Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (AMDG) was a phrase I first heard from my older brother who attended a Jesuit High School in suburban Chicago. This Latin phrase is the motto of the Society of Jesus (aka the Jesuits) and translates as “for the greater glory of God.” Throughout the years, those words have come to life for me in my work with the Ignatian Center, as I accompanied students on immersion trips and in various student fellowship roles with the Ignatian Center. Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam became the ”why” as I navigated mothering my two daughters and continuing my work at the Ignatian Center. Serving as SCUs ambassador for Boston College’s AMDG is an incredible privilege.
A year-long intensive experience for SCU undergraduates, AMDG is anchored in retreats, community-engaged learning, and culminates in a pilgrimage on the Camino Ignaciano. SCU students join other participants from Jesuit universities, high schools and parish communities with a common goal of growing in their Catholic faith and understanding of Ignatian Spirituality. Funded by the Lily Foundation and coordinated by Boston College, the first cohort from Santa Clara University comprises a group of 10 students who bring intentional commitments to faith through academic accomplishments and co-curricular leadership.
Our experience together began this past summer at Ever to Excel at Boston College, offering an outstanding and dynamic retreat experience for all AMDG participants. Inspired by the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the experiences throughout the week were grounded in these ideas: God’s love is constant, unconditional and always present; To be fully known and loved changes us; Prayer and practices that invite us to pay attention to God’s grace moving in our life; The importance of the virtue of gentleness. Our SCU students entered into this experience with a generous spirit and were engaged throughout the week, asking thoughtful questions in the keynote sessions and daily mass. There was a flourishing of friendship as our SCU Fellows built meaningful relationships with each other and with students from delegations across the country.
Insights shared by our SCU group as they returned from Ever to Excel reflect the energy and depth shared over this week:
"[It is] amazing to see what it means to get a Jesuit Education: common values among institutions from across the country!”
- Charles Olsen ‘26
“The importance of community and genuine love for God when it comes to developing and deepening your faith.”
- Darasimi Ogunleye ‘28
“My faith journey after Ever to Excel has been revitalized. My peers and their faith walks inspired me.”
- Gabrielle Pitre ‘26
“I absolutely loved Ever to Excel, it was such a life-changing experience. From the talks with different people to meeting new like-minded students. It was something I was so blessed to have taken a part of. It made me realize all the things that we can do at Santa Clara as a Jesuit school.”
- Andrea Penaloza ‘28
- We are meeting monthly for reflection
- We are doing monthly community-engaged work, including a one-day Urban Plunge with Faithful Fools in San Francisco as well as multiple workdays with Sacred Heart Community Services
- Many of the students are attending Wednesday night candlelight masses, a new SCU tradition that was in part inspired from our daily masses at Boston College at Ever to Excel this summer
- One of our AMDG fellows, Emma Hatfield, also interns with Campus Ministry and she helped bring to life our first “Agape Latte,” directly inspired from the one that they experienced this summer at Boston College
AMDG offers us a particularly meaningful opportunity to gather and build community, knowing that we bring a unique faith experience, shaped by our family, culture, and church communities. Throughout our experience together, there will be different dimensions that resonate or are points of tension. However, our guiding principles will continue to be intentionality and attentiveness to maintaining an open heart, mind, and spirit of generosity as we pray, dialogue, and walk together. Serving as ambassador for SCU’s AMDG is a joy and privilege, and I look forward to accompanying our students over this next year. I am excited for you to get to know and follow this incredible group of students who will continue to share their reflections as their journey continues to unfold.
- Valerie Sarma
Sr. Program Director, Student Engagement & Special Projects
