Gifts of Our Ignatian Heritage

The Gift of Mission invites us to understand the history and importance of our Jesuit heritage and Ignatian spirituality. It compels us to attract and nurture students and faculty who are interested in understanding and affirming this heritage. Mission at a Jesuit University focuses on the centrality of academic excellence, grounded in a Catholic faith tradition.

The Gift of Reflection invites us to pause and consider the world around us and our place within it. It calls us to infuse a culture of attention, reflection and reverence throughout the University.

The Gift of Discernment invites us to be open to God?s spirit as we consider our feelings and rational thought in order to make decisions and take action that will contribute good to our lives and the world around us.

The Gift of Solidarity and Kinship invites us to walk along side and learn from our companions as we journey through life, fostering a spirit of community, both within and outside the University.

The Gift of Service Rooted in Justice and Love invites us to invest our lives into the well-being of our neighbors, particularly those who suffer injustice. This encourages and develops a culture of mutually beneficial community engagement as an expression of faith that promotes justice.

XU Discernment Group, 2009 Report to the President