Xavier students and their grandparents came together in a unique way on Friday, April 21. Grandparents were invited to Xavier to celebrate Mass with the rest of the Xavier community. The Grandparents Day Mass is held every year and is a tradition for many families. This year, 350 grandparents attended, making it the most attended Grandparents Day Mass in Xavier history.

The day started off with grandparents arriving around 8:30 a.m. They were treated to coffee, juice, and breakfast and were given time to mingle before Mass started. Mass was put on by campus ministry, and it gave students and grandparents the opportunity to sit together. After Mass, school was dismissed, allowing students to spend more time with their family.

“We look forward to the Mass every year,” grandparent Mary Timlin said. “It is so well organized and runs smoothly every single time. It is a wonderful opportunity that not many schools have. We are not only able to celebrate Mass, but also spend time with family and see what the school is like.”

This year, Xavier also honored the grandparents who were not able to attend. Students wrote the names on small sheets of paper of the grandparents who could not make it to  the Mass or had passed away. These names, along with the names of the grandparents who were in attendance, were made into paper chains and hung around the gym for people to see during Mass. While being invited to Mass may seem like a small gesture, the grandparents appreciate the opportunity more than the students realize.

“Every year, my grandparents tell me how much they enjoy coming to the Mass,” junior Jack Lemke said. “They have so much fun seeing all of the other students and their grandparents, and learning more about Xavier.”

Bringing students together with their family proved to be a success for all involved. It is for this reason the tradition continues to grow each year.

Noah Lynch

News Writer