Transformative Engagement

Sometimes faith and religion can seem abstract or hard to grasp. But when faith is put into authentic action, it becomes crystal clear to both believers and non-believers alike that something beautiful, just, and true is present. This has certainly been the case in the last week as our world has turned its attention to mourning the death, and celebrating the life, of Pope Francis. His generosity of spirit, his commitment to a culture of dialogue and engagement that sees the dignity of every human being, and his prophetic voice for peace, justice, and loving stewardship of our “common home” have lifted hearts and inspired hope for billions of people across the globe. His funeral and the many tributes to him (including this video featuring President Sullivan and Dean Orobator from the Jesuit School of Theology) have been an important reminder of what we are capable of, each in unique ways, as children beloved by God.

Our Jesuit tradition – embodied so beautifully in Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pope – invites us into this kind of living theology, a living practice of engagement with God and the world that finds expression not in the abstract but in the direct contact with others. It is transformative because it is real: tangible, life-shaping, and creative. It leans into the places where the world is broken and hurting, and it sees possibilities for reconciliation and rebirth. And it is nourished in community, animated by the gifts each person brings and the burdens each one helps carry.

Here in the Ignatian Center, we cultivate opportunities for our Santa Clara students to live the fullness of this Jesuit-inspired, engaged faith as they craft the contours of their careers and commitments. Each spring, we take special joy in seeing the multifaceted ways this has come together in the lives of our graduating seniors. In this issue, I invite you to read the featured story of Megan Milligan ‘25, which follows the many ways she has engaged with the Ignatian Center throughout her college career and how those experiences ultimately led her to join the Jesuit Volunteer Corps to Nashville, Tennessee.

Our Jesuit mission speaks most eloquently when, like the life of Pope Francis, it is lived in deeds more than words. Thank you for walking this journey with us, and for fostering and celebrating the lives of authentic love and solidarity that emerge here in our Santa Clara community . . . and that little by little, transform our world - here, there, and everywhere.

A Passion for Social Justice and Storytelling

When Megan Milligan ‘25 transferred to Santa Clara University as a sophomore, she had no idea that one suggestion from a professor would change the path of her college experience. Megan’s professor encouraged her to apply for a winter break Immersion and she decided to take a chance, unaware that it would shape the way she saw the world. That first immersion with the Ignatian Center sparked something in her. Megan found herself returning again and again, drawn to the complex conversations she encountered there. 

READ MEGAN'S STORY HERE