Santa Clara University

"Where is the 'Jesuit' in Jesuit Schools?"

Sunday, March 11, 2012
Mass 3:00 p.m., Lecture and Discussion 4:00 p.m., Reception 5:00 p.m.
Wilshire Country Club, 301 North Rossmore Avenue, Los Angeles

Often people first learn about Jesuits by coming into contact with Jesuit schools.  Although Jesuits are involved in many different ministries, it has been true historically and remains true in the U.S. today, that Jesuits are heavily invested in the “intellectual apostolate.”  Twenty-eight colleges and universities and over 50 high schools, middle schools, and other secondary school programs in the U.S. count themselves as part of the Jesuit family, including prestigious institutions like Loyola Marymount University and Loyola High School in Los Angeles.

However, even as these schools have grown, the number of Jesuits working within them has declined.  Even more significantly, Jesuit schools are increasingly headed by non-Jesuit presidents, principals, deans, and other academic leaders.  What can be done to ensure that these schools remain “Jesuit” in a meaningful way?  Come and learn how the Jesuit School of Theology and other Jesuit institutions are responding to this challenge.