Preparation for Every Spiritual Path in Life
The Ignatian tradition of spirituality and discernment permeates every aspect our institution. With an abundance of opportunities to exercise and reflect on real-world pastoral applications, students practice what they learn in class. Each student may participate in daily liturgy, regular spiritual direction, retreats, many offerings in Ignatian spirituality, and other opportunities for spiritual growth. Faithful to the Catholic tradition, distinguished faculty teach students to think critically about theology and how to live a faith that does justice in service of the Church and the world. Watch the stories of our current students and alumni below:
Learn more about our distinguished faculty and what they are teaching in the upcoming semester.
A Letter of Solidarity from Fr. O'Brien
Dear JST Community,
We received communication from the
President and Provost of Santa Clara University, offering the University's response to the tragic acts of violence and domestic terrorism in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Over the last few days, we witnessed how, in the words of Fr. Engh and Dr. Jacobs, "the caustic ideologies of racism, white supremacy, xenophobia, and other forms of bigotry are increasingly reestablishing a foothold in American culture, dividing the country and threatening the fundamental values on which our democratic society is built." Sadly, this experience is not limited to our borders in the U.S., for many in our community come from countries and communities facing similar challenges.
I write first of all to assure our community here at the Jesuit School of Theology, that we stand in solidarity with victims of violence and hatred, and we promise to be their advocates. This commitment stems from the religious tradition which is at the core of our mission as a school of theology in the Jesuit and Catholic tradition. This tradition upholds the fundamental dignity of every human being as created in the image of God, each a beloved son or daughter. This means that we are all brothers and sisters, no matter our differences. We are better together than we are alone. In community -- with all of its blessed diversity -- we become the persons God calls us to be.
As we sift through our personal and communal responses to the tragedy in Charlottesville and what has happened since, I remind you that we can lean on each other. We can also lean on the Judeo-Christian tradition which informs so much of our work here. As students, scholars, teachers, and mentors at a Jesuit and Catholic university, we believe in the power of ideas to transform people and communities.
Ideas matter, and ideas have consequences. Recently and in our long national histories, we have seen the destructive force of insidious ideologies and belief systems. But we also know of the transformative and benevolent power of more lasting and authentic ideas: human dignity, solidarity, justice, the common good, grace, and mercy, to name a few. As a Jesuit theology center, we are not content just talking about these ideas. We strive to give them life: by how we treat each other, how we serve our local Church and community, and how we labor tirelessly for justice and reconciliation.
There are no quick fixes nor easy solutions. Our tradition teaches us that serving the reign of God can be hard work. But this is the most worthy of projects, so we read, write and study, and we pray, serve, and sacrifice with moral conviction, humility, generosity and resolve.
This important conversation will continue throughout the year, for we are a place that lets the world in, in all of its beauty and brokenness, and we are a school that is committed to realizing, in ways large and small, God's reign of justice, peace, and love.
In hope,
Jesuit School of Theology
