Holy Cross celebrated Jesuit Heritage Week in September with a weeklong program of events, honoring the order’s rich intellectual and spiritual traditions, history and mission. Among the highlights was a lecture by Rev. Gregory Boyle, S.J.—known for his work with at-risk youth in Los Angeles. The founder and executive director of Jobs for a Future/Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, he has worked to end gang violence in the United States and to raise awareness about its causes. During his talk, titled “The Jesuit Heritage of Accompaniment: The Margins,” Fr. Boyle described how his ministry is informed and strengthened by Jesuit ideals and principles.
Opening with a special Jesuit-concelebrated liturgy in the Mary Chapel on Sept. 23, the week’s activities continued with a panel discussion the following evening; during this time, several members of the Holy Cross Jesuit community explored the meaning of Ignatian values in their own lives.
Two additional lectures, presented on Tuesday and Friday afternoon, provided insight into the order’s contribution to science and, also, into its history: Rev. Louis Caruana, S.J., senior lecturer in philosophy, Heythrop College, University of London, discussed Jesuit styles of scientific thinking; Timothy Porter ’68, senior labor and employment counsel for Proskauer Rose LLP, and former Holy Cross Trustee, gave a talk, titled “The Jesuits and Maryland’s Early Catholics of Color and their Descendants: Perspectives on a Close and Complex Relationship.”
A photo display and conversation about the Ignatian Pilgrimage program provided another perspective on the ways in which Jesuit heritage may be encountered; several individuals who took part in the pilgrimage—traveling to Spain and Italy to retrace the steps of St. Ignatius—shared personal experiences and photos of the journey.
During the week, students also had the opportunity to learn firsthand about the tradition by taking part in the “Jesuit Amazing Race.” Inspired by the TV show “The Amazing Race,” the two-day competition sent participants on a scavenger hunt across campus—following the trail of clues, they learned about some of the individuals and ideals that have played an important role in shaping the mission of the College and the order.
And, for the first time this year, purple and white banners—each depicting a different Jesuit motto—have been on display in the area located between Hogan Campus Center and Dinand Library.
In reflecting on the importance of Jesuit Heritage Week—which has been celebrated at the College since 2004—Rev. James Hayes, S.J., ’72, rector of the Holy Cross Jesuit Community and chairman of the College’s Mission and Identity Committee, expresses the hope that this celebration will help to raise awareness about the Jesuit tradition and mission. “In the past, people depended on the Jesuits to take care of this aspect,” he says. “As the number of Jesuits has diminished, it’s all the more important to share in the vision with our colleagues, students and the greater community.”
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