On Tuesday, September 10, Newton Country Day celebrated the installation of Jessica Hooper as our 31st Head of School at the annual Mass of the Holy Spirit held at Boston College’s Trinity Chapel. Annually, the Mass of the Holy Spirit is the first gathering of the school year where the community thanks God for our many gifts and seeks guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit in the coming year. Newton Country Day was honored to have His Eminence Seán Cardinal O’Malley, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Boston, celebrate the Liturgy along with Rev. Robert Kickham, priest in residence at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.
In the installation ceremony, Newton Country Day Board Chair Maura Murphy ‘99 asked Mrs. Hooper to commit to the mission of Sacred Heart education as it is articulated in the Goals and Criteria, and to lead the community in furthering the mission of the Sacred Heart through the service of education. She then turned to the school community and asked them to pray for Mrs. Hooper and strive to support her in her commitment. Sr. Suzanne Cooke, RSCJ, Society of the Sacred Heart Provincial, then prayed: “May your work be supported by the intercession of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat and St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and always reflective of the love of the Heart of Christ, our encounter with the depth of the love of God. We ask your blessing now upon Mrs. Hooper as she begins her service of leadership in this Sacred Heart school community. With the help of the Holy Spirit may she lead this community as a companion of the Society of the Sacred Heart in furthering the mission of Sacred Heart education as articulated in the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart education.”
Nat Wilburn, Head of the Conference of Sacred Heart Education, then commissioned the Sacred Heart educators at Newton Country Day and invited the faculty and staff to affirm their commitment to Sacred Heart education, and led the students to extend their hands in blessing as the community prayed over the faculty and staff.
Watch the recorded livestream of the Mass and Installation Ceremony.