Ignatian
IMPRINTS
A publication of the Maryland Province Jesuits Winter 2010 | Vol. 4 No. 2
A new residence for senior Jesuits Page 3 Novena of Grace Page 8 | A Place for Learning and Prayer Page 6
Photos courtesy Stan Zygmunt, University of Scranton
Now
& then
A gathering place for students The University of Scranton’s Gunster Student Center, below, was dedicated in 1960. The building was replaced with the 118,000-square foot Patrick and
Margaret DeNaples Center, dedicated in 2008. The huge new center houses dining facilities, book store, ballroom, theater and offices. The Gunster Center is gone now, part of the Dionne Campus Green (covered with snow in this photo) in front of the DeNaples Center.
Ignatian
IMPRINTS Ignatian Imprints is a
publication of the Maryland province of the Society of
Jesus. Now published as an
insert to Company magazine,
around the province
Ignatian Imprints is designed to highlight the works and
people of the province engaged in spreading the Ignatian goal of forming “men and women
for others.” Published quarterly, the magazine endeavors to
inform, teach and spread the
St. Raphael building new parish center
James M. Shea, SJ Provincial
St. Raphael Parish in Raleigh, N.C., began construction of a new parish activity center. Work began on Halloween with a groundbreaking ceremony and parish picnic. The new building, due to be completed in the fall, will be used for sports events and receptions and will also have a stage and kitchen. Once it is complete, the parish will renovate the existing Raphael Hall. Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Raleigh took part in the ceremony, along with Robert M. Hussey, SJ, and the parish’s third pastor Msgr. Gerald R. Lewis.
Good News.
Mary K. Tilghman Editor and Designer Ed Plocha Director of Advancement Betty Shenk Advancement Assistant Amanda Knittle Development Assistant Joe Young Web Editor Please send subscription
requests, letters to the editor
and other correspondence to:
Ignatian Imprints
6800 LaSalle Road, Suite 620 Towson, MD 21286 443-921-1310 www.mdsj.org
Take a Lenten journey with Fr. Connor James L. Connor, SJ, has written a book of reflections and prayers to guide readers through the season of Lent and Easter. Lent and Easter: Wisdom from St. Ignatius of Loyola, combines Scrip-
Photo courtesy of Patricia Parrish
At the groundbreaking for St. Raphael’s new parish center, Bishop Michael Burbidge of Raleigh, N.C., offers a blessing. The pastor Robert M. Hussey, SJ, is at the right. Former pastor, Msgr. Gerald R. Lewis, is on the left.
ture readings with quotations from St. Ignatius and prayer for each day of the Lenten and Easter seasons. Each day’s reflections conclude with a short action step for readers to take that day. It also offers an accessible introduction to St. Ignatius and the Spiritual Exercises. Fr. Connor, assistant for mission and renewal for the Maryland Province, plans workshops and retreats for lay and Jesuit companions in mission at universities, high schools, parishes and spiritual centers. His book was published in January by Ligouri Publications. ignatian imprints | 1
Fr. Currie receives Justice Award The Ignatian Solidarity Network presented Charles Currie, SJ, president of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, with the Robert M. Holstein Award: Faith Doing Justice at ceremonies in October. Fr. Currie was the first recipient of the award, which recognizes an individual who exhibits a commitment to the Ignatian values of leadership, service and social justice. The late Bob Holstein was a founder of the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice. Fr. Currie, former president of Wheeling Jesuit University and Xavier University, was a co-founder of the ISN. “Bob combined a strong passion for justice for the poor and marginalized with a remarkable ability for bringing people together. He truly walked the walk for all of us,” said Fr. Currie in his remarks upon receiving the award. In his acceptance speech for the award, Fr. Currie noted that Mr. Holstein’s good work was still being carried out. “Our agenda embraces the whole world, and we have a great patron in heaven urging us on.”
Fr. Conley’s plays on stage A new play by John J. Conley,SJ, a professor at Loyola University Maryland, was set for a staged reading at Loyola on Valentine’s Day weekend. Song of Songs, based on the biblical poem was to be presented by Magis Theatre in the Fava Chapel of Hammerman Hall. In addition, several other of Fr. Conley’s plays received staged readings this past fall. Docent was presented at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington, D.C.) on Sept. 5 and at the Baltimore Book Festival on Sept. 27. Summer Porch was presented at the Baltimore Book Festival on Sept. 25. Fr. Conley also published the narrative poem Concerning the Concert in the Loch Raven Review. 2 | WINTER 2010
around the province ISN Teach-In on environment to be held at Wheeling The Spring Ignatian Family Teach-In, sponsored by the Ignatian Solidarity Network, will focus on environmental justice and sstainability. Set for March 5-8 at Wheeling Jesuit University, the programs will focus on the moral implications of climate change, challenges and opportunities presented by climage change, best practices for a greener campus and major environmental policies. The program, which costs $150 a person, is open to students, parishioners and families. Dorm space and hotel rooms are available. Go to www.ignatiansolidarity.net for details or registration.
New rector in Scranton Thomas E. Roach, SJ, who served as secretary for education for the Society of Jesus in Rome, has been named rector of the Jesuit Community at Scranton. He succeeds George A. Aschenbrenner, SJ, who began as rector in July 2003. Fr. Roach delivered the principal address at the University of Scranton’s 2008 commencement, at which he received an honorary degree. As secretary for Eeducation for the Society of Jesus, Fr. Roach was responsible for helping implement the educational ministry of the Jesuits worldwide. Since 2001, he has been the Superior General’s liaison with the 3,888 Jesuit educational institutions worldwide, serving approximately three million students. Fr. Roach, a Baltimore native, served for 25 years in various administrative positions, including principal of St. Joseph’s Preparatory School, assistant for secondary education for the Maryland Province, and headmaster and president of Georgetown Preparatory School.
Architectural drawings by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Entry view, of the new Colombiere residence
“...Our houses should be made suitable for apostolic work, study, prayer, relaxation of mind, and a friendly spirit.” —General Congregation 31, Decree 19
A time to build...
A new residence for senior Jesuits is taking shape in the Maryland Province
The Maryland Province Jesuits have broken ground for a new residence in Baltimore. The new facility will provide rooms for 38 members of the St. Claude la Colombiere Community, a community room, chapel, library, office and work space as well as recreational facilities. The building, due to be completed by Easter 2011, will replace the current structure on Roland Avenue in northern Baltimore City, which was built in 1961. Designed by Boldin Cywinski and Jackson, the new building will offer modern facilities with easy access to the outdoors and to the greater Baltimore community. The new residence is designed to offer senior Je-
suits a level of assistance not currently available in the Maryland Province. The facilities will provide assisted living services while enabling the residents to continue their ministries. “The new building, built in harmony with the beautiful site, will promote better spiritual and psychological health for our men,” noted William C. Rickle, superior for the LaColombiere community. The building will meet environmental sustainability codes, including geothermal heating and cooling.
Meeting the needs of senior Jesuits The number of senior Jesuits is growing and will continue to grow for the next 20 years. At present, more than 60 percent of the 349 Jesuits in the Maryland Province are 60 are older. A quarter are octogenarians. As the need for assisted living grew more pressignatian imprints | 3
ing, province officials began looking at their options. One was the possibility of renovating the Jesuit Center in Wernersville, Pa. This building, the former novitiate for the Maryland Province now serves as the home of 26 Jesuits, including a number of senior Jesuits, as well providing a spiritual center for retreats. However, renovating the building was determined to be both time consuming and prohibitively expensive. The Roland Avenue property, which spreads over 13.6 acres, offered another alternative. The current residence, which has rooms for 20 Jesuits, was also, until August 2008, the site of the Provincial Offices. The offices were moved to a new location in Towson, freeing up the rooms to provide more living space for the senior Jesuits and Province staff members who live there. When it was determined that costs for expansion of this building were also prohibitive, the provincial staff decided to consider rebuilding on the same property. The new structure will be located on the high-
est point of the Roland Avenue property, set among mature trees and open space. Once the new building is occupied, the 1961 structure will be torn down.
Architectural drawings by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
New times, new needs Because the need for assisted living is predicted to decrease in future years, the design is flexible. The residence, which is convenient to major highways, will then serve as a community for Jesuits in active ministry. In addition, the building will ensure the continuation of an active Jesuit presence in Baltimore for years to come.
View from the west of the new Colombiere residence (above) and view from the south (at left.) “Together we build a new Colombiere for today’s senior Jesuits and for the future of Jesuits in Baltimore,” said James M. Shea, SJ, Maryland’s Provincial. “It is our responsibility to care for our brothers throughout their lives and to be good stewards.”
Cura Personalis Caring for Our Brother Jesuits
The Cura Personalis campaign presents Maryland Province Jesuits, their families, friends and colleagues with an opportunity to respond to today’s economic realities and to reaffirm the Province’s commitment to the care of Jesuits. The $5 million campaign, launched in January of this year, is led by Fr. Leo J. O’Donovan,
SJ, and Jeanne Ruesch. It offers a variety of ways for family, friends and benefactors to share a portion of the costs of the new Colombiere community residence. To learn more about the Cura Personalis campaign, contact Ed Plocha, director of advancement for the Maryland Province at 443921-1331 or curapersonalis@mdsj.org. ignatian imprints | 5
He found what he was looking for Travis Stoops First studies The last exam was over; the first semester at St. Louis University done. “It went well,” said Travis Stoops, SJ, thinking back about returning to the classroom this past fall. Mr. Stoops is in the midst of three years of philosophy and theology, studying with 19 fellow Jesuits from around the United States at Bellarmine House of Studies. “It has helped me continue to grow as a Jesuit,” he said. During Mr. Stoops’ spring semester, he is studying Metaphysics, Beauty as a Road to God and Modern Church Theology. The scholastic is also teaching religion to sixth graders as part of the university parish’s religious education program. And he likes it. “I like to be in a classroom,” he explained. And it’s where he wants to be in the future, he said. That was one of the reasons he said he felt called to the Society of Jesus. He began exploring various religious orders while he was a student at Duquesne University in his hometown of Pittsburgh. He’d gathered information, visited communities, gone on retreats. But it wasn’t until his senior year when he met a Jesuit classmate that he found where he wanted to be. As the two men talked about Jesuit ministries and Ignatian spirituality, Mr. Stoops grew more interested. “This sounds like what I’m longing for,” he remembered thinking, and explained: “I wanted to honor intellectual life in some way.” Spirituality was important, too. “My relationship with the Lord is important,” Mr. Stoops said. He looked forward to learning about Ignatian spirituality, particularly the Spiritual Exercises. After a year working in youth ministry in Pittsburgh, Mr. Stoops went to the novitiate at St. Andrew 6 | WINTER 2010
Hall in Syracuse, N.Y. He was one of four Maryland men to enter in August, 2007. For two years, he and the other novices studied, went on their first 30-day silent retreat and took part in a variety of ministries. This past April and May, Mr. Stoops volunteered to work for Jesuit Refugee Services at their headquarters in Washington, D.C., as part of the novice’s traditional “long experiment.” While he was there as a clerical worker, he was asked if he would like to go to Nogales, Arizona, for two months to help with the Kino Border Initiative. The Kino Border Initiative is the work of six major religious organizations, including Jesuit Refugee Services, to assist immigrants between the two border towns of Nogales, Arizona, and Nogales, Mexico. The initiative offers workshops, research and advocacy, as well as humanitarian aid. Mr. Stoops spent his days in the kitchen in Mexico, helping prepare, serve and clean up from two meals a day served to several hundred immigrants who have been deported. He saw firsthand how difficult it can be to cross the border, especially by car. He had only to walk across, a much quicker way to move between the two countries. And he talked, as much as he could with limited Spanish, to the men and women who came for a meal. There wasn’t much opportunity to get to know anyone there. “They’re there for a day or two and then they’re gone,” he said. “It’s a really ugly area,” he said, pointing to the many problems for all involved in immigration issues. “It doesn’t seem like it’s an easy fix.”
JESUITS IN FORMATION
When a classmate — a Jesuit — introduced Travis Stoops to the Society, he knew he’d found the community of learning and prayer where he could answer his call to religious life. But he welcomed the opportunity to serve the immigrants crossing the border there. The experience helped him further discern his vocation and allow him to help his brothers, he wrote in a reflection afterwards. The two years in the novitiate offered plenty of time for discernment. Was this the right place to be? In his second year, Mr. Stoops met with the novice
master to discuss his vocation. “I really felt along the way I was getting confirmation,” he said. It culminated in Vow Day this past August. Before friends and family — he is one of Lowry and Rebecca Stoops’ three children — he pronounced the vows. “It was saying yes to the past two years,” he said. “I feel the Lord is calling me. And the Society is, too.”
Travis Stoops, SJ, pauses during his studies in Cook Hall at St. Louis University.
Photo by Kevin Lowdery
ignatian imprints | 7
Novena Grace of
Once upon a time, the streets around
St. Ignatius Church in downtown Baltimore
were clogged all day everyday for nine days in March. Extra Baltimore streetcars were
ordered and labeled “Novena of Grace” to get worshippers to church on time.
Today, crowds are smaller. Still, the
Novena of Grace continues to draw
worshippers to reflect on St. Francis Xavier’s story and to join in community prayer.
“My sense is that people are searching
for devotional expressions again,” a Jesuit pastor says. 8 | WINTER 2010
For the first half of the 20th century, the Novena of Grace at St. Ignatius drew extraordinary numbers of people, according to William Watters, SJ, the current pastor. In those days, there could be as many as 27 services, beginning with the 6 a.m. Mass and ending late in the evening. Services were held in both the upper church and lower church. (Together, they held 1,000 people.)
Displays of faith “It was like a Baltimore event each spring, almost a ritual,” recalled Joe Kelly, a parishioner at St. Ignatius Church. “In Baltimore, that was one of the strongest displays of the faith, the Catholic faith. Even non-Catholics had to be impressed by the sincerity of it,” he said. Mr. Kelly, who is 92, remembers attending his first Novena of Grace with an aunt when he was about 4 or 5. What’s a little boy remember: mobs of people singing, people meeting each other as they came and went away. Mr. Kelly was re-introduced to the novena during his days as a student at Loyola High School. He’s been attending the novena ever since. “I always regarded it as a great time to pull things together and get reorganized,” he said. The novena offered worshippers an opportunity to pray for a special need — and Mr. Kelly remembers hearing the priests read notes of thanks for answered prayers. “It was a reassuring thing,” he said. He remembers the power of the Jesuits’ homilies.
ignatian spirituality “They liked that and they also liked the Jesuits’ approach to the sacrament of penance,” he said. People came for the Mass, the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and the talks Jesuits gave at the services throughout the day. They came for the sacrament of reconciliation (called confession in those days) which had priests manning the confessionals all day.
Still a special time for prayer It was — and still is — a special time for prayer, an opportunity to experience the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. At St. Alphonsus Rodriguez Parish in suburban Baltimore, Joseph Lacey, SJ, has shifted the schedule a bit to begin and end with weekend Masses. That way, more parishioners can take part, he explained. “It’s part of the rhythm of our parish,” he said. “I think people anticipate it.” Fr. Lacey recognizes that scheduling nine straight days in church can be difficult for many modern families. So he includes the daily prayers in the weekly bulletin to encourage prayer at home. It’s important to keep it meaningful to today’s parishioners. “It’s still relevant if you can make the experience of the saints relevant,” he said. “You try to make a connection between the experience of St. Francis Xavier and one’s personal life experience.” Fr. Lacey recalls during his youth in Philadel-
Who is St. Francis Xavier? “St. Francis Xavier was the greatest missionary the Church has known since apostolic times,” Joseph Tylenda, SJ, wrote in his Jesuit Saints and Martyrs. The young Spaniard went to Paris for university studies where he met Ignatius of Loyola in 1529. At first he was not at all interested in Ignatius’s ideas for priesthood and the salvation of souls. Francis was an ambitious young man with plans of his own. Ignatius was able to win him over eventually and Francis became one of the seven men who would be the first Jesuits. Still a man of immense drive and cre-
ativity, Francis agreed to Ignatius’ request to go to India and become the first Jesuit missionary. He spent five months in Goa, preaching, ministering and offering Mass before going to other parts of India, Malaya and the Spice Islands. Then he took on the challenge of introducing Christianity to Japan and succeeded. After his appointment as provincial of the Indies, Francis thought he had one more call— China. He got as far as an island in the Bay of Canton. There, within sight of China, he became ill and died before he could find someone to take him to the mainland.
phia that it was at a Novena of Grace at his home parish that he first met a Jesuit. His parish was led by diocesan priests who invited Jesuits to speak at the annual Novena of Grace. At St. Alphonsus, Jesuits who served in India gave talks at many past novenas. Last year, Fr. Lacey compared the ministries of the adventurous St. Francis Xavier and St. Alphonsus Rodriguez who never went farther than the front door, which it was his job to answer. “They were both meaningful, spiritual lives, both meaningful Jesuit lives,” he said. “They were important to the people of their time.” In Philadelphia, at Old St. Joseph Parish, novena prayers are recited at the end of Mass. Daniel M. Ruff, SJ, the pastor, revived the novena last year in this simple form after circulating a history of the novena’s origins. “My sense is that people are searching for devotional expressions again,” he said. Of course, it attracted older parishioners who remembered the days of big novenas at Old St. Joseph’s and the Gesu Church in Philadelphia—attracting the kinds of
NOVENA OF GRACE SITES
The following parishes are scheduling the Novena of Grace. Please call the location you intend to visit for exact times of services. St. Ignatius Church, Baltimore, Md. 410-727-3848 St. Ignatius Church, Port Tobacco, Md. 301-934-8245 St. Alphonsus Rodriguez Church, Woodstock, Md. 410-461-5267 Old St. Joseph’s Church, Philadelphia, Pa. 215-923-1733
If you prefer, please provide the names of your family, friends, loved ones and intentions for which you seek the intercession of St. Francis Xavier. You can return this form to the Advancement Office in the envelope enclosed in Ignatian Imprints.
crowds seen at St. Ignatius. But younger parishioners experiencing the novena for the first time liked it, too, he said. This year, he said, he’s thinking about a stronger emphasis on the novena at the Sunday night Mass which attracts young professionals. Holy Trinity Parish in Washington, D.C., considered adding the novena to their schedule this spring—but decided to wait until 2011, according to Martina O’Shea, the parish’s pastoral associate for Ignatian spirituality and prayer. Not only was the calendar quite full, the committee wanted to enliven the Novena of Grace for this century, “so it would have relevance for people today.” Themes of Lent and the Novena will be intertwined in various aspects of parish life, including religious education and social justice. And they also want to add some education about the life of Francis Xavier, the novena tradition and the definition of grace. What’s more, Mrs. O’Shea said, the audience will be young people. “Some young people appreciate more structure,” she said. “They’re inclined to more traditional devotions.” The Novena of Grace is a global devotion held March 4 to March 12, the anniversary of St. Francis Xavier’s canonization in 1622. It is said the novena was prompted by the cure of Fr. Marcellus Mastrilli in Naples in 1643. He was cured after a deadly brain injury and went to Japan where he was martyred.
Nine days of prayer A novena is more than just nine days of prayer. Reception of the Eucharist at least once during the period is encouraged and so is receiving the sacrament of reconciliation, according to Fr. Ruff. “Ignatius was one of the first to promote weekly communion and even daily Mass and communion,” he said. “In those days, that was pretty radical.” Prayers for the Novena of Grace are available on-line. Here are a few to look at: • The Maryland Province posts the daily prayers at www.mdsj.org. • The Irish Jesuits post their own devotions for the Novena at www.sacredspace.ie. • The Ignatian Spirituality Center in Seattle offers podcasts of its daily devotions. The 2009 Novena is currently on-line at www.ignatiancenter.org/programs/novena-of-grace/. The 2010 prayers will be added each day during the Novena.
John H. Deeney SJ, expert in language of Ho people John H. Deeney, SJ, died Jan.18 in Jamshedpur. A Jesuit for 70 years, he was 88. Born in Philadelphia July 22, 1921, he entered the Society Aug. 14, 1939, and went to India in 1949 and was ordained Nov. 21, 1952. Fr. Deeney was headmaster for seven years of St. Xavier High School and served for many years in Chaibasa parish, where he became deeply involved in the faith formation of the Ho people. He became an expert on their language and published the first Ho-English dictionary in 1978. He later published a number of books in the Ho language including a Missal, a Lectionary, a book on the lives of the saints, a prayer book, Bible history, hymnal and New Testament. He also published a book of the Psalms and Old Testament prophets, as well as a book in English, The Spirit World of the Hos. “At the age of 88 I look back with contentment on God’s call to become a Jesuit and spend my life here in India, serving the Ho tribals, who have become my people,” he said in an interview published in JIVAN: News and Views of Jesuits in India.
Clarence A. Martin, SJ, served in Philippines, retreat houses Clarence A. Martin, SJ, died Jan. 22, in Merion
Station, Pa. A Jesuit for 74 years and a priest for 63, he was 91. The son of Clarence A. and Agatha Lancaster Martin was born Feb. 24, 1918, in Baltimore. He entered the Society of Jesus on July 30, 1935, and was ordained a priest in 1946. Before ordination, he spent six years in Philippines as a student and from 1944 to 1945 was a prisoner in a Japanese POW camp. After ordination he returned to the Philippines as a pastor and teacher. In 1964 he returned to the United States to ministries at Loyola College, the Jesuit Seminary Guild and Mission Bureau, Catholic University and Georgetown Prep. He was a retreat director at Loyola Retreat House in Faulkner, Md., and at the Jesuit Center,
in memoriam Wernersville, Pa., where he remained for 20 years until 2009.
David Stokes, SJ, 25 years in Hispanic ministry David F. Stokes, SJ, died Sept. 24 in Sebring, Fla. He was 78. Fr. Stokes was a Jesuit for 59 years and a priest for 46, Born in Philadelphia June 18, 1931, he entered the Society of Jesus on Sept. 7, 1950. He was ordained a priest June 16, 1963. Fr. Stokes’ first assignments took him to Scranton Preparatory School, Loyola Blakefield and St. Joseph’s Preparatory School. He then moved into Hispanic ministry at St. Bonaventure’s Church in Philadelphia, at Holy Name Church, Camden, N.J., St. Veronica’s Church in Philadelphia, Visitation Church in Philadelphia and the Spanish Apostolate at the Hispanic Center in Vineland, N.J. From 1996 to 2007, he was pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Richmond and went to St. Catherine’s Church in Sebring in 2007.
Eugene Welch, SJ, served in Jamshedpur 50 years Eugene A. Welch, SJ, a Pittsburgh native and former member of the Maryland Province, died Oct. 22. He was 81, and a Jesuit for 62 years. He volunteered to go to in India when he was a novice—and except for three years—he ministered there his whole life. Fr. Welch was ordained a priest in Jamshedpur March 24, 1960. He returned to the Maryland Province in 1962 to serve for two years as assistant director of the Jesuit Seminary Guild and a year as minister for Loyola Blakefield. Fr. Welch’s Indian assignments took him to St. Xavier High School, DeNobili School, Loyola School and Xavier Labor Relations Institute. Fr. Welch said he enjoyed the opportunity to get to know so many of the Indian people. “You get close to people you are working for,” he said in an interview during a recent Baltimore visit. “I have known them a long time.” ignatian imprints | 11
Even the walls can teach Redesigned space at St. Joseph’s Prep tells the Jesuit story
Hugh, a freckled teenager from Philadelphia’s Main Line, approaches Fr. Bruce Maivelett, SJ, and asks, “Who’s Nicolas Bobadilla?” Hugh knows that Nick is not on the Phillies’ championship team. Fr. Maivelett, Director of Ignatian Identity, patiently explains that Bobadilla is one of the founders of the Society of Jesus. But how did this young man come across this name? St. Joseph’s Preparatory School, founded in 1851, has been on its present site since the late 1800s. When a fire destroyed the building in 1966 the Jesuit community decided to rebuild on its urban site. A new facility was completed in 1969, enlarged in 2000 and recently expanded again. This latest expansion was designed by Casaccio Architects, operated by Lee A. Casaccio, a 1970 Prep grad.
Lessons of faith through architecture
The Jesuit tradition of the arts as an instrument of formation is as old as the Society itself. From its initial ministry in Rome Jesuits realized how the arts, including architecture, could express the mission of proclaiming the Gospel for the greater glory of God. This tradition inspired Mr. Casaccio to collaborate with Prep presidents Bruce Bidinger, SJ, William Byron, SJ, and George Bur, SJ, and the school’s board to tell the Jesuit story through design. A new curved path through the old multi-purpose room that is now the Sauter Dining Hall (honoring former Prep President David Sauter, SJ) suggested the long path of Ignatius from Loyola to Rome and the growth of the Society from Rome to the ends of the earth. Set into the hallway floor from the school’s main lobby through the dining hall are 12 bronze plaques recalling events in the life of Ignatius: Basque, Pamplona, Montserrat, Manresa, Jerusalem, Barcelona, Alcalá, Paris, Venice, La Storta, and Rome. Robert McGovern of Philadelphia designed the plaques. The names of Ignatius’ original companions are etched into the 34 foot high walls of the dining hall. Perhaps Hugh was eating lunch when he saw Bobadilla’s name. At the center of the new St. Joseph’s Preparatory expansion is the Ignatian Room (left) which connects students to other parts of the school, as well as chapters of the Jesuit story. Bronze plaques (top left photo) — this one recalling Ignatius at Montserrat — punctuate the path through the school’s space leading to the new Sauter dining hall. (top photo).
The path through the dining hall leads to the Ignatian Room, home to a life-size bronze statue of Ignatius. At his feet is a huge tile map of the world with Rome at its center. All over the map are small yellow discs representing all 472 Jesuit secondary schools.
Crossroads for the high school
The three-story-tall Ignatian Room leads to the school store, the 19th century Church of the Gesu, the Dean of Students Office, and the Ignatian Way, a gallery of Jesuit teachings toward a Catholic way of living, student art and sports trophies. Crowning the Ignatian Room is a “dome,” a wooden pyramid ceiling that rests on a 2 foot high metal frieze that carries the motto of the Society, “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam,” in the original Latin, and in Greek, English and Mandarin Chinese. In addition, Jesuit Hall, the 5-story, 50,000 square foot former Jesuit residence, has been rejuvenated as a new academic center. By the time Hugh is a senior, Ignatius, Bobadilla, Manresa and La Storta may be as familiar to him as the stops on the R5 from Philadelphia’s Suburban Station to Villanova. We can expect that in so far as Fr. Maivelett and the Prep faculty complement the environment created in this $21 million expansion with good teaching, character-building extracurriculars, engaging worship and deep spiritual formation Hugh may also come to be familiar with the consolation that comes from asking every day of his life if what he is doing is Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam. —Andrew D. Ciferni, O.Praem., Ph.D. Fr. Ciferni, a priest of Daylesford Abbey in Paoli, Pa., and a liturgical design consultant, served on the Casaccio Architects design team for this project.
ignatian imprints | 13
The Jesuit Center
501 N. Church Road, Wernersville, PA The Jesuit Center seeks to promote Ignatian spirituality in our world. We offer retreats and workshops, as well as training programs for spiritual directors, all based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola. We are located nine miles west of Reading, Pa. We have 250 acres of beautiful rolling hills, roads, walkways, terraces, grottos, and cloister gardens which provide a beautiful space for people to be with God. Our facility has 85 private bedrooms, a large and small dining room, conference rooms, small meeting rooms and several small parlors for group meetings. 5 &7-DAY DIRECTED RETREATS IN 2010: March 9-17, April 20-28, May 18-26, June 2-10, June 20-26, June 30-July 08, July 12-20, July 24-Aug. 01, Aug. 24-Sept. 01 DIRECTED PRAYER WEEKENDS: Feb. 26-28, 2010, March 26-28, 2010, May 14-16, 2010 30-DAY DIRECTED RETREAT IN 2010: June 28-Aug.1, 2010 WORKSHOPS: Feb. 12-14, 2010 GOD’S RECONCILING PRESENCE March 19-21, 2010 FACING AND BEFRIENDING FEAR, ANGER, AND DEPRESSION May 1-2, 2010 James Martin, SJ, will present LAUGHING WITH THE SAINTS: Joy, Humor, And Laughter in the Spiritual Life. For more information about these and other retreats, day programs, and workshops offered at the Jesuit Center, please visit our website at www.jesuitcenter.org or call our registrar at 610-670-3642.