Jimmy, Rest in Peace!

Jimmy Broussard (’17) came to Western for his eighth grade in the fall of 2016. He was in Mr. Thompson homeroom, and Mr. John Power was his advisor. Like many of us, Mr. Power was close to the family. Jimmy played Baseball (under Coach Pat Miggins) and Soccer (Coach Henderson).

Jimmy lived with his loving grandparents, Paul and Rae Broussard. Paul and Rae became very close to us, attending school events, following Jimmy’s progress, and lending a hand in supporting Western.

His grandfather told me many times that the best year of Jimmy’s life was when he was here for that school year, 2016-17, and I believe it. Jimmy suffered a lot in his short life but also enjoyed the powerful love of his grandparents.

Jimmy was always happy and seemed to thrive in the culture of Western. We wished he could have come to WA earlier! Jimmy, on visits recently, told us how much he appreciated Western, in particular, the men who taught and mentored him. He pointed out the manly Catholic piety he saw being lived out by them.

One of our school moms told the story of a boy who approached her in a parking lot, two years ago. He had seen the Western magnet on her car and wished to say hello. She was a little taken aback at first with the stranger’s greeting but ended up giving him a hug after he told her that he had attended Western and thought so much of it.

Jimmy came for a visit last year, here with his Advisor, Mr. Power. He was working and enrolled at the U. of Houston. He adopted the elegant dress of his grandfather and determined to live his Catholic faith very well.

Jimmy’s death was sudden. After complaining of leg pain, they took him to the hospital for an MRI. Afterwards, his grandparents anticipated he would be coming back home, but Jimmy never made it home that day, passing away suddenly at age 23.

I remember hearing St. Josemaria, Opus Dei’s founder, speak about how death comes. He said that the loving God is like the careful gardener who nurtures flowers and picks them in full bloom. God is not like a hunter who takes his prey when they are most weak and vulnerable.