Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit

Jesuit celebrated a special Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit on Friday (Aug. 29), before taking grade-level class photos and, as it does every year on this day, dismissing the students early for the Labor Day holiday weekend.

Two official ceremonies took place during the Mass, which was celebrated by the Superior of Jesuit's Province, Fr. Thomas Greene, S.J. The first was the installation of Fr. Vincent Giacabazi, S.J. as Jesuit High School's president.

The second, moments later, was the renewal of Jesuit's sponsorship with the U.S. Central & Southern Province, during which Father Giacabazi and the president of Jesuit's Board of Trustees, Bill Muir Jr., P '19, signed the paperwork on behalf of the 126-year-old school.

With 16 clergy and dozens of family and friends of Father Giacabazi's on hand, it was an extraordinary occasion. Among those concelebrating the Mass were four Jesuit High School alumni – Fr. James Lambert, S.J. '52, Msgr. Robert Gibbons, J.C.L. '67, Fr. Len Plazewski, V.F. '83, and Fr. Anthony Astrab '04 – as well as former Jesuit principal Barry Neuburger, who is an administrator with the Province.

After Mass, the students gathered by grade level at four unique locales on campus for their class photo – the freshmen in front of Gonzmart Hall, the sophomores in front of the Antinori Center for the Arts, the juniors in front of the Tigers’ Den and St. Francis Xavier, S.J. statue, and the seniors in front of the Chapel of the Holy Cross

While the grade-level photos were taking place, all of the Mass participants and the special guests on hand for the Mass ceremonies joined Father Giacabazi for a reception in the lobby of the Antinori Center for the Arts.

Scroll below the photos to view the guests at this year’s Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2025 VOTIVE MASS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

CLERGY

PRESIDER & HOMILIST

The Very Reverend Thomas Greene, S.J.

Provincial Superior, U.S. Central & Southern Province of the Society of Jesus

JESUITS / CONCELEBRANTS

The Reverend Anthony Astrab (Jesuit Class of 2004)

Pastor, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Tampa, Florida

The Reverend Dennis Baker, S.J.

President, Loyola Blakefield Academy, Towsend, Maryland

The Reverend John Belmonte, S.J.

Superintendent of Catholic Education of the Diocese of Venice in Florida

The Reverend Michael Cooper, S.J.

CEO, Arrupe Spirituality Digital Community, Safety Harbor, Florida

Mr. Giovanni Díaz Jiménez, S.J.

Chair, Fine Arts Department, Jesuit High School, Tampa, Florida

The Reverend Steven “Chuck” Dornquast

Pastor of Saint Lawrence Church and School, Tampa, Florida

The Reverend Ian Gibbons, S.J.

Chair, Social Studies Department, Jesuit High School, Tampa, Florida

The Reverend Monsignor Robert Gibbons, J.C.L. (Jesuit Class of 1967)

Pastor of Saint Paul’s Church and School, St. Petersburg, Florida

The Reverend Louis Hotop, S.J.

Graduate Student in Social Work, Columbia University, New York, New York

The Reverend James Lambert, S.J. (Jesuit Class of 1952)

Pastoral Minister, Jesuit High School, Tampa, Florida

The Reverend Ponsiano Ngondwe, S.J.

Doctoral Student in Social Work, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida

The Reverend Ronald O’Dwyer, S.J.

President, De Smet Jesuit High School, St. Louis, Missouri

The Very Reverend Leonard Plazewski, V.F. (Jesuit Class of 1983)

Vicar Forane (Tampa Deanery) and Pastor, Christ the King Church & School, Tampa, Florida

The Reverend Kevin Spinale, S.J.

Special Assistant to the President, Regis High School, New York, New York

The Reverend Michael Wegenka, S.J.

Superior, Jesuit Community, Tampa, Florida

 

IMMEDIATE FAMILY

Ms. Nora O’Neill, Father Giacabazi’s Mother, Peoria, Illinois

Ms. Monica Robotham, Father Giacabazi’s Sister, Peoria, Illinois

Mr. Sebastien & Mr. Owen Robotham, Father Giacabazi’s Nephews/Godsons, Peoria, Illinois

Father Giacabazi also acknowledges and thanks his father and stepmother, Mr. Bernard and Mrs. Thérèse Giacabazi, Peoria, Illinois, who could not be present but who were present at Father’s first official visit to campus as President-elect on Friday, January 10, 2025.

 

EXTENDED FAMILY

Mrs. Maureen Fulton, Father Giacabazi’s Aunt and Confirmation Sponsor, Peoria, Illinois

Mr. P. Joseph O’Neill, Father Giacabazi’s Uncle, Peoria, Illinois

Mr. Charles & Mrs. Jane Purcell, Father Giacabazi’s Uncle & Aunt, Sarasota, Florida

 

CATHOLIC EDUCATION OFFICIALS

Mr. Barry Neuburger, Associate Provincial Assistant for Secondary Education, U.S. Central & Southern Province of the Society of Jesus and Former Jesuit High School Principal

Mr. Christopher Pastura, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Diocese of St. Petersburg

Dr. Ronald Rebore, Provincial Assistant for Secondary Education, U.S. Central & Southern Province of the Society of Jesus and Former Colleague of Father Giacabazi at De Smet Jesuit High School, St. Louis, Missouri

 

JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Mr. Stephen Barbas (Jesuit Class of 1972), Past Chairman of the Board of Trustees

Mrs. Cammie Chatterton, (Jesuit Past Parent, Class of 2005), Trustee

Mr. Joseph (Jesuit Class of 1986) & Mrs. Claudine Caballero, Trustee and Spouse 

Mr. William Muir, Jr. (Jesuit Past Parent, Class of 2019), Chairman of the Board of Trustees

Mr. Christopher Plasencia (Jesuit Class of 2004), Trustee

Mr. R. James Robbins (Jesuit Class of 1977, Past Parent, Classes of 2011 & 2018), Trustee

 

ROCKHURST OFFICIALS / “CANNONBALL RUN" PILGRIMAGE GROUP

Mr. Paul & Mrs. Amy Holewinski, Spouse and Chairwoman of the Rockhurst Board of Trustees

Mr. David & Mrs. Kelly Laughlin, Rockhurst President/Trustee and Spouse

Dr. Patrick & Mrs. Shannon Lillis, Spouse and Rockhurst Trustee

Mrs. Courtney O’Farrell, Rockhurst Trustee

Mr. Christopher & Mrs. Megan Schumm, Rockhurst Benefactors

Mr. Terrence & Mrs. Michelle Sexton, Trustee/Secretary of the Board of Trustees and Spouse

Mr. Jeffrey & Mrs. Amy Simon, Trustee and Spouse

 

OTHER LONGTIME FRIENDS / HONORED GUESTS

Mr. William & Mrs. Margaret Baker, Parents of the Reverend Dennis Baker, S.J., Niagara, New York

Mr. Glennon & Mrs. Maureen Heitmann, Former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of De Smet Jesuit High School and Spouse, St. Louis, Missouri

Mr. Michael & Mrs. Martha Melaro, Brother-in-Law & Sister of the Rev. Dennis Baker, S.J., Niagara, New York

Mrs. Deborah O’Dwyer, Mother of the Reverend Ronald O’Dwyer, S.J., Greenwood Village, Colorado