Saint Aloysius Mass and Dinner -- Enjoy the Photos!

On Sunday, April 19, more than 400 alumni and friends of Gonzaga gathered for the annual St. Aloysius Mass and Dinner to recognize and celebrate the school's most generous benefactors. After Mass in St. Aloysius Church and cocktails in the courtyard, Gonzaga President Fr. Joseph  Lingan presented the St. Aloysius Medal, Gonzaga’s highest honor, to Monsignor Raymond G. East, Douglas J. Free '72, Helen M. Free, Sister Mary Berchmans Hannan, VHM, and Mark H. Tuohey, III. Congratulations to these worthy recipients who exemplify the magis each and every day. 

Affectionately known as "Father Ray," Monsignor Raymond East has been a vibrant spiritual shepherd in Southeast D.C. for decades and, in recent years, a beloved mentor to Gonzaga’s football program. A gifted evangelist and singer, he is celebrated for his ability to set souls on fire and his deep commitment to the Black Catholic community and the African diaspora. Father Ray embodies the Gospel through a life of tireless service, authenticity, and a unique ability to make every individual feel a profound sense of belonging.

With nearly 60 combined years of service, Doug and Helen Free are remembered by generations of alumni as two of Gonzaga’s most demanding and devoted English teachers. Doug was known for his classical approach and fastidious attention to detail, while Helen became a legend for her "brutally honest" critiques, unique ability to transform young men into great writers, and generous mentorship of women teachers on Eye Street. Together, the Frees shared a singular goal: helping students become the best versions of themselves. Their legacy lives on through the students they challenged, the colleagues they inspired, and the deep, joyful friendships they nurtured within the Eye Street community. 

A fixture of Georgetown Visitation for over 70 years, Sister Mary Berchmans Hannan has served as teacher, Headmistress, President, and President Emerita. Known for her "gentle strength," formidable intellect, and legendary memory, she led Visitation through a rebuilding process after a devastating fire and has championed critical issues of equality and inclusion. Beyond her administrative leadership, she is a legendary correspondent and mentor who treats every person she meets as the most important in the world, embodying the Salesian values of kindness and integrity. We are profoundly grateful for the many and varied ways she has blessed both the Visitation and Gonzaga communities for more than seven decades. 

Mark Tuohey has spent decades using his legal expertise and vast connections to better the city of Washington and the Gonzaga community. From serving on the Board of Directors to helping bring Major League Baseball back to D.C., Mark’s leadership is defined by magis—the Jesuit value to always do more. Alongside his wife Marty, also a St. Al’s recipient, he raised three Gonzaga sons who carry on his legacy of service, proving that for the Tuohey family, the truest happiness is found in rolling up one's sleeves and doing the work.