With the advent of every new start to a school year, Jesuit High School Sacramento choses a new theme to guide and unite our community. This year, our guiding motto is to “Get out of the boat.”

This year’s school theme asks us to reflect on the gospel story in Matthew when the Apostle Peter is apprehensive about following Jesus, who is walking on water (Mt 14:22).

“When the apostle Peter sees Jesus walking on the water, he is invited to leave the safety of the boat and walk on the water toward Jesus,” said President Mr. Chris Alling. “He does just this and when he falters a bit in his faith, he starts to sink. Jesus reaches out to save him and both of them return to the boat.” 

Principal Dr. Michael Wood ’99 highlights the theme of courage  in the gospel passage.

“This theme is about overcoming the fear that prevents us from loving ourselves, loving others, and loving God more fully,” Dr. Wood said. “When we operate from a place of fear, we are not at our best. When we operate from a place of trust and confidence, we can be our best selves.”

The theme of “getting out of the boat” is a collective response from the Jesuit community to all of the things that may be holding back individuals from flourishing in their lives.

“The inspiration came from our collective discernment on what is happening in our school and what is keeping us from more fully advancing our mission,” Dr. Wood said. “We discussed the common thread from students, faculty, and parents was the role that fear, anxiety, and uncertainty was having on relationship building and community building.”

Dr. Wood calls the Jesuit community to action, hoping that the community becomes more intertwined as each person empowers others to “step out of the boat.”

“We remind one another to be more self-aware, to be attentive to that which is ‘keeping them in the boat’ and encouraging them to take those scary steps into the unknown,” Dr. Wood said.

With the school year’s theme, Jesuit is encouraging students to follow in Saint Peter’s footsteps and “get out of the boat” in whatever way that may look in their lives.

“Ultimately, we invite students to go forth and set the world on fire, to be men for others, to leave home and go off to college, a job, and the next adventure that God has in store for them,” Mr. Alling said. “Along the way, our students are invited to ‘get out of the boat’ in many seemingly insignificant but very important ways: meet new friends, join a club, try out for a team, audition, do your homework, be of service, go on an immersion trip, just to name a few.”

Mr. Alling looks forward to seeing how this year’s school theme will connect the Jesuit community throughout this year.

“I’m excited to imagine what we can do when we decide to walk on water together,” Mr. Alling said. “I’m a big fan of teamwork and community and the ways we challenge and support each other in our efforts to do great things. Sometimes that can be scary and having the support of this community – classmates, teammates, friends, brothers – can make all the difference!”

The start of a new school year marks new challenges to be faced during everyone’s time here at Jesuit. This year, the community is encouraged to step out of the boat and walk towards Jesus with bravery.