Jack {waterfalls, Mr. Pelly, and a film festival speech}

Our first born has been absent in this virtual space for a while, but that doesn't mean he's not present in our lives, still making us laugh and making us proud from afar. I thought I should give an update on his goings on at JPCatholic in sunny, southern Cal. It's good for my mama heart to hear his enthusiasm every time I ask how things are going. He's getting involved and taking advantage of some incredible opportunities, making wonderful friends and connections, putting God first in his life- it's easy to do at a university that plans classes around daily Mass.

Recently, his Frassati Hiking Club took a trip to see some waterfalls.

Fr. Dominic, the school's resident priest, led them and wrapped up their hiking expedition with Mass followed by lunch overlooking one of the waterfalls. That had to have been incredible.

You'll have to trust me in that he is in both of these photos. He's kind of hiding.

Taking Jack to JPCatholic

Jack and I drove to O'Hare last Thursday to fly to San Diego and then drive a rental about 40 minutes up to Escondido, where John Paul the Great University is. He visited there in April with Mike, but I had not been even to California before (aside from LAX airport en route to Hawaii).

In front of the Student Center

After we checked him in, we drove over to the brand new apartment building, "Marlowe," where many of the residential students are living this year. My WORD, it is nice!

The common space right down the hall from Jack's apartment.

Poor kids :-P

His apartment, shared with four other boys.

Jack and two boys share this room, and two other boys share a loft room with a balcony upstairs.

Those big panels on the floor were eventually attached to that big open area in their bedroom to make a wall. And behind that cracked door by the kitchen is their own washer and dryer! I remember hauling my laundry down to the laundry room in college... they are really missing out. Another cool thing is that they will be in this same apartment for all three years (JPCatholic has a year-round, three-year program), if they so choose.

I took Jack to a diner for lunch before heading to Target, Costco, etc. to get stuff for his apartment, and this was our server.

On Friday evening, this whole street, which is their 0.5 mile route to school, was closed off for an old car show, music performances, street vendors.

All the lights came on around 7, which I guess they do every night.

The Ritz theater, where a lot of JPC's performances are. WE had donuts and coffees on the second floor of the building on Saturday morning.

Like I said, they're really suffering.

Post-Saturday morning Mass. St. Mary's, a little more than a mile from the students' apartment was very nice, with a reverent Mass. But Mass is also offered DAILY in the academic building! We went there for the Vigil MAss on Saturday evening. Most of the liturgy was in Latin. The priest himself got a degree from JPC in 2018 and was very personable with the students.

After Mass and coffee and donuts, the students had a lot of orientation talks, so I headed toward the beach, a 25-30-minute drive. I stopped at St. Therese of Carmel Shrine on the way- such a peaceful spot in the hills.

My beach destination, which advertised scenic hiking trails. The day was overcast but very nice. There weren't many people on the trails, and I got my 4-mile run in by the ocean.

The eroding cliffsides were so cool.

I loved all of the different vegetation.

My trails connected with Torrey Pines State Park.

I made it back in time for the president's address. The president, Derry Connolly, is a 70-year-old Irisman, and I lived his accent and no-nonsense stance on life. He said if he sees anything concerning to him, he'll let our kids know, and he won't hesitate to share his opinion. But that in his class of new students last year (he also teaches some classes), could we guess how many he didn't like? Zero. After his talk (and the dean's), I felt so good about leaving Jack at this school. It is a place that truly values growing our kids- in their experiences and academics, but mstly, their faith. Their school mission is "Impact Culture for Christ."

HEre's the outside of the academic building (See Pelly? I love the symbolism behind their mascot- An ancient legend was that, "in time of famine, the mother pelican wounded herself, striking her breast with the beak to feed her young with her blood to prevent starvation. Another version of the legend was that the mother fed her dying young with her blood to revive them from death, but in turn lost her own life.")

Looking a little more moved-into on Day Two. Jack chose the top bunk, since he's used to that. His desk is on the right.

The three boys divided up the closet space evenly- Jack has the top bar and shelf for his clothes and stuff (since he doesn't get an under-bed space).

View from their kitchen (with wall panels newly attached on the right)

Before evening Mass in the academic building (on the left). The kitty-cornered building across the street is the Student Center.

Post-Mass with his apartment-mates. They are really such wholesome boys. I love how one of them was blessing their apartment with holy water on move-in day, how excited they got about the meals they'd be cooking (they'll take turns making meals), and how they plan their activities togther- like daily Mass, attending an orientation event, going to workout at the apartment's fitness facility... They called me Mrs. Ryan and were very grateful when I'd give them rides to or from an event (even if four of them had to squeeze in the back of my little Nissan Versa).

Down the hall from their apartment.

Jack said they grilled out steaks here one evening last week.

I said goodbye to Jack on Saturday night right after walking them down to the fitness center, which I wanted to see. But I left quickly because I lost it and didn't want to stay there, a sniveling mess. He'll be back in a short 2.5 months for Christmas, though. And I did feel good about the school and his living situation after dropping him off. His room/apartment-mates and the parents I got to meet, are all very nice. And it sounds like he's really hitting things off with the boys.

View from the fitness center balcony

I think it was Tuesday he sent these pictures and said Emmanuel (on the left) brought his guitar, and someone mistook them for a band. Oh, the memories he is making out there... they make my heart happy.

We've talked or messaged pretty much every day, and I love to hear about his goings-on and frequent adventures. Here's one more: Last week, their AC was out for two days, so they were roasting in their apartment during the 80+-degree days. They finally put in a maintenance request, and when the guy came to fix it, he just flipped a switch in the bathroom, and voila! The AC began cranking again. Jack sheepishly devulged that he had flipped that switch a couple of days earlier, thinking it was the fan. He had wondered why it was up so high but thought nothing more of it, as their apartment got warmer and warmer over the following days. Lol.

May these three years at JPCatholic University be a wonderful adventure for you, Jack!

Orientation 2025 (from President Connolly)