Jesuit Education 101
By: Michelle Wheatley, University Ministry
“The real measure of our schools lies in who our students become.” –Fr. Kolvenbach, S.J.
Welcome to the Gonzaga family! Whether you are new to Jesuit education, new to GU, or a veteran Zag, we invite you to experience the unique heritage of our institution. The first Jesuit school opened in 1548. Since then that number has grown to 1,000 schools across the globe, touching millions of lives—from every background—through education and service. This is an amazing feat, especially since the first Jesuits never imagined it! They eventually discovered, however, that the work of education was a powerful way for them to live out their mission and ministry.
The Jesuits were inspired by their vision of God at work in the world, and they sought to find God everywhere, in all things. This attentiveness propelled them outward in care and service of all of creation. They passionately devoted themselves to excellence in all their endeavors, especially the service of faith and promotion of justice. In all pursuits, they were driven by their motto: “For the greater glory of God.”
The Jesuit educational model is built upon this passionate vision. It involves career preparation but also character formation, theory but also reflection on lived experience. Fr. Kolvenbach, the former leader of the Jesuits worldwide, said once that students learn “when the heart is touched by direct experience.” Through a dynamic cycle of experience, reflection and action—both inside the classroom and out—students are invited into a deeper understanding of both the world around them and the world within them. The goal is that, by the time they graduate, they are people of competence, character and compassion, poised not only to be successful in their chosen fields, but to be the leaders who shape those fields and transform the world.
Intrigued? There’s much more to this story! Keep an eye out in your Parent and Family Orientation materials for two sessions which will take place on campus on August 29, 2015:
“Jesu…what? What it means to be a Jesuit University,” and
“Gonzaga’s Guide to All Things Jesuit: Q&A Panel.”