Exploring the Strong Brotherhood of Mount Saint Joseph School

Mount Saint Joseph, a Catholic school in the heart of Irvington, Baltimore, has always been a community that prides itself on its sense of connection and welcome. Historically, it has been a beacon of guidance, allowing growing men to figure out what they believe in and confide not only in each other, but also in the faculty and staff who offer wisdom earned through age. Building such a strong community is not easy at all and requires delicacy and care. Recently, I took it upon myself to figure out what makes our school’s brotherhood so much deeper than other similar communities. I went around campus asking students and staff what they believed in, what their experiences with the MSJ community were, and what the secret ingredient to the Mount’s connection is.

Four young men in formal attire are praying in a chapel, with a crucifix in the background.

The first person I spoke to was Mr. Sutton, a finance teacher at the Mount. I chose Mr. Sutton because of his public school teaching experience and how it compared to MSJ. He admitted he was nervous about not being the strongest in his faith when he arrived on campus. However, this fear was very quickly washed away as he said he experienced extremely welcoming faces and people who cared more about his character rather than beliefs.

I then spoke with two seniors, James Barthel and Andrew Linton; they offered the majority perspective of MSJ, young men raised in faith who are now in a confusing time in their journeys. Both young men expressed their disappointment in their recent falling out of faith as high school responsibilities pile up. Andrew specifically pointed out his struggles with finding time to practice his faith. Both of the men brought up interesting points as to how the school might be able to improve community by strengthening the bond that the students have with each other, before trying to develop and understand their beliefs. I was really intrigued by this idea. It made total sense to find community and work with others to achieve your goals rather than figuring things out on your own, then finding common ground with those around you.

To get a younger perspective, I spoke to Noah Doyle, a sophomore with a similar faith upbringing to Andrew and James, raised in a Catholic household. When asked what was the key to separating MSJ from other communities, Noah replied saying that the Mount specializes in exposure. He said our school was a significantly better experience than middle and elementary school because faith was rarely discussed. Doyle said that teaching and understanding different forms of faith helps our school develop a sense of connection throughout the community.

A busy school cafeteria filled with students sitting at tables, some eating and chatting, with a variety of food trays visible.

My final questions were with Mrs. Bruce, a literature teacher, often found helping students in the library writing center. When asked how working at the school may have affected her faith, she specified the importance of being a Xaverian school. She said it displays a whole new side of not only the Church, but love and kindness as a whole. Valuing caring for others and loving neighbors. She described a strong brotherhood on our campus and said that, with the core Xaverian values constantly in mind and at heart, MSJ students may be different but certainly united.