Shining a Festive Light on Legacy

Snow fell in deliberate, slow flakes over St. Ignatius Plaza Nov. 9, catching the first glow of streetlights as students gathered beneath them. The brick walkway shimmered under a thin layer of frost, the air sharp and still at 29 degrees. 

Bundled in scarves and Loyola beanies, students stood shoulder to shoulder as they awaited the school’s tree lighting. 

Hosted with the help of the Department of Programming, the annual Christmas tree lighting marked the beginning of the holiday season. Music from the University Choir drifted over the crowd, their voices carrying down North Kenmore Avenue as more students filled the plaza. 

Senior Vice President Father Thomas Neitzke, S.J. said the change from an indoor to outdoor ceremony felt like both a new beginning and a continuation of the tradition built by Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM, who died Oct. 9, The Phoenix reported. 

“It’s different, not having Sister with us, and I get to stand in her place, which is a great honor to be able to do that,” Neitzke said. “She would be excited and happy that we’re still doing this and that we’re doing it outside for the first time. We’ve never done outside before. So hoping the snow doesn’t come. Hopefully Sister Jean can pull that off for us.”

Schmidt’s presence lingered in memory even as Loyola charted a new course without her. Neitzke said she blessed the event and was watching over the students. 

“One of my last conversations with her was actually about all the things she did on campus,” Neitzke said. “She said to me, ‘Tom, you’re gonna have to take over some of these things.’”

Neitzke said Schmidt then began to list the things she did on campus.

“You and the Jesuits have to take over and do these things for us,” Neitzke recalled Schmidt telling him.

Second-year social work major Siena Negron said the tree lighting carried a mix of nostalgia and renewal. 

“It’s a really nice way to honor Sister Jean,” Negron said. “They’re not trying to take her tradition, instead they’re making something new out of it. It’s still commemorating her and keeping her tradition alive, but making something new for the students.”

The event’s timing — was planned to give students more time to enjoy the decorations before the end of the semester, according to Loyola President Mark C. Reed. The plaza was strung with golden lights and wreaths along every lamppost, flickering against the dark lakefront sky. 

Reed said the evening reflected the university’s efforts to build connection and calm during a hectic academic stretch. 

“It’s always good when we come together as a community in celebratory fashion, so what better way to do it than around the holidays?” Reed said. 

Reed said he’s interested in the matters of students and figuring out what they like best. For him, community-based events are what make Loyola home and alleviate the stress solitary academia brings. 

“I always enjoy when students feel a sense of community, a sense that this is a comfortable place for them,” Reed said. “It’s like home. We’re at a busy point in this semester, so there’s a few more weeks to go before finals. I hope all students are buckling down and doing their papers and studying hard, and I wish everybody well as the semester wraps up.”

By 7 p.m., the crowd grew quiet as the lights blinked on — first a few bulbs, then the entire tree bursting into gold and white. A ripple of applause traveled through the plaza as students lifted phones to capture the moment. 

Across the other campuses, trees and decorations also lit up in sync, signaling the start of Loyola’s winter season.

Near the front of the crowd, the University Chorale stood in a semicircle, joined by student musicians whose harmonies echoed through the plaza. Second-year music major Bobby Winton and third-year clinical psychology major Delaney Ocock said it was their first time performing at the tree lighting.

“It’s just a really good way to spread some holiday cheer and use our voices for a way that can bring happiness to our fellow Loyola students,” Ocock said. “We’re just out here to provide some joyful holiday music to accompany the Christmas tree lighting.”

Through the festive music, Chicago’s cold bit at students’ faces, but the excitement seemed to make the temperature bearable. Reed said the weather might fool the crowd, but it’s the reality of being a Chicagoan.

“The weather in Chicago is always unpredictable,” Reed said. “Last week, we had a beautiful fall day, and here we are a lot colder a couple days later. I wouldn’t be surprised if it warms up again once more before Christmas comes. That’s just the way it is in Chicago.”

Keith Champagne, Vice President for Student Development, said these festivities were part of Loyola’s larger mission to cultivate joy and connection, even amid chaos.

“I’m out here because it’s part of what we’re doing to provide Loyola students with transformative life experiences, and this is the kickoff of our official tree lighting and holiday season,” Champagne said. “It’s community engagement — a connection to our students, to the community, to the Jesuit mission. It’s open to people from all backgrounds and faiths. It’s just part of finding and promoting joy within this season.”

Leon D. Silvia, fourth-year health care administration and psychology major, said the moment reminded him of watching holiday events back home. 

“I grew up Catholic and it’s always good to see the tree lighting,” D. Silvia said. “I grew up seeing the Rockefeller getting lit, so this was amazing to watch.”

D. Silvia said this was an important moment for Loyola to show solidarity with all students. Everyone gathered outside together no matter their race or faith — according to D. Silvia, this action is needed in moments of turmoil. 

“This was good because right now, especially in our current climate, it’s good to have moments of happiness,” D. Silvia said. “Everything going on politically, being Latino, it’s moments like these that make me happy. Everybody is together.”

Third-year environmental science and anthropology major Sofia Miliotto said that same togetherness helps fill the absence of family during the holidays.

“Since we’re not at home during the holiday season, we’re not having to see the setting up our home Christmas tree or whatever it is that you celebrate with your family,” Miliotto said. “We have that here with our school people instead.”

Fourth-year history major Harry Brooker said the event reflected the resilience of Loyola’s community spirit. 

“It is always something wonderful, and it always takes me aback at how amazing the Loyola community comes together in times, not just of celebration, but of great protest,” Brooker said. 

Brooker said the engagement of students during the holidays increased throughout the four years he’s been at Loyola. 

“I do see an increase of people joining in the community and in the technological age, we lose connections so much in our school work and that community, people are longing for it,” Brooker said. “You can tell they’re hungry. We see events all across campus. We’re all together to celebrate the Christmas holidays, be Loyolaons altogether. It’s really wonderful.”

As the evening wound down, the snow continued to fall steadily, softening the edges of the plaza’s bricks and benches. The crowd thinned, seeking shelter from the Chicago cold, but the lights stayed bright, reflecting snow and Lake Michigan wind.  

Neitzke said he hopes the decorations serve as a reminder for students in the final weeks of the semester to keep going. 

“What I want students to take away is every time they walk down this mall and see these lights, they remember that we’re a community of joy and hope — especially as we get closer to the end of the semester and exams,” Neitzke said. “Maybe these lights can remind us that there’s light at the end of the tunnel, and there’s hope for all of us.”