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Saint Peter's College

Mission Statement

Saint Peter’s College, inspired by its Jesuit, Catholic identity, commitment to individual attention and grounding in the liberal arts, educates a diverse community of learners in undergraduate, graduate and professional programs to excel intellectually, lead ethically, serve compassionately and promote justice in our ever-changing urban and global environment.

Organizational Structure for M&I activity

The Vice President for Mission and Ministry assists the entire Saint Peter’s College community to integrate the Jesuit and Catholic mission and values of the College into their lives. As a member of the President’s Cabinet, he provides leadership to the College community in its efforts to understand and embody the mission of the Society of Jesus by developing various programs, lecture series, and opportunities to experience the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. He also assists the College to maintain effective communication with the Rector of the Jesuit Community, in addition to the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, the Office of the Provincial of the New York Province of the Society of Jesus, and Diocesan officials.

The office of Campus Ministry and Community Service reports to the Vice President for Mission and Ministry. Working with them and other campus organizations, the Office of Mission and Ministry strives to help the College community reflect on and embody in their decision-making the Ignatian values enunciated in the mission statement of the College.

Orientation Programs

The Office of Mission and Ministry participates in a three-day orientation program for new faculty and staff. And in conjunction with the Office of Campus Ministry and Community Service, the Office of Mission and Ministry participates in the orientation of new Resident Assistants, and the Orientation Team who will guide in-coming freshmen through their orientation, which includes an orientation presentation conducted by the Campus Ministry and Community Service staff.

In addition, the Vice President for Mission and Ministry participates in the orientation of new Board of Trustee members each fall.

On-going educational programs (Lectures, Seminars, Conversations, etc.)

The Office conducts a “New Colleagues Seminar” held over six or seven weeks during which new faculty and staff are introduced to the history of the Society of Jesus, the history of the College, the life of Ignatius, the Spirituality of the Society of Jesus and its impact on Jesuit education, and the vocation we all share as educators in the Ignatian, Catholic tradition.

The Vice President for Mission and Ministry conducts periodic workshops covering the same material for College staff in the various departments of the College

The Vice President for Mission and Ministry also conducts on-going Mission-related presentations for the Board of Trustees as time allows and upon their invitation.

In collaboration with the Saint Peter’s Chapter of Alpha Sigma Nu, we sponsor an annual Jesuit Heritage Week, consisting of a week-long series of lectures, presentations, and activities designed foster campus-wide awareness of the Ignatian values that are the foundation of the College.

In conjunction with the publication of Conversations magazine, the Office sponsors “Conversation on Conversations” to offer faculty, staff, and administrators the opportunity to discuss topics raised by the publication.

Integration of M&I into curriculum and academic programs

Saint Peter’s College has recently completed “Vision 2015: Powered by Faith, Reason, Service and Justice,” our latest strategic plan. The Vice President for Mission and Ministry was a prominent participation in the evolution of this plan. The first strategic direction is the promotion of Jesuit mission and identity and fostering “a college community dedicated to the integration of both Faith and Reason by, among other things:

• the establishment of a task force to help infuse the First Year Experience with an exploration of Ignatian values
• the creation of a curriculum initiative to encourage a serious engagement with ethics and Ignatian discernment in all disciplines
• the incorporation of service learning and social justice as graduation requirements

Spiritual Exercises/Retreats

In addition to the retreats for students offered by Campus Ministry, the Office of Mission and Ministry has made opportunities for faculty, staff and administrators to participate in both 18th and 19th Annotation retreats each semester, and full 19th Annotation retreats over the course of the whole year. Saint Peter’s participants in the Ignatian Colleagues Program have made their retreats under the direction of the Vice President for Mission and Ministry. In addition, we have sponsored “The Art of Stillness,”an interfaith and interreligious introduction to various modes of prayer and meditation through poetry, music, lectio divina and silence.  

Publications, Audio-visual materials developed and/or used

This year the Office of Mission and Ministry significantly revised its web pages in order to provide the College community a clear introduction to the meaning of the Ignatian quotes and slogans that we commonly use. These pages will include a “Resources” page that will provide a wide spectrum of links to Jesuit and Catholic resources.

In addition, we are currently developing both book and poster projects to better introduce Ignatian themes and history to the campus community.

Updated 1/14/2011