Boston College will observe the Ignatian Year鈥攚hich marks the 500th anniversary of Society of Jesus founder St. Ignatius鈥檚 conversion鈥攄uring the 2021-2022 academic year with a number of special events and programs that commemorate the Jesuit heritage 鈥渁nd how it has been embodied at Boston College,鈥� according to John T. Butler, S.J., the Haub Vice President for University Mission and Ministry. 聽
The Ignatian Year, which began in May and ends in July of next year, recalls the transformation of Ignatius of Loyola during his convalescence after being wounded in the Battle of Pamplona. Reading about the life of Jesus and the saints forever changed Ignatius from soldier to pilgrim, and gave rise to a spirituality and form of education that has shaped millions of people over the past five centuries.
Haub Vice President for University Mission and Ministry John T. Butler, S.J. (Photo by Lee Pellegrini)
A cornerstone of BC鈥檚 Ignatian Year observance will be the Ignatian Colleagues Program, a national initiative of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities designed to educate and form faculty and senior administrators more deeply in the Jesuit and Catholic tradition of higher education. The ICP, which spans a period of approximately 18 months, is composed of a series of online learning opportunities, an international immersion trip, an Ignatian retreat, a summer workshop, a mission venture, and a capstone project.聽 Its goal is to provide a solid intellectual foundation so participants who are non-Jesuits can better articulate, adapt, and advance the Jesuit and Catholic mission of their respective universities.
In a recent letter, Fr. Butler asked those who have participated in the ICP to record and upload a brief video that captures their reflections on the experience, and how the Ignatian charism influences their work at a Jesuit, Catholic university. 聽鈥淪hare your understanding or impact of Ignatius鈥檚 conversion in your own life and work. Did the ICP lead to any changes or conversions in your professional life or your understanding of working at a Jesuit, Catholic university? How do you understand Jesuit Catholic formative education?鈥欌�� 聽
According to Tomeu Estelrich, director of BC鈥檚 Center for Ignatian Spirituality, a number of videos have already been received, and he plans to intermittently post them on the 鈥淗eart of the Matter鈥� section of the University Mission and Ministry website, allowing sufficient time for visitors to review and consider each submission.
Center for Ignatian Spirituality Director Tomeu Estelrich (Photo by Peter Julian)
鈥淓ach video provides a different approach, a different perspective, and a different outcome,鈥� said Estelrich, who teaches in the Philosophy Department. 聽鈥淭hey reflect not only on the impact that the ICP has had in the lives of the participants, but the ripple effect that the program has in the life of the University.鈥�
Additionally, these vignettes will be shared with the BC community and beyond through the University鈥檚 various external communications channels.
鈥淢ay this year be one of conversion for us all, as we move from a pandemic reality to the possibility of the new, whatever that might be,鈥� said Fr. Butler.
Phil Gloudemans聽 | University Communications | September 2021