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As soon as their class on Genesis ended on Monday afternoon, the programmers walked down the hill to Olivia Music Hall for their last dance class. The afternoon proved to be the warmest of the week, with temperatures rising into the 90s. But the heat did not deter the students from continuing with their new steps and the day’s elaborate dips. The dancers took frequent breaks to enjoy cool lemonade before returning to the dance floor, with no interest in finishing early on account of the heat. 

After practice, everyone quickly changed and met again on the athletic field for open recreation. Prefects and programmers faced off in games of soccer and volleyball in the blazing sun until they were too hot to continue, then all jumped into the pool in the gym to cool off and started a game of water polo. 

Speedy showers and a quick change followed, and the group sat down to spaghetti and meatballs in the dining hall. Tables were noisy as students traded ideas on questions to submit for the “Theology on Tap” event which would take place later that night. Dinner was cut short when the ringing of the gong reminded students to go to the library for Study Hall. 

The night’s study session began with a short talk by prefect Tommy Fallon (NE’26), who explained the evening’s readings — Jean Henri Fabre’s The Story-Book of Science: The Bees, and the fifth of St. Thomas’s five ways of proving the existence of God from the Summa Theologiae. “Some just call him ‘the Bug Guy,’” he smiled, introducing Fabre, “because he is so meticulous in his insect observations. That being said, these two readings are distinctly and importantly related.”

Tommy concisely explained the correlation between order in nature and the proof of He who orders it, then sent the programmers to their desks to dive into their readings. Students also portioned out some of their Study Hall time to learn the last of the Summer Program’s Euclidean propositions, as they studied and demonstrated truths concerning parallel lines and perpendiculars. 

By the time students had a good handle on the props, it was already time for the next event, and everyone gathered in Dolben Auditorium for Theology — and root beer! — on Tap. Students settled down in front of the stage, root beer floats in hand, and listened as Rev. Mr. Isaac Cross (’19) and Rev. Greg Markey answered all the questions that they had submitted earlier in the day. Queries ranged from heresy, to relationship advice, to vocation discernment, and many other intriguing topics. When asked how Heaven is experienced, Deacon Cross answered, “It’s a mystery to us now and forever, but we can pick up some hints through the Scriptures. Heaven is described there in many analogous ways, such as a marriage feast, a garden, or a fortified city.”

Following Theology on Tap, prefects and programmers put the wise words of Fr. Markey and Deacon Cross to practice at once, as they headed to Our Mother of Perpetual Help Chapel for Adoration. The Chapel was dark and peaceful, lit only by the many candles surrounding the altar and monstrance. Fr. Markey exposed the Blessed Sacrament, and Deacon Cross gave a brief meditation on the Sacred Heart of Jesus, while students had the opportunity to go to Confession or to pray the Rosary. 

After Benediction and the Divine Praises, students left the Chapel and headed back to the residential halls. In Gould, the girls said nightly consecration and talked to Fr. Markey for a time about remaining theological questions left unanswered at the earlier panel. The girls were about to head upstairs for bed, when the prefects suddenly flung open front doors. To the girls’ surprise and delight, the open doors revealed all of the boys, dressed to the nines, bearing roses and singing Nat King Cole’s “L-O-V-E!” The boys drew up in a group and serenaded the girls with an entire repertoire of songs, closing off the night by distributing flowers and chocolate and then singing their way back to their dorm.

Today begins the last full day of the One-Week Summer Program, so don’t forget to check the Summer Blog this afternoon to read all about the students’ final classes!

More photos from the High School Summer Program

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