Reunion Mass 2022

Re-unions recognize that there is something we are returning to—a place, a set of connections—to friends, perhaps mentors—teachers and coaches; a return to a community where we engaged in important years of the most important work that takes place here: the work of formation—the work of discovering our most authentic selves—identifying the values, the goods, and 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 individual and personal work of formation—takes place in community. We believe that we best engage this work of formation—together—each of us supporting each other—each of us present to one another—as we embrace the work of forging the people that we are becoming.

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

We forge a union during our years on this Hilltop—and we come together every five years to touch that union—to 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.

What brings us back—in the deepest marrow of our beings—we know that something very important happened to us here.

Amidst all classes and papers and lab reports, the competitions and contests, the parties and celebrations, the triumphs and the tragedies, the successes and failures—we engaged in the most important work that can take place at a university—the work of formation. And we did it together.

For each of us, our work of formation began long 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 band—in the countless activities of our childhood and adolescence. And we bring those 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—and 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. Some of us, we continue this work together—in our marriages and in our families—for others—with the depth of our friendships.

Why do we bring closure to this weekend of re-connecting to the union we experienced here with this celebration of Mass?

Coming together like this, taps into the deepest conviction we share as a community, a conviction that is especially alive on this day in the life of our Church—Pentecost Sunday:

We heard these words earlier—in the reading from the Gospel of John:

“Peace be with you.

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

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,

“Receive the Holy Spirit….” (John 20:21-22)

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 by this gift that has changed the world: “he breathed on them”—he breathed in us—and gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit which will “be with [us] always” (John 14:16); the Spirit that will “teach [us] all things.” (John 14:26).

The Spirit that will enable us to grasp our “spiritual gifts…the “different forms of service”…to which we are called. (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

“To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit Is given for some benefit.” (1 Corinthians 12:7)

Our work of formation includes being guided by the Spirit in discerning this “manifestation of the Spirit” in each of our lives.

We are not alone: “he breathed on”—us—and said “Receive the Holy Spirit.…”

And we have each other—we are witnesses to each other of our faith—we, too, have received this breath—this gift of the Spirit—a Spirit that has been present here, always present—in this community.

Our union—the union we share and celebrate when we return here—is guided by the Spirit, and where ever we are, where ever we might find ourselves, this Spirit is always present to us—guiding, teaching, directing—leading us—in our life long journeys of becoming the people we are called to be—the people we are meant to be.