Page 87 - Gonzaga at 60
P. 87
KEEPING THE GONZAGA AT SIXTY: A WORK IN PROGRESS
87
JESUIT ETHOS ALIVE
Daniel McNelis
In its early years, Gonzaga endured the percepion, both within and without the Society
of Jesus, of being a bit ‘precious’ and self-important. Perhaps because even with the two
‘Houses’ combined, Junior and Senior, the school was relaively small and middle class. A faint
but detectable odour of eliism or superiority emanated from this. As the school has become
more mainstream curricularly and more accessible inancially, this ofensive air has thankfully
diminished.
Perhaps the single greatest change over sixty years in Ireland has been the movement from
a world of relaive order and stability, to one of ever acceleraing change.
In those early ‘stable’ years, there was something cosy and reassuring about ‘knowing’ that
there would always be a Community house full of Jesuits, whose whole modus vivendi seemed
to be looking ater us pupils. How privileged we were. Yet, in a generaion, how quickly things
have changed. Gonzaga is bigger now, less precious, with fewer Jesuits but espousing the same
Ignaian worldview: seeking the greater glory, men for others, inding God in all things, cura
personalis and so forth.
Perhaps diferent pupils relate to the same school in diferent ways, depending on their
interests; academics, sports, debaing, music, chess, drama. Depending, no doubt, on how well
our interests are served, so we evaluate our school.
In my case, apart from rugby and cricket, the most profoundly formaive personal and career
interest was the Jesuits themselves. They had an enormously beneicial efect on my view of self
and of the world. They were men of extraordinary kindness, care and personal concern. They
conveyed a sense not only that you were the most important person in their life at that moment,
but that they actually enjoyed the fun and laughter exchanged in being with you. Relaions were
warm, inimate and personable without a hint of impropriety.
This was despite the fact that my enire ime in Gonzaga was dominated by a desire to
leave, never having wished to come in the irst place, preferring instead to go to my father’s
school, Belvedere. When it inally happened, I waylaid Fr White on the avenue as he returned on
his bicycle from celebraing an early morning Mass.
“Daniel, what are you doing here at this hour of the morning?”
“Oh, Father, I have wonderful news which I have been waiing to tell you … I’m leaving in
June and going to Belvedere!”
He smiled broadly, with that delighful unafected joy which was so characterisically his,
put his hand warmly on my shoulder and replied, “Danny, I’m delighted for you. I’m sure you’ll
be very happy in Belvedere.”
Such was the measure of the man.
87
JESUIT ETHOS ALIVE
Daniel McNelis
In its early years, Gonzaga endured the percepion, both within and without the Society
of Jesus, of being a bit ‘precious’ and self-important. Perhaps because even with the two
‘Houses’ combined, Junior and Senior, the school was relaively small and middle class. A faint
but detectable odour of eliism or superiority emanated from this. As the school has become
more mainstream curricularly and more accessible inancially, this ofensive air has thankfully
diminished.
Perhaps the single greatest change over sixty years in Ireland has been the movement from
a world of relaive order and stability, to one of ever acceleraing change.
In those early ‘stable’ years, there was something cosy and reassuring about ‘knowing’ that
there would always be a Community house full of Jesuits, whose whole modus vivendi seemed
to be looking ater us pupils. How privileged we were. Yet, in a generaion, how quickly things
have changed. Gonzaga is bigger now, less precious, with fewer Jesuits but espousing the same
Ignaian worldview: seeking the greater glory, men for others, inding God in all things, cura
personalis and so forth.
Perhaps diferent pupils relate to the same school in diferent ways, depending on their
interests; academics, sports, debaing, music, chess, drama. Depending, no doubt, on how well
our interests are served, so we evaluate our school.
In my case, apart from rugby and cricket, the most profoundly formaive personal and career
interest was the Jesuits themselves. They had an enormously beneicial efect on my view of self
and of the world. They were men of extraordinary kindness, care and personal concern. They
conveyed a sense not only that you were the most important person in their life at that moment,
but that they actually enjoyed the fun and laughter exchanged in being with you. Relaions were
warm, inimate and personable without a hint of impropriety.
This was despite the fact that my enire ime in Gonzaga was dominated by a desire to
leave, never having wished to come in the irst place, preferring instead to go to my father’s
school, Belvedere. When it inally happened, I waylaid Fr White on the avenue as he returned on
his bicycle from celebraing an early morning Mass.
“Daniel, what are you doing here at this hour of the morning?”
“Oh, Father, I have wonderful news which I have been waiing to tell you … I’m leaving in
June and going to Belvedere!”
He smiled broadly, with that delighful unafected joy which was so characterisically his,
put his hand warmly on my shoulder and replied, “Danny, I’m delighted for you. I’m sure you’ll
be very happy in Belvedere.”
Such was the measure of the man.
