L to R: Fr. Vin Biagi, S.J. '67, of the USA Northeast Province of the Society of Jesus;
Jane Bleasdale of St. Peter's Prep; Sue Baber and Dr. Kristin Ross of Loyola School;
Dr. Joe Petriello of the USA Northeast Province

Jesuit Mission and Identity Directors Gather at Xavier

On February 9 and 10, the Ignatian identity directors from Jesuit middle and high schools along the East Coast gathered at Xavier for their annual meeting. Representatives from 23 schools from Boston to D.C. came together to pray about, reflect on, and discuss ways to deepen the Ignatian identity of their institutions. The program included a report on the International Seminar on Ignatian Spirituality & Pedagogy (SIPEI) which was held in Manresa, Spain in November 2014; discussion of online Ignatian formation; a reflection on the work of the Ignatian educator by Fr. Jose Luis (Lito) Salazar, S.J., a professor of theology at St. Peter’s College and a former Xavier faculty member; and a presentation on women in Jesuit education by Dr. Kristin Ross, the principal at Loyola School, New York.

Fr. Salazar encouraged the Ignatian identity directors to be wary of the commodification of Jesuit spirituality and encouraged them to reflect and pray on the words Ignatius used to speak about the work of the Society, “to help souls.” He wondered how the work today might be different if “the helping of souls” was the starting point for our discussions. In this day and age, “helping souls” is a phrase less ably commodified. Xavier’s president, Jack Raslowsky, joined the conference at various points over the two days and noted, “It was an honor to host the Ignatian identity directors. The women and men gathered with us here at Xavier have a deep commitment to the work of the Society and are crucially important partners at each of our schools in perpetuating Ignatian spirituality (and the history and traditions of the Society) as the foundation of our work. In many ways, all the Jesuit schools are more deliberately Jesuit these days because of the formation of all our faculty and staff—lay and Jesuit—and this accounts for the tremendous strength of Jesuit education on the East Coast, across the country, and throughout the world.”

Dr. Joe Petriello, assistant to the provincial for secondary and pre-secondary education (a role he shares with Fr. Vin Biagi, S.J. ’67 and Ms. Meg Florentine), commented, “The Jesuit provinces are committed to the ongoing growth and development of the faculties and staffs of our schools in all things Ignatian. This gathering is one more sign of the commitment of the provinces and those doing the work in the schools to forming outstanding, committed Jesuit educators.”