Dear Members of the Campus Community,
I write to you with a Thanksgiving message. As employees heard from Human Resources, this year, much like last, the College will close on Wednesday and stay on break for the remainder of this week. Like many of you, I am grateful for time with family and this period of relative quiet. If traveling home or being with loved ones is not possible this year, please know how thankful I am that you are here and a part of our community.
While I might anticipate several days of peace and quiet, a typical Thanksgiving at my home is anything but as we prepare to host my three sons, their partners, my parents and in-laws and friends who have become family. We will stay up late, eat too much and discuss the politics of the day, our work and the world around us. Perhaps this sounds like your holiday experience. Rest assured: this too is a form of rest because it is rejuvenating and joyful.
I find echoes of our Jesuit principles in the spirit of this week and the holidays that follow. This year marks half a century since Father Pedro Arrupe, S.J. exhorted us to form as “men and women for others.” While so much has changed in the last 50 years, this call to justice is as relevant today as it was then. In this season of service and greater compassion, we can start by showing up as people for and with others. This can look like demonstrating generosity and empathy for those around us; checking in on and supporting those who are facing challenges; and giving more of ourselves—our time, talents and love—to embrace our humanity and that of our fellow community members.
This break—and our rest—takes place in a broader context that can dismay and devastate. This semester alone, I and other community members have written to you about impactful national politics, destructive global conflict, evolving civil rights, our steadfast Jesuit identity and mission, and transformative institutional change. November is often a taxing time in higher education, and this year proves to be no exception. I am grateful to reach out today with a simple message, from me to you: take care of yourself, be kind to each other, enjoy the company of your loved ones, and let us continue to pray and work for peace and justice.
When you return to campus, know that your Holy Cross community looks forward to welcoming you back.
With gratitude for God’s blessing,
Vincent D. Rougeau