Jesu-WHAT? Jesuit Values & Welcome Week!
When you join the Loyola community this fall, you will become a part of a university that was founded on Jesuit principles. But, what does this mean, and how does it relate to Welcome Week? In this post, we explore these questions.
Loyola was founded in 1870 by Fr. Arnold Damen, a Jesuit priest and educator. Loyola grew to become one of the largest Catholic universities in the United States, and is part of a network of 28 Jesuit institutions of higher education. While these schools are located all over the country, they commonly seek to integrate philosophies of scholarship, faith, and social justice in their curricula and student activities.
Loyola's motto is "Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam", which translates to, "For the Greater Glory of God." As an institution, Loyola encourages its students to "seek God in all things", and go forth to serve communities in-need with their talents. The Loyola Student Promise is about Care: Care for oneself, Care for others, and Care for one's community.
During Welcome Week, you will have several opportunities to apply the Loyola Student Promise. Family Mass, Saturday of Service, Discover your Chicago, Speed Greeting, and other events, are all forums to engage with and learn more about your fellow students, and the LUC community. Through meeting others, and learning about Loyola's place in Chicago and the world, you will start the school year with ideas of how to apply your abilities to "set the world on fire", as we say at Loyola.
More information on Loyola's mission and identity can be found here. There will be frequent points of discussion and contemplation throughout your time here. We can’t wait to celebrate our values and share in community with you!