OCIA Mass

School president Fr. Vincent Giacabazi, S.J. celebrated a special Mass on Thursday (May 14) in the Chapel of the Holy Cross, during which 15 Jesuit students received sacraments of initiation: eight who were baptized and seven who were received into full communion with the Catholic Church!

The students were accompanied by their godparents and confirmation sponsors, typically either a close relative, friend, or Jesuit faculty member. Many more family and friends also were there to support them, as well as their classmates during the all-school Mass.

Those who received sacraments were:

Baptized – Jaeger Bedford ’27, Jackson Hernandez ’29, Hawkins Kimball ’29, Hudson Lancaster ’27, Jullian Martinez ’27, Johnny McGovern ’28, Grant Newman ’27, and Christian Vicari ’29.

Received into full communion – Robert Collinson ’28, Bruen Greep ’28, Madden Langford ’29, Jackson Menendez ’27, Connor Thames ’28, Shiloh Thatcher ’28, and Cole Ward ’26.

Afterward at a reception in the Antinori Center for the Arts, they received gifts from the Office of Mission and Formation, which leads Jesuit's OCIA program – the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (formerly known as RCIA): assistant principal for mission Brian Greenfield, assistant directors Joseph Madigan (who coordinated OCIA this year) and Patrick Phelan, and department assistant Anna Pawlusiak.

Jesuit received special permission to celebrate these sacraments from the Diocese of Saint Petersburg and from the pastor of the parish in which Jesuit is located, the Rev. Chuck Dornquast of St. Lawrence Catholic Church.

Since 2010, a total of 156 students have been baptized or received into the Church at Jesuit, including 109 in the past six years.

Click here for a video of the OCIA Mass!

For more photos go to Jesuit's Facebook page, Jesuit High School of Tampa.