Dear Friends,

Today marks the half-way point of the Fall trimester and our first round of parent-teacher conferences. As you’ve seen in prior reports, the boys have been busy! As I write, Form I and II are at Camp Ondessonk practicing archery, going for hikes, climbing towers, and learning to work as a team. Last night, the 7th grade spent more than an hour in prayer before the blessed sacrament, making a confession, or speaking with a spiritual director. After only five weeks, our newest students are already Priory boys who play and pray as intensely as they work.

Underneath all of this positive activity has been a spirit of joy, enthusiasm, and play — what St. Benedict calls “the Good Zeal” that leads to God and builds up community. Play is especially important as we try as a school to balance our daily lives between work, study, prayer, and leisure. This year, the boys are being encouraged to use their free periods to play outdoors (there’s a lot of frisbee, football, and “pipe ball” in the quad during lunch periods), and STUCO has done an amazing job at organizing our first mixer and planning the Homecoming Dance. The faculty and staff have been working on play, too, with an after-hours pickleball league, book clubs, and an on-campus discovery hike. I hope you’re also able to find time in your lives for play, whatever that looks like for you.

By all accounts, our Priory community has never been stronger. May we all give thanks to God for this blessing, and keep on working, playing, and praying with gratitude.

Laus tibi Domine,

Father Cuthbert Elliott, O.S.B., '02
Headmaster