There are moments in the life of a school that stop you in your tracks. Moments that remind you why the work matters, who it's for, and just how far a community can go when it comes together. On Tuesday, September 22nd, Arrupe Jesuit High School had one of those moments.
Students, faculty, staff, alumni, families, donors, and community partners gathered in the Arrupe Jesuit gymnasium for the Mass of the Holy Spirit and the formal blessing and ribbon cutting of our newly remodeled and expanded campus. The celebration was a beautiful mix of joy, gratitude, and reverence for everything it took to get to this day.
Our Provincial, Fr. Drew Kirschman, SJ, celebrated the Mass of the Holy Spirit, joined in concelebration by a number of Jesuit brothers who came to mark the occasion. It was a fitting way to bless not just a building, but a mission — the ongoing commitment to providing a transformative, Jesuit education to young men and women in Denver who deserve nothing less than the best.
Arrupe Jesuit President Michael O'Hagan captured the significance of the day beautifully:
"Arrupe Jesuit's remodeled and expanded campus is the physical manifestation of the extraordinary graces bestowed upon our school for more than twenty-three years. So, it made perfect sense to host the blessing and dedication of this beautiful project on the same morning that our Provincial, Fr. Drew Kirschman, SJ, celebrated the Mass of the Holy Spirit. Our deep gratitude for all those in our community who have invested in the future of our school and in the future of our students."
The celebration also featured remarks from Byron Haselden, Bill Fortune, and Michael O'Hagan, each reflecting on what this milestone means for the Arrupe community. And in one of the morning's most moving moments, senior Angelica Flores offered the student perspective which was a powerful reminder that at the center of every brick laid and every dollar raised, there is a young person whose life is being shaped by this place.
This building expansion is more than new walls and updated spaces. It is a testament to the generosity of every person who has believed in this shared mission — every donor, every partner, every family, every volunteer who has shown up over the past two-plus decades and said, yes, this is worth investing in.
To everyone who played a role, large or small, in making this day possible: thank you. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. We are overwhelmed with gratitude and we cannot wait to see what this next chapter holds for our students and this community.
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.
