Being Xaverian - Our Lady of Good Counsel High School

I’M XAVERIAN | Peg Weidner, Chair, Religion Department
(since 2001), religious studies teacher (since 1990), XB (Xaverian Brothers)
Associate, IB curriculum expert for world religions
“As an XB Associate, I have pledged my commitment to journey with the Xaverian
Brothers in a closer relationship of prayer, outreach and communion with the
brothers. Being an associate fits in with so much of not only what I do, but also
of who I am.
The marks of the Xaverian guiding principles include living simply and taking a
contemplative stance in the world. This philosophy supports my belief of ‘everything
with God, nothing without Him.’ Taking a contemplative stance is a wakeup call that makes each one of us ask:
‘What have I done today Did I just put one foot in front of the other and go with the flow, or did I deliberately
accomplish something that served your community Did I fulfill your responsibilities in a way that was
memorable Did I touch somebody else’s life’ Being an associate gives me a chance, in a very deliberate way,
to do things that are reflective of how I want to live now. As I consider these questions, I also have a responsibility
to teach our young men and women to contemplate the impact of their own actions as well.
At Good Counsel, we educate our students to understand very important Catholic and Xaverian social teachings,
including showing solidarity—the idea that we are all brothers and sisters from one human family. We encourage
our students to be ‘their brother’s keeper.’ Through our commitment to serving the poor and marginalized and
living out the Xaverian belief of being fully present with others, students live this philosophy.
We believe that exposing our students to service should be natural—they can’t approach service with ‘holier than
thou’ attitudes, self-righteousness or egos when they meet and put a face on the people that they are providing
service to. This solidarity that is established between our students and to those they serve becomes affection.
They understand that their efforts make
a difference when they are part of
a worldwide family.
I’M XAVERIAN | Sylvia Serefino,
Math Teacher since 1974
“The Xaverian charism that we speak
so highly of now—simplicity, humility,
compassion, zeal and trust—was always
present during the days when the brothers
led our school. When the brothers were
here, we were able to witness the charism
every day. You didn’t have to look far for
an example of any of our values. Today,
we have to think about the values. Occasionally, I find myself singing
the Xaverian song and thinking about the words in the songs while I
match them to the various brothers of our past.
Simplicity, solidarity and living in
community—the characteristics of the
Xaverians—is very evident in our
community. We teach the Xaverian way
every day. Knowing our mission and
living it helps our students determine
their path in life, and keeps them
connected here.” ✦
How do we tell people what it means to be Xaverian How do
we explain who we are And can we really do that without the
brothers being physically present Although they are no longer
here, I can say with certainty, that the Xaverian way is vibrant and
alive in our school. Having been involved with the XBSS since the
very beginning of its formation, I know that those who attend our
school truly understand what it means to be Xaverian.” ✦
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