By Mary Feeney
I believe thiswisdom from Ignatius of Antioch summarizes how staff, along with all members of a Jesuit campus community, should carry out their duties in service of cura apostolica: “We recognize a tree by its fruit, and we ought to be able to recognize a Christian by his action. The fruit of faith should be evident in our lives, for being a Christian is more than making sound professions of faith. It should reveal itself in practical and visible ways. Indeed, it is better to keep quiet about our beliefs, and live them out, than to talk eloquently about what we believe, but fail to live by it.”
What does cura apostolica ask of us within the context of being a staff member at a Jesuit institution?
For me, the opportunity to work at a Jesuit university allows me to turn my beliefs and values into action. Personally, my efforts related to the Jesuit mission of the university include sustainability, clothing collections for those in need, and student hunger.
For students who choose a Jesuit university, it means to experience more than just college. The Jesuit philosophy cultivated over four years develops young men and women beyond academics, into thoughtful, spiritual, intellectual human beings. Our future depends on this.
As in any institution, the whole is only as strong as the individuals in the community. Staff at Jesuit universities sometimes struggle to live the mission day to day. It becomes an afterthought, because we struggle with so many personal and professional responsibilities. We cannot give what we do not have or struggle with personally.
So we need to take care of ourselves as well as the students, cura personalis. In order for cura apostolica to be sustained at Jesuit universities, remembering and making time for our shared, core values is crucial. The burden to prioritize the mission begins with each institution, not the individual.
The painstaking time that a Jesuit institution takes to develop a mission statement deserves to have the mission become action, not just words on a document. If we lose sight of this, the mission fails. Cura personalis is the reason so many have spent their career in one institution, enabling them to live their values. The opportunity to grow spiritually, listen openly to another’s point of view, lifestyle, ethnicity, diversity, religious beliefs, and demographic differences develops understanding and inspires action.
Over the past 12 years, I have seen cura apostolica ebb and flow amid the changes taking place in the world, country, city, university, families, and, as of late, the church itself.
To be encouraged to find a passion and encouraged to make a difference leads to personal gratification through service and caring. Nothing should deter that passion or love of the mission. The mission has never been about what position you hold – administrator, faculty, staff or student. This is what made us different from other universities.
How we care for our Jesuit institution is a reflection on how we, as individuals, care for each other. In the recent past, it had been easier for employees to donate time, give service, volunteer on committees. These days this is more difficult. What has changed? Are we too wrapped up in our own needs? Have we become a society immersed in work with back-to-back meetings, heavier course loads, and other responsibilities?
Often, a simple validation of one’s efforts is what is needed, showing everyone kindness and respect regardless of his or her position. That small act is a beginning and recognizes the responsibilities everyone is carrying out. Each one of us should never pass up the opportunity to say “thank you” or “how can I help you?” In this way, we can and must do better to continue serving our Jesuit mission.
In the past two years, I have noticed students picking up initiatives that employees have been unable to continue as personnel cuts continue. Validation is in order, just as staff may pick up where administrators or faculty may have participated before. It is not so important who is participating as it is that the mission continues and that appreciation is given to someone who has the passion to do so.
We are at a pivotal time. Action is needed, not silence or indifference. Everyone realizes the pressures that our beloved institutions face today. But, how do we get back and sustain what we once had?
Here some of my thoughts:
Foster opportunities to build community, as in any family.
When times are tough, be there for each other.
Find ways to connect every constituency of our campus communities.
Share and live the ideals of Saint Ignatius in all that we do.
Remember why we at Jesuit institutions are unique, but acknowledge the demands we face.
There are still many individuals on campus who care and reach out to one another. The caring is now often found in silos during lunch hours or on one’s own time. The interaction across sections of administrators, faculty, and staff is less frequent. When I think of all the wonderful, inspiring things that happen on campus unnoticed, it saddens me.
Students from Saint Joseph’s University engage local elementary students at a Science Outreach Program.
What we need to remember is who we are at the core, to be people of good will, wake up with gratitude, live our lives with integrity, and close our eyes each night with a clear conscience. How many of us can say that we do that? Are these not actions that all members of our campus communities could benefit from and ones that will ensure that our commitment to cura apostolica lives on?
Mary Feeney is an administrative assistant in the department of biology at Saint Joseph’s University.