Discovering Diversity through SHC’s Oracle

Story by Simone Cohen 27’

Each year, the Oracle club seeks student talent and stitches it together to create an awe-inspiring, unique and diverse patchwork quilt of Sacred Heart Cathedral talent. I interviewed the Instructor of English and Oracle Moderator, Dr. Stewart Grace, on just how incredible and one-of-a-kind this club can be. He says that the Oracle provides teachers with the ability to “grab the work from all of the students and put it on the wall of the classroom,” effectively catalyzing an open discussion of art. Conversations around the Oracle aren’t just constrained to the classroom, but fan out all across the Bay Area. Open Houses, Parent Tours, Irish for Day Tours, English classes and school functions in general readily distribute the Oracle to students and parents alike. Most, if not all, SHC or SHC-related households have at least one copy of the Oracle. Dr. Grace reminded me that “the adults of our community are frequently surprised about the amount of talent we have among our student body.” The expectations they might have are completely reinvented because of the creativity and vision of SHC.

I also spoke to Assistant-Editor-in-Chief Siena Larkin ‘27 to get a better sense of the club itself. She shared that at each meeting, “the atmosphere is light and fun” while members look over anonymously-submitted student work in preparation for the end-of-year collection released in May. In her view, “the importance and the reason of the Oracle is to have a fun and creative environment for observing, commenting on and appreciating all the beautiful artwork SHC students have done and bravely shared with us.” Her love of the club started much before she took on a leadership role, taking off during an Open House when she “stopped to flip through the book and was captivated.” Her reaction is not uncommon, I would even go so far to label it as normal. The sheer amount of clubs at SHC is diverse, yet Siena mused that the Oracle “makes it a more art-inclusive and appreciating environment where those with an affinity for art can have a place to create and submit it, and discuss and reflect on it.”

For examples of student work, explore the Oracle website.

As someone with work in the Oracle and a profound love of poetry and art as a whole, Siena’s words rang true. She finished by saying: “I came to respect and understand my peers and generation,  finding deeper meaning and connections in their works.” Her “understanding” in terms of everyone’s art categorizes “each piece as unique and truly special.” How incredible is that? That a student did something that adults rarely do: found respect and connection with their peers. And to think, it’s all because of one club. Dr. Grace summed it up when he said that the Oracle is a way we, as a school, a faculty and a community, say “I see you” to the student. By shared opinion, that ability is rare enough that joining this club and creating something as extraordinary as the Oracle is an opportunity no one should pass up.

Next time you find yourself at SHC, find Dr. Grace’s classroom, Room 506, located on the Fifth floor of La Salle to pick up a physical copy. However, if you find yourself off-campus, check out the Oracle's website. There are plenty of accessible copies to go around and so much talent to be discovered!