On the first Sunday of the semester, Sept. 1, I attended the 7:30 p.m. Mass at Egan Chapel. To my surprise, the chapel was packed. With every seat taken, people had to stand along the aisles for the entire hour. The following weekend, the same crowd returned, and to accommodate this, extra rows of folding chairs were added for the overflow. Still, there were people left without a seat. Now, six Sundays into the semester, the 7:30 p.m. Mass is still drawing in the same crowd.
At first, I was taken aback by how many students dedicate their Sunday nights to Mass. However, considering Fairfield University is a Jesuit Catholic school, it shouldn’t be surprising. So, why was I?
I think it’s because, despite its Jesuit Catholic foundation, Fairfield presents itself as a “modern Jesuit Catholic University,” as found on the Fairfield website. In day-to-day life, most students do not feel the direct influence of the Catholic Church that one may expect from a religious university.
Just because many students do not recognize the influence of Jesuit ideals doesn’t mean it isn’t there. These values, taken from the Jesuits, are deeply rooted in the University’s mission and values.
The Jesuits were a Catholic order dedicated to education and service. Because of this, the university embraces “cura personalis,” which means to care for the whole person. This principle shapes all aspects of life at Fairfield, even without some realizing it.
For example, our core curriculum here requires students, regardless of major, to take courses in English, religion, philosophy, math, science, social justice-focused classes and a language. While I have heard students call these requirements inconvenient, they are part of Fairfield’s holistic educational approach. These courses are a part of the Magis core, another Jesuit concept that means more. The Magis core encourages students to explore outside their major and be educated in different disciplines.
The course offerings themselves reflect Jesuit values. For example, some religion courses here invite students to explore Catholic teachings, participate in group prayer and reflect on their faith with the help of the Murphy Center. The Murphy Center at Fairfield offers spiritual direction and outlets for students and faculty to deepen their faith. They also offer retreats and faith-sharing groups for those who want to explore Jesuit ideals and spirituality.
Fairfield also has a strong emphasis on community engagement and service. Students are encouraged, but not pushed, to participate in service projects on and off campus. Students can engage in service trips, outreach programs and more to help communities outside Fairfield.
Sophomores Give Back is a way that Fairfield allows students to participate in its mission as a Jesuit school. Moreover, the Ignatian Residential College is another program for sophomores who want to give back to the community through service and leadership. Students who participate in this, and live in Langguth, are required to go on retreats, participate in service and more. This concept is inspired by Catholic and Jesuit teachings to give back to the community and help students be agents of change.
Father John Savard, director of Campus Ministry and a Fairfield alum, views Jesuit and Ignatian values as important connections for students to make. At Fairfield, he hopes students will learn to “be critical thinkers, be articulate and to know what they stand for.” Father Savard, as a professor tries to help students “see education not just [as a way] to get a job, but about when [they] go out in the world, how do they make it a little better”.
Father Savard thinks these Jesuit teachings are sprinkled all over campus. He sees this as a strength the university has, where students’ brains as well as hearts are being educated.
But, to do more as a Jesuit university, he would like to encourage students to ask more questions. He would also like to see the University incorporate Jesuit teachings on how to be a better member of the community into the classroom, especially in relation to Jesuit ideals of service.
For the majority of students, Fairfield might feel like any other secular college, as they may see it as a typical liberal arts institution. This is because here at Fairfield religion is not always emphasized unless students personally seek it out.
While there are Catholic traditions, I feel that students of all religious backgrounds, or none, can participate fully in student life without any sense of religious imposition.
That being said, the Jesuit approach is still deeply rooted in the University’s values and is reflected in its commitment to critical thinking, service and education.
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