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The TAC-New England athletic field rang with shouts and laughter this afternoon, as students on the High School Summer Program raced down the hill to play soccer, volleyball, and spikeball. Upbeat music drifted from a speaker beneath the tents, where some students stopped for a game or two of giant Jenga while they took a water break.

The heat was less intense than yesterday, but it was still warm enough to make the pool an attractive destination after an hour or so of running about on the field. Some enjoyed a spirited game of water polo while others jumped from the diving board in the deep end.

Hungry from their busy recreation period, prefects and programmers hurried to shower and change for dinner. Following a hearty meal of crusty bread and lamb stew, they returned to Dolben Library for study hall. Prefect Vitor Satechi (’28) gave a quick introduction to the evening’s readings: J. Henri Fabre, Pascal, and St. Thomas. “Try not to only understand what the author is saying in the reading,” Vitor advised, “but go a step further and try to understand if the arguments he is making are right or not. It’s important to lay emphasis not just on making what each one is saying perfectly clear in your mind, but also to try and discern if what they are saying is actually true, as far as you know.”

After this introduction, students settled down in the library for an hour and a half of reading before being rewarded with cold ices in the St. Frassati Coffee Shop. Music played in the background as friends enjoyed games, dancing and conversation. Some discussed the texts that they had just read in study hall. As prefect Mary Jost (’29) and programmer Evelyn K. discussed Genesis and the Pascal reading, Evelyn remarked with a smile, “This program is teaching me to look at things in a lot of new ways that I wasn’t expecting!”

Coffee Shop eventually gave way to one of the most peaceful events of the day, as the prefects summoned everyone to the Our Mother of Perpetual Help Chapel for Adoration. The Chapel itself was completely dark except for two candelabras at the altar. Head Chaplain Rev. Moses (Luke ’14) Blain, O.Praem., exposed the Blessed Sacrament and encouraged the congregation to pray in silence, to listen deeply to the Lord. “Look at Him in the Sacrament, and know that He is looking back at you,” said Fr. Moses. “Even this alone can only bring great good into your life.”

The hour of Adoration passed peacefully, the silence punctuated only by a few hymns sung by the College choir and the gentle creak of the floorboards. Finally, Fr. Moses concluded with benediction, and all headed back to the residence halls for consecration and a late-night social hour. The men enjoyed a snack night and bonfire, while the girls chatted over crafts and treats until lights out. 

Don’t forget to check the Summer Blog this afternoon to read about the students’ first classes on St. Thomas!

More photos from the High School Summer Program

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