Reunion Mass 2024

Re-unions recognize that there is something we are returning to—a place, a set of connections—to friends, perhaps mentors—teachers and coaches—returning to the site of where some of the most important work we can ever engage in—took place.

As you walk the campus, as you attend some of the workshops and events, you might find yourself wondering: what did happen here? Why might it mean so much to be back here?

At re-unions—we return to a place—to a community—where we did some very important work.

We had our major—and the courses that framed our academic engagement. And there is always so much more.

In a university community, in this university community, we engage in the work of formation. This is the work of discovering our most authentic selves—identifying the values, the goods, the practices that will serve as the foundation for our lives.

Re-unions recognize that there is something very special about a university community: the work of formation—the very interior and personal work of formation—best takes place in a community.

We believe that we best engage in this work of formation—together—each of us supporting each other—each of us present to one another—as we embrace the people that we are becoming.

How can it be so moving to back here with each other?

We forge a union during our years on this Hilltop—and when we return to campus we might just touch that union—to re-connect to that union. Re-unions—are moments for us to capture again—even for just a few days—the union that sustained and supported us during important years of our formation.

We know that something very important happened to us here.

Re-unions connect us to a time—when we were all very young—filled with idealism and passion, innocence and energy. We may have been operating at different speeds. We may have faced different and unique obstacles and challenges. Our paths may have been filled with fits and starts. But we were all engaged in this work.

This is work that began before we arrived on the Hilltop—within our families, our neighborhoods and communities, within our grade schools and high schools, in youth sports, in choir and bands—in the countless activities of our childhood and adolescence.

And we bring these experiences to Georgetown—where we deepen this work; there is a person each of us is meant to be, a person each of us is called to be—the work of formation is the work of becoming this person.

And we continue this work in our years following our time on the Hilltop.

We may continue this work together—in our marriages and families—within the depths of our friendships.

We continue this work in our vocations, in our civic engagement, in our parishes.

But why are we here this morning, together, in this last act of the weekend—present to each other in the celebration of Mass?

For some of our community, perhaps for all of you here this morning, this work of formation is inextricably linked to our practices of faith.

We engage in the work of formation in our prayer, in our Sacred Spaces, on retreats, in meditation, in our reading of Scripture, in performing sacred music.

We engage in this work in moment just like this, when we come together, as a community, in celebration of the Mass, witnesses to each other of the deepest aspects of our being.

Two weeks ago, at Baccalaureate Mass, we celebrated Pentecost, and we heard these words—from the Gospel of John:

Peace be with you.

As the Father has sent me, so I send you.

And when had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. (John 20:20-21)

It is the deepest conviction we share, by our presence here together in this celebration of the Mass, that our work of formation is—guided—directed—animated—by this gift that changed the world.

“He breathed on them”—He breathed on us—and gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit.

We are never alone. In moments like this, we know we have each other.

And we know we share in this gift of the Spirit—a Spirit that is present here, right now, was present when we first walked this campus, and is always present—guiding us in becoming who we are meant to be.