On Wednesday, May 21, juniors and their families came together for a commemorative liturgy and dinner, both in celebration and preparation for the coming school year. With seniors out of the building, the junior class will soon become the leaders and role models of the Xavier student body, and before long will be on their own way to college.

Over 400 people attended the evening's gathering made up of juniors, their parents, brothers, sisters and families. Fr. Lou Garaventa, S.J. presided over the liturgy. "As these days of spring turn into summer and soon thereafter turn into another school year, your senior year, your time of growth, your moment of opportunity to be mature leaders, we, your parents and all of us at Xavier place this holy challenge in front of you right at each of your feet," he offered. "Take your places at Xavier, think less of yourselves and more of others, learn to love God more strongly and do His will more persistently, study hard, do great things, and prepare yourself for God's future where we hope that in those mighty words of the prophet Isaiah that were placed before us this evening, you too someday will be called oaks of justice and the plantings of Yahweh to show his glory."

The mass was followed by a sit-down dinner where juniors conversed with their friends while their families caught up with each other, exchanged stories and talked about the coming year. "Real transformation takes place in the juniors this time of year," said Mr. Robert Reinhart, one of many teachers of seniors. "You can feel it on Mondays with seniors at their Christian service sites. The juniors' roles are changing, they are going to need to step up....It is truly a transformative moment in the life of the school. We're saying goodbye to one group while readying another for a leadership position within Xavier."