of St. Augustine Prep’s mission is to educate the whole person: body, mind, and spirit, according to the gospel values of Jesus and espoused by St. Augustine. As a Catholic-Augustinian school, St. Augustine Prep strives to uphold Christian values and to emphasize the Hermit Brotherhood. Responsibility, respect for self and others, regard for the welfare of the community, pride in accomplishments, and the rights of everyone, involve each of us being persons of integrity whose actions demonstrate this commitment.
Any actions which disregard honesty, whether intentional or unintentional, diminish the integrity of both the individual and the community. Moreover, such actions do not give the faculty the opportunity to evaluate the student fairly or offer assistance when it is needed. They also deprive the student of a valid learning experience which is crucial to educating the whole person.
As member of the St. Augustine Prep Brotherhood, each student is expected to conduct himself with integrity and to uphold the Honor Code.
Another inspiring moment was when alumnus Kevin Healey spoke about his early days at the Prep:
Let me take you back to the summer of 2003 and I was all but ready to attend Bishop Eustace. On a whim, my mom suggested we take a ride down to St. Augustine Prep’s Open House to simply check things out before I officially committed elsewhere. I can say confidentially, that car ride was one of, if not the best decisions of my life. Two hours later as I drove home back with my mom I turned to her and said, “Mom, I do not want to go to Bishop Eustace, I want to to the Prep.”
Looking back, it is difficult to describe what I felt that day on just a two-hour tour that made me so sure that attending the Prep was the right decision. Twelve years later, I now know what I felt. It was pride, it was passion, “It” was the brotherhood. And in four, ten, even 20 years, all of the Class of 2019 will also come to know that feeling. I wouldn’t be surprised if many of you may already feel it. As a proud alumnus I can tell you that the walls that surround us hold so much tradition. You are embarking on a journey at one of the top academic institutions in the country. That is something to be immensely proud of. You will be challenged in all facets of your life, but always know you will be growing. You will be growing each and every day in your faith, in your studies, and as scholar-athletes.
I challenge each of you to make a commitment to the Prep. Do not go through the motions. Commit to being involved and contribute. Whether its sports, traveling on third semesters, music, art, clubs, find your niche. Expand your horizons. I promise you, no matter what your passion, you will find a platform and support for it here at St. Augustine Prep.
It is with joyous hearts that we bring the Class of 2019 Freshmen into the fold. Welcome, Gentlemen… an exciting journey begins!