The Brother Martin Class of 2025 took part in their Senior Ring Mass, celebrated by Fr. Tony Rigoli on Thursday, August 22nd, at St. Dominic Catholic Church in New Orleans. The Mass and ring reception ceremony rightly order the beginning of senior year for our Crusaders. By the celebration of the Mass, we give glory to God and orient all our endeavors toward His greater glory, and by the reception of rings, we signal a tangible call to leadership and action for our newest seniors, each of whom are now a part of the rich tradition and legacy of St. Aloysius, Cor Jesu, and eventually Brother Martin High School.
Principal Ryan Gallagher ‘00 offered a concluding reflection before the seniors received their blessed rings: ”Your ring is a physical sign of the unifying power of action. You will face challenges, you will overcome many, fail in the face of others. Gentlemen, tonight you are a part of the legacy of those who have worn this ring before you and those who have dedicated their lives to the values entrenched within the ring. We are one community unified through trust in God, Hope in one another, and Action.
When you place that ring on your finger, tonight for the first time and every day thereafter, let it serve as your call to action to lead our school community regardless of the obstacles you’ll face, those yet seen and unknown. Embrace this call to leadership.”
The ring itself symbolizes the school’s history, connecting past and future generations, and is a reminder of the enduring legacy of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans.
The crimson stone is encircled by a chain which represents the consolidation in 1969 of St. Aloysius and Cor Jesu High Schools into Brother Martin High School.
Brother Martin crest: Incorporated into the crest are five symbols that reflect the rich tradition of Catholic education that shapes the mission of Brother Martin High School.
The cross, at the center of the shield, represents the central place that Jesus holds in the school and our students’ lives.
The arms of this cross embrace four icons which serve to identify Brother Martin. The upper left quadrant contains the image of a heart, recalling both the love of Christ and the 150-year ministry of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart and their partners in mission in New Orleans. Below this, the fleur-de-lis is reminiscent of New Orleans and its French cultural heritage. A book, representing learning, occupies the upper right of the field. A torch, symbolizing the light of Christ and a striving for excellence, completes the crest.
Surmounting the crest is the engraved representation of a pelican. The state bird of Louisiana, the pelican, represents steadfastness and a commitment to the future.
To the right of the crown is the engraved image of a Crusader. The ideal of the Crusader - the ideal that challenges all students at Brother Martin - is to put Christ before all else and to respond to His challenge to spread the gospel to all nations.
