Message From the President

Dear Gonzaga Community:

When I started my time on Eye Street ten years ago, one of my fi rst duties was to write the President’s Welcome Message for our website. My intent was to state as clearly as possible from the start what a Jesuit education is all about. I did this because there are many misconceptions about why Jesuits operate schools, and I wanted to make it clear from the beginning why we Jesuits and our lay colleagues do what we do.

The primary goal of a Jesuit school is not to enroll its graduates in the best colleges and universities. The primary goal of a Jesuit school is not to produce accomplished athletes, artists, and performers. The primary goal of a Jesuit education is not to make sure that our graduates become independently wealthy, although if you do, you can be pretty sure that a Jesuit will ask you for a donation at some point! Surely, we Jesuits see the value in these goals. However, rather than being the primary purpose of a Jesuit edusee the value in these goals. However, rather than being the primary purpose of a Jesuit education, these things are what I like to call some of the “happy side effects” that result from a cation, these things are what I like to call some of the “happy side effects” that result from a Jesuit education. They are also the rewards of living life well no matter where you study. Jesuit education. They are also the rewards of living life well no matter where you study.

The true purpose of a Jesuit education stems from the spiritual legacy of St. Ignatius Loyola The true purpose of a Jesuit education stems from the spiritual legacy of St. Ignatius Loyola as found in his spiritual masterpiece, The Spiritual Exercises. The Spiritual Exercises are not a The Spiritual Exercises. The Spiritual Exercises are not a book to be read, but rather a retreat experience masterfully book to be read, but rather a retreat experience masterfully constructed by St. Ignatius to guide constructed by St. Ignatius to guide the retreatant to a real encounter with God who is revealed in the context of the created world. the retreatant to a real encounter with God who is revealed in the context of the created world. For those who make the Exercises, the “happy side effects” of the retreat are unique to each , the “happy side effects” of the retreat are unique to each person and last a lifetime. A Jesuit high school, by extension person and last a lifetime. A Jesuit high school, by extension, has as its primary goal the very , has as its primary goal the very same thing, to give its students the opportunity for a real encounter with God as found in the same thing, to give its students the opportunity for a real encounter with God as found in the created world. So, how is this done? Following the general pattern of The Spiritual Exercises, a created world. So, how is this done? Following the general pattern of The Spiritual Exercises, a good Jesuit High school tries to do the following over the course of four years. good Jesuit High school tries to do the following over the course of four years.

A Jesuit education encourages a student to engage the world fearlessly, honestly, and intelliA Jesuit education encourages a student to engage the world fearlessly, honestly, and intelligently, and in doing so, to discover who he is before God. Once a boy discovers who he most gently, and in doing so, to discover who he is before God. Once a boy discovers who he most truly is before God, the next step is to make sure that he und truly is before God, the next step is to make sure that he understands that he is loved absoerstands that he is loved absolutely, profoundly, and eternally by the God who created him, even if the he has not yet learned lutely, profoundly, and eternally by the God who created him, even if the he has not yet learned to love and accept himself. Once a boy has learned that he is loved by God with all of his gifts to love and accept himself. Once a boy has learned that he is loved by God with all of his gifts and talents, strengths and weaknesses, virtues and failings, we try to help him hear God’s call. and talents, strengths and weaknesses, virtues and failings, we try to help him hear God’s call. Once a boy understands who he is, that God loves him just as he is, and that he is called by Once a boy understands who he is, that God loves him just as he is, and that he is called by God, we then give him the tools to discern God’s ever evolving call to live in response to God’s God, we then give him the tools to discern God’s ever evolving call to live in response to God’s love. This is because God is love, and loving well is the whole purpose of life. love. This is because God is love, and loving well is the whole purpose of life.

This might seem like an unorthodox way to get a boy into college. However, the fact is, that for This might seem like an unorthodox way to get a boy into college. However, the fact is, that for those boys who internalize the deeper meaning of a Jesuit edu those boys who internalize the deeper meaning of a Jesuit education, all of the other “happy cation, all of the other “happy side effects” tend to take care of themselves. What we Jesuits side effects” tend to take care of themselves. What we Jesuits and our colleagues want most of and our colleagues want most of all for our students is what St. Ignatius called, “the salvation of souls.” all for our students is what St. Ignatius called, “the salvation of souls.”

This salvation, however, involves more than just “getting in to heaven.” It is salvation from a thoughtless and meaningless life, salvation from not knowing that you are lovable, salvation from never understanding how gifted you are, salvation from never discovering all the great things you can do with God’s gifts, and salvation from never experiencing the profound joy of loving others the way that God has loved us. This is the salvation for which Jesuit schools strive. This is the primary reason Jesuits and our lay colleagues operate schools. This why Gonzaga is so much more This why Gonzaga is so much more than a great college preparatory than a great college preparatory education. For most, it is a lifeeducation. For most, it is a lifechanging experience. changing experience.

As I come to the end of my tenure as president, my deepest hope is that I have been able to foster and promote, As I come to the end of my tenure as president, my deepest hope is that I have been able to foster and promote, in my own small way, the kind of school community where these things have been possible. Of course, this is a in my own small way, the kind of school community where these things have been possible. Of course, this is a community-wide effort. This is why I am deeply humbled to share the cover of this magazine with some of the community-wide effort. This is why I am deeply humbled to share the cover of this magazine with some of the legendary faculty and staff who will be retiring this year after decades of selfl ess service to our beautiful mis-legendary faculty and staff who will be retiring this year after decades of selfl ess service to our beautiful mission. It is our dedicated lay faculty and staff who, more than anyone, have provided this for you and your sons sion. It is our dedicated lay faculty and staff who, more than anyone, have provided this for you and your sons over the years. While we are saddened to say goodbye, I know that the foundation that they have built is one of over the years. While we are saddened to say goodbye, I know that the foundation that they have built is one of rock that will keep Gonzaga faithful to its Jesuit mission for rock that will keep Gonzaga faithful to its Jesuit mission for generations to come. Moreover, I am heartened by generations to come. Moreover, I am heartened by the extraordinary women and men who are already slated to t the extraordinary women and men who are already slated to take their places. With my friend Fr. Joe Lingan, ake their places. With my friend Fr. Joe Lingan, S.J. ’75 stepping into my role, I leave Gonzaga with the certitude that all of these women and men will safeS.J. ’75 stepping into my role, I leave Gonzaga with the certitude that all of these women and men will safeguard the mission of Jesuit education. They will continue the 2 guard the mission of Jesuit education. They will continue the 200-year-long Jesuit tradition of “saving souls” on 00-year-long Jesuit tradition of “saving souls” on Eye Street for the true happiness of our boys and God’s greater glory. Eye Street for the true happiness of our boys and God’s greater glory.

I end with a profound thank you. Thank you for all that you have done for generations to support with your time, I end with a profound thank you. Thank you for all that you have done for generations to support with your time, talent, and treasure God’s beautiful work on Eye Street. May God continue to bless you with the same gifts that talent, and treasure God’s beautiful work on Eye Street. May God continue to bless you with the same gifts that we desire for our students here at Gonzaga. we desire for our students here at Gonzaga.

Most Sincerely, Most Sincerely, Rev. Stephen W. Planning, SJ Rev. Stephen W. Planning, SJ President President