Lean In to Our Catholic Mission
We will bring the visions of our founder and namesake, our unique charism, and Catholic social teaching fully to life as we encounter the grand challenges of the day, develop principled leaders and contribute to a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable world.
Catholic social teaching and Catholic intellectual tradition are alive and vibrant at St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½. The history of St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½, the vision of our founder, Archbishop John Ireland, and our patron, St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Aquinas, contribute to our unique charism. This tapestry gives our students a lifelong gift unique to St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½. Our charism reflects Archbishop Ireland’s style of boldly addressing the challenges of our world while contributing deeply to the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½.
We will be wholly committed agents for social justice and defend the dignity of all people, whether they are our students, staff or faculty, or members of the broader ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½. We believe in the compatibility of faith and reason, the need for open dialogue between the disciplines, and the centrality of the development of the student as a whole person. We promote a culture of service where students can actively engage in creating change in service to the common good. While we foster an active Catholic faith and culture, people of all faiths are not only welcome at St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ but invited to fully practice and deepen their faiths. We will seek opportunities for common prayer and social engagement among believers. This interfaith understanding is a priority because we are Catholic. St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ will be known for accompanying students on their faith journeys and helping them meet the challenges they will face in life.
Community Input
An important value proposition of St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ is the successful integration of the university mission into all aspects of operations and the student experience. Our Catholic identity should help St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ embrace a more diverse ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ of students.
For successful mission integration, it is vital to communicate with internal and external audiences, to continue dialogue around a definition of the common good that clarifies its inclusive character, and to consciously recognize diverse views. This recognition of a multi-faceted character of a catholic university should be more visible and find expression across our campuses.
Our ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ wants to understand and promote the tenants that help define what it means to be Catholic at St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½. This tapestry includes Catholic intellectual tradition, Catholic social teaching, our charism drawn from our founder Archbishop John Ireland and our namesake St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Aquinas, our practice of radical hospitality and our ability to instill principled leadership skills in students through personal attention. Our mission helps provide a distinct St. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ experience. Leaning into this tapestry will benefit the entire ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½.