To open the new year in the name of Jesus, the Academy community gathered on Tuesday, January 3,  in the Brady Center to celebrate in advance the Feast of the Epiphany, observed on January 6.

Mr. Art Raimo, President of Academy, opened the Mass with a reiteration of his experiences over the Christmas break, which consisted of attending his first Christmas Formal, witnessing the inspiring victory of the Academy varsity basketball team over Plant High School, and watching the exciting middle school robotics competition. He noted the fun he had at each event and his pride at the success of Academy students in each one.

Mr. Raimo then reminded listeners of all the blessings bestowed up them, especially during the Christmas season. Despite the fact that Christmas is over, he said to continue to appreciate all the gifts of the Academy community and give back throughout the new year.

Father Dennis Donovan, SDB, celebrated the Mass, taking time out of his busy schedule as Director of the Mary, Help of Christians Center. Fr. Donovan spiritually moved listeners as he enlightened the student body with a story of a clockmaker in Nuremburg, Germany. The story centered around a clock maker, Herman, whom townspeople viewed as a scrooge because he never presented a gift to the statue of Mary and the infant Jesus on the feast of the Epiphany; however, Herman received the praise of the community as he gave his best clocks away to needy people in lieu of participating in the local tradition. The lesson from this story was to “always be giving at all times during the year.” Giving is never simply a thing to be done on holidays. It should be “second nature” for the true spirit of giving is “giving without being caught.”

Inspired by the homily of Fr. Donovan, Academy students, faculty, and parents left the Mass with a feeling of thanksgiving and duty to help the community in the new year. For all those who did not make a New Year’s resolution, Fr. Donovan certainly led them to discover how they can make a difference in 2012.