|
Return to About AJCU > Resources and Publications > Mission and Identity Activity at Jesuit Colleges and Universities in the United States > Table of Contents
Saint Louis University
Contact: Rev. Paul Stark, SJ, Vice President for Mission and Ministry
Phone: (314) 977-7065
E-mail: pstarksj@slu.edu
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission statement of Saint Louis University reads in part:
The Mission of Saint Louis University is the pursuit of truth for the greater glory of God and for the service of humanity. The University seeks excellence in the fulfillment of its corporate purposes of teaching, research, health care and service to the community. It is dedicated to leadership in the continuing quest for understanding of God's creation and for the discovery, dissemination and integration of the values, knowledge and skills required to transform society in the spirit of the Gospels. As a Catholic, Jesuit university, this pursuit is motivated by the inspiration and values of the Judeo-Christian tradition and is guided by the spiritual and intellectual ideals of the Society of Jesus.
The President of the University mandates the Office of Mission and Ministry to articulate and advocate the Catholic mission and Jesuit vision, tradition, and values to all levels of the University: the Board of Trustees, the administration, faculty, staff, students and alumni.
STRUCTURE
Board Committee on Mission and Identity: This committee reviews and evaluates activities of the Office of Mission and Ministry each quarter, and directs its deliberations to the larger question of Mission as it should affect the various segments, divisions, policies and personnel of the University.
The Vice President for University Mission and Ministry initiates university-wide programs supporting Mission, manages the Marchetti Endowment fund; supervises / coordinates Campus Ministry Directors for Frost Campus, Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Allied Health and Public Health, and Pastoral Care for Saint Louis University Hospital; and works with the pastor of St. Francis Xavier College Church, as each group initiates and executes multiple activities, projects, and programs.
An Assistant Vice President for Mission and Ministry for Faculty, Staff and Administrators designs and executes programs and projects directly related to faculty/staff development, formation and needs; represents SLU on the Heartland Conference planning committee and the Ignatian Spirituality Conference planning committee.
Director of Campus Ministry: The director and a staff of sixteen campus ministers share responsibility for serving student needs and providing opportunities for ongoing spiritual growth. With a variety of faith-based programs, including liturgies, retreats, social justice programs and RCIA, Ignatian spirituality is infused throughout the campus ministry offerings.
Director of Pastoral Care: As part of the agreement with Tenet Healthcare, the Pastoral Care program at the SLU hospital sustains a staff of 10 full-time and 12 part-time pastoral care ministers. SLUHospital employees participate in mission and identity activities, including University Mission programs. Throughout the year the Pastoral Care Department offers programs expressive of the University Mission for the hospital community.
ORIENTATION PROGRAMS
New Employee Orientation
New employees participate in a 35-minute video-and-discussion program at a human resources orientation, once a month. The presentation introduces new employees to the role of mission, the roots of the Jesuit mission, and the employee’s role in furthering that mission.
New Faculty Orientation
In addition to other programs mentioned, Mission and Ministry personnel participate in orientation session for new faculty.
Student Orientation
Campus ministers provide an introduction to the University’s mission to parents during summer orientation. A student leader gives a reflection on how they have experience the Jesuit mission during the dinner.
“University 101” is a Student Development freshmen success course/text, with a chapter devoted to Jesuit mission.
Recruitment Efforts
New employees, including faculty, staff and administrators, are oriented to mission and identity throughout the recruitment process and as they begin their service. In Perspective is a publication presenting an overview of Catholic education, Jesuit education, and the history of Saint Louis University, and is sent to prospective faculty, professionals and administrators. The brochure, The Jesuit Mission of Saint Louis University, offers a concise introduction to our Catholic, Jesuit university, and is distributed to all staff and faculty prior to a job interview.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH
- Ignatian Silent Retreat: A four-day preached retreat based on the Exercises, designed primarily for graduate and undergraduate students.
- Living the Faith Day Retreat: An experience of prayer, journaling, meditation, centering, imaginative prayer, lectio divina and silence.
- Twilight Retreat: Offered during Advent and Lent, these evenings of reflection for faculty and staff are an opportunity to reflect on the season and its meaning.
- Weekend Faculty / Staff Retreats: Offered annually.
- Cup of Our Life: This University-wide prayer opportunity for staff and faculty invite participants to use Joyce Rupp’s book, “Cup of Our Life” as the basis of an eight-week sharing, both in person and on-line.
- Moment by Moment: This Ignatian faith-sharing group gathers each month for sharing on themes presented in the book, Moment By Moment: A Retreat in Everyday Life, by Eugene F. Merz, SJ, and Carol Ann Smith.
- SLU Encounter and Encounter Leadership Retreats. Participants explore the foundations of their faith through small group discussion, prayer and fellowship. The retreat develops techniques to foster leadership, spirituality and a closer relationship with God.
- Reflection Programs for Students. Seniors reflect on their experience at SLU in My Years at SLU; students engage in prayer and reflection with members of the Jesuit Community in Lofty Thoughts; and freshmen rekindle enthusiasm and commitment as they begin their second semester in a Fresh Look Retreat.
- Spiritual Direction: Spiritual direction serves anyone sincerely committed to praying regularly and willing to share that experience in confidence with another believer experienced in these matters. Spiritual direction can be especially helpful for those embarking on a life of serious prayer for the first time. The frequency of meetings varies, but usually a person meets with a director once a month. Offered to faculty, staff and students, as requested.
- Christian Life Communities are very active on campus and among the primary methods of introducing and familiarizing students with Ignatian spirituality.
SPIRITUAL EXERCISES
- Ignatian Silent Retreat: This four-day preached retreat based on the Exercises is designed primarily for graduate and undergraduate students.
- Magis Retreat: An experience of prayer, journaling, meditation, centering, imaginative prayer, lectio divina and silence.
- Living the Faith Day Retreat: An experience of prayer, journaling, meditation, centering, imaginative prayer, lectio divina and silence.
- Twilight Retreat: Offered during Advent and Lent, these evenings of reflection for faculty and staff are an opportunity to reflect on the season and its meaning.
- Weekend Faculty / Staff Retreats: Offered each semester.
- SLU Encounter and Encounter Leadership Retreats: Participants explore the foundations of their faith through small group discussion, prayer and fellowship. The retreat develops techniques to foster leadership and spirituality.
ONGOING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS and OPPORTUNITIES
Heartland Conference
The Jesuit Higher Education in the Heartland Conference gathers faculty, staff and administrators from 12 Jesuit colleges and universities in the country's Heartland and Delta regions to explore the vision and reality of Jesuit education in the 21st century.
The 2010 conference at Xavier University was the sixth regional gathering since 1994. Following each conference, post-conference gatherings are held to solidify the bonds formed at the conference and to build a critical mass of colleagues dedicated to the Jesuit mission.
Conversations Roundtables
The magazine, Conversations on Jesuit Higher Education, examines issues related to life and teaching at the 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States. Each semester, faculty and staff gather for roundtable discussions, facilitated by SLU colleagues. The sessions are co-sponsored by the Division of Mission and Ministry and the Center for Teaching Excellence.
Mission Brown Bag
This noontime series offers a monthly reflection on SLU’s Jesuit mission and Ignatian values.
SPIRITUAL EXERCISES/RETREATS
Bridges: The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola is offered on campus each year through the Bridges program. Also known as the Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life or the 19th Annotation Retreat, Bridges is an eight-month program of prayer and personal reflection for busy people.
Retreatants commit themselves to daily prayer, weekly meetings with a spiritual director and monthly input on the Exercises. The program begins each August.
Since its 1994 inception on the SLU campus, an average of 12 faculty, staff and friends of the University participate in the program each year.
28 Days of Guided Prayer: This four-week retreat experience for faculty and staff offers retreatants a “taste” of the Ignatian way of praying in everyday life, through daily individual prayer and weekly spiritual guidance with an experienced spiritual director. Offered each Lent, an average of 10 faculty and staff participate annually.
PUBLICATIONS, AUDIO-VISUAL MATERIALS DEVELOPED AND/OR USED
Shared Vision
During the mid-1990s, Saint Louis University developed Shared Vision, a three-part video and discussion series exploring the University's Jesuit identity and gives understanding of what it means to be part of a Jesuit university. This program has been distributed worldwide. Each semester, faculty and staff are invited to participate in the program. Deans, chairs and program directors also have been asked by the president to encourage the participation of their people.
The first part examines the beginning of the vision, the life of Ignatius Loyola, the development of the Spiritual Exercises, and the founding of the Society of Jesus. This is currently used as part of the University’s monthly New Employee Orientation.
The second part considers how Ignatian vision was transformed by the cultures it encountered and how the vision "transformed" the arts, the sciences and education.
The third part looks at the transitions the vision experienced as it became part of American culture and the modern era, asking participants to ponder the next step for those who share this Ignatian vision. Parts two and three are each offered as a 90-minute program during lunch each semester.
The series, also available on-line through a link on the University’s webpage, has been adapted for use by University departments, in the classroom, and with various student groups.
Mission Web Page
A University web page acquaints SLU faculty, staff, students, and site visitors to the Jesuit mission and ways to grow in one’s understanding and formation in the Ignatian Way.
New Employee Flash Drive
Created by Human Resources and distributed to new employees at the monthly orientation, this paperless resource provides benefits information, as well as links to the mission and ministry home page, Shared Vision, and Helping Our Own.
Our Way of Proceeding: A Mission Resource for Saint Louis University
This brochure, a joint production of Mission and Ministry and Human Resources, is designed for administrators, executive staff, deans, chairs and trustees, and provides a no-nonsense overview of the essential values and characteristics of the Jesuit mission, and references and citations from seminal Jesuit documents.
MISCELLANEOUS
Helping Our Own
This program provides a one-time monetary gift to any full-time or part-time employee experiencing a valid financial crisis. Confidential requests are made in writing and reviewed by a committee of employees from the home campus. This program exemplifies the University's Jesuit mission in action- -a community concerned for one another and committed to serving those in need.
Santa SLU
Held mid-October through mid-December each year on the Medical Center campus, employees, departments and other campus groups are encouraged to “adopt” families in need for the holidays, collecting and raising funds which are used to purchase gifts requested by the families, gift wrapped, and delivered before the Christmas season.
National Ignatian Spirituality Conference
Developed by the St. Louis Center for Ignatian Spirituality and sponsored by Saint Louis University and the Missouri Province of the Society of Jesus, this conference is designed to educate and encourage those who practice Ignatian spirituality as well as those involved in works rooted in Ignatian spirituality. Conferences have been held at SLU every three years since 1999. They attract 400-500 participants from throughout North America.
+++
All Mission and Ministry activities, programs, events and organizations, then, whether in Pastoral Care in the hospital, or Campus Ministry among the students, or Mission Programs developed for faculty, staff and alumni, derive from, and reflect the Mission of, Saint Louis University.
Updated: 4/5/2011
|
