McQuaid Jesuit provides a comprehensive five year formation process for faculty, staff and administration to carry forward our mission “to inspire young men to pursue excellence in all things, service to others and life-long justice.” Why such a comprehensive program?
If the faculty at a Jesuit school are men and women whose lives are inspired by the Ignatian vision, then the question about the percentage of Jesuits on the faculty is not an overriding issue. It is more a question of the quality of the lives of all the faculty, both Jesuit and lay. The school will be Jesuit if the lives of its teachers exemplify and communicate to the students the vision of Ignatius. (Foundations 7)
In applying this vision to secondary education, we assert that Jesuit schools must go beyond the criteria of academic excellence, important as this is, to the far more challenging task of bringing about a true metanoia in their students, that Jesuit schools must move more vigorously toward participation in community affairs, that they must more honestly evaluate their efforts according to the criteria of both the Christian reform of social structures and renewal of the Church. (Foundations 5) – Foundations Jesuit Secondary Education Association
Through exposure to materials and reflection on experience personnel new to McQuaid Jesuit will appropriate our Ignatian way of life and mission, enabling full participation in the apostolic work of the Society of Jesus at McQuaid Jesuit. Expert presenters will delve deeply into areas of expertise and personal interaction with materials will inspire living and educating with a heightened sense of awareness and intentionality, leading to personal growth and development. Forming lay collaborators within this matrix will yield more effective Jesuit educators, administrators and support staff imbued with a sense of mission at McQuaid Jesuit.
| Outcomes | At the conclusion of the first year, the cohort will have basic knowledge of the life of St. Ignatius, Ignatian Spirituality and the Spiritual Exercises, Jesuit History and Mission, the History of McQuaid Jesuit, Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm and Ignatian Service. |
| Information | Text to guide this phase of learning: The Jesuit Guide to Everything by James Martin SJ
Monthly meetings highlighting salient topics to Ignatian Spirituality and Jesuit Pedagogy |
| Formation | Monthly Cohort Meetings:
Place: Wahl Conference Room Days: Tuesdays Time: 3:15-4:15 PM Format: The first part of each meeting (3:15-3:45) features a guest speaker respected for her/his expertise in the area presented. The second part of each meeting (3:45-4:15) is reserved for reflection on the reading and lead by members of the cohort. Course of Study: September 17, 2019 Theme: “Why McQuaid Jesuit” Presenters: 2019-2020 Executive Council October 8, 2019 Theme: The Life & Mission of St. Ignatius Loyola Presenters: Mrs. Lisa Soprano and Mr. Jack Ruppert, 2019 Mahar Scholars, Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies, Boston College November 5, 2019 Theme: The Foundation for Jesuit Mission – The Spiritual Exercises Presenter: Mr. Tom Greiner and Mrs. Penny Gonzalez December 3, 2019 Theme: Jesuit History and Mission Presenter: TBA – History Department January 7, 2020 Theme: History and Mission of McQuaid Jesuit Presenter: Dr. Christopher Parks, Dean of Students February 11, 2020 Theme: Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm Presenter: Mr. Dan Hershel, Academic Dean March 3, 2020 Theme: Ignatian Service Presenter: Mr. Patrick Flaherty, Director of Service and Justice April 20, 2020 First Year Cohort Day Long Retreat (8:30 AM-3:00 PM) Facilitator: Dr. Damian Zynda Place: Church of the Transfiguration 50 West Bloomfield Rd Pittsford, NY 14534 |
| Transformation | Integration of course materials with life experience is central to Ignatian Spirituality. Integration experiences include:
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The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius are the heart of Ignatian Spirituality. A combination of “exercises” (meditations and active imagination contemplations, discernment, journaling, conversations with a spiritual director, and contemplative reflections unique to St. Ignatius) lead to greater spiritual intimacy and human authenticity – all in service of God. The Exercises form a uniquely Ignatian identity from which Jesuits and lay colleagues serve the mission of McQuaid Jesuit.
| Outcome | At the conclusion of the second year members of the cohort will have comprehensive knowledge of the theology, dynamics and formative principles of the Spiritual Exercises. Members will have some experience of the Spiritual Exercises, but will not be making the Spiritual Exercises Retreat. | |
| Information | Texts from various sources. | |
| Formation | The process of formation includes:
Monthly meetings with the Director of Formation
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| Transformation | Integration for transformation continues. Integration experiences include:
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As the Spiritual Exercises form an Ignatian identity, Ignatian discernment is the interior compass that helps one live an Ignatian life. Above all, St. Ignatius was interested in creating a person of discernment; one who sincerely asks Jesus what he desires and does it. Given the complexity of our blessed and wounded human nature competing spirits (the Spirit of God and the enemy of human nature) conspire for our affection making it difficult to determine God’s invitation and desires. Attention to knowledge of God and knowledge of self, reason and affect, prayer and experience help us find God in all things, and serve God with joyful generosity.
| Outcomes | At the conclusion of the year members of this cohort will have experiential knowledge of the theology and process of discernment. |
| Information | The text to guide this phase of formation: God’s Voice Within by Mark Thibodeaux, SJ |
| Formation | The process of formation includes:
Monthly meetings with the Director of Formation.
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| Transformation |
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Prepared with a firm foundation in Ignatian Studies, the Spiritual Exercises and discernment, the focus of this year’s formation is Ignatian Leadership. Ignatius formed people to confidently and boldly step into the frontiers of education, the arts and sciences, ecology, politics, economics and religion to influence learning and living with an eye toward developing the whole person, contributing to making the world more humane. Members of this cohort will continue to be formed for leadership, fortified with the necessary tools that distinguish Ignatian Leadership.
| Outcomes | At the conclusion of this year members of the cohort will identify, cultivate and appropriate the ethos and principles that distinguish an Ignatian Leader. |
| Information | The text to guide leadership formation:
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| Formation | Meetings with the Director of Formation
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| Transformation |
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At the conclusion of the Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius invites us to“take the long look back.” Through this exercise a person more clearly identifies experiences and gifts to help discern future steps. Since this year brings the cohort to the threshold of a deeper commitment to McQuaid Jesuit, formation is in service of the question, “What do you desire?” And, since discernment happens through dialogue initial formation culminates in a conversation between each member of the cohort and Principal Baber.
| Outcomes | At the conclusion of the year members will appropriate aspects of Ignatian formation and professional development through a year-long discernment process. |
| Information | The texts to guide professional integration for leadership:
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| Formation | The process of formation includes:
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| Transformation |
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