The Class of 2019 received their senior rings on Thursday, August 23rd, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in New Orleans. This liturgy celebrates the kick-off to our Crusaders’ senior year and represents the rich tradition of Brother Martin High School.

After a homily by Mass Officiant, Fr. Paul Hart ‘70, Brother Martin Chaplain, and a shared reflection by school Principal Ryan Gallagher ‘00, each senior came forward to receive his class ring from Mr. Gallagher.

“Seniors, as you begin your senior year, as you begin to ‘make a life’ like Fr. Coindre; be moved to action by the Holy Spirit. Like Brother Athanasius, open the letter and serve. You will be those next who decide to act, who help to evangelize the world. That is the call to action embedded in the ring you receive tonight.” Gallagher continued, “The ring is an outward sign of our trust in you, a trust that originates with God. The same trust Coindre had; the same that those first Brothers of the Sacred Heart had. It begins with men like you who have resolve, and courage and confidence. It begins, above all, with trust.”

The Senior Ring Mass is a reminder to our the students that they are ‘part of the rich tradition that has been passed on by the many men who have ventured forth from the halls of St. Aloysius, Cor Jesu and Brother Martin High schools.’

The ring itself symbolizes the school’s history which is rich in the community’s cultural heritage. It connects past and future and is a reminder of the steadfast presence of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans. The symbols on the ring include:

• 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.
  

“Let the ring you receive tonight serve as a constant reminder not simply of a legacy, or tradition, or accomplishment. Most importantly, let it serve as a reminder of a trust in God that calls us to serve, to act, to answer the call,” concluded Gallagher.

On Friday, the seniors head off to ‘Senior Celebration Day’, a time to have fun and bond as classmates. Continuing the celebration, the seniors and their dates will attend the Ring Dance on Saturday evening, August 25th, in the Tom & Gayle Benson Mall.