Community Pillars: Welcoming, Learning, Celebrating, Serving
Welcoming, Learning, Celebrating, Serving
At ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ University, the four pillars—Welcoming Community, Learning Community, Celebrating Community, and Serving Community—embody the university’s deep-rooted commitment to fostering an inclusive, faith-centered environment. Through these pillars, ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ integrates its Catholic heritage with a vibrant spirit of learning, spiritual celebration, and service. Whether celebrating liturgical traditions, encouraging academic exploration, or extending hospitality and compassion to others, the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ community thrives on the values of justice, collaboration, and respect for diversity in both faith and culture.
Welcoming Community
¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ University is committed to being an inclusive, welcoming community, celebrating the diversity of its members in both faith and culture. This respect is recognized in the University’s words, actions, and policies, which reflect justice, collaboration and dialogue. In the spirit of the legacy and traditions of the Sisters of Charity, members of the campus community not only recognize their responsibility and concern for each other, but extend hospitality to others. The campus is open to the local community, and visitors find graciousness and warmth extended to them in the array of cultural and educational programs available.
“¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ is a very welcoming community and accepts diverse students happily. In spite of being halfway across the world from home, I’ve never once felt like a stranger here.”
Learning Community
The Catholic Church has been the center of learning for many centuries, from the time of the medieval universities to the colleges and universities of present-day America. This is a long and rich tradition of the dialogue between faith and reason that seeks to enrich the ultimate expression of Truth and Beauty in our world.
All fields of human knowledge contribute to the advancement of our understanding of God and what it means to live as People of God in the modern age. ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ combines the discipline of the liberal arts with professional preparation for careers and seeks to undergird the resulting education with a respectful interweaving of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition with the belief systems of its diverse student body.
“The Sisters of Charity of ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ remain actively engaged in the life of this special University. We remain a University where students are well-educated and well-equipped to ask the right questions, to make moral choices and ultimately to do their part to transform the world.”
The required courses in theology and philosophy enable students to address directly questions of meaning and value. The Performing Arts Center provides a learning environment to communicate a sense of beauty through the arts. Co-curricular activities, such as the Mary Schmidt Lectures on Issues of Global Justice provide additional opportunities, as well.
As founder of the Sisters of Charity, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, would say, “I would wish to fit you for the world in which you are destined to live.”
“As St. Elizabeth Ann Seton said, our goal is to prepare our students for the world in which they are destined to live. That’s our motto.”
Celebrating Community
Celebration has been an integral part of the Catholic heritage of ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ University throughout its history. Whether through large liturgical services or small intimate gatherings, students, faculty and staff are encouraged to explore and develop a rich and vibrant spiritual life. The observance of liturgical seasons such as Advent and Lent foster an atmosphere that celebrates the sacred.
¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ recognizes that its community members have spiritual and ethnic roots that extend to a wide variety of faith traditions and religions. As the home of The National Catholic Center for Holocaust Education, ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ exhibits a special awareness of the importance of Jewish-Catholic dialogue and holds a Kristallnacht service annually. ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ also celebrates occasions that highlight the unique role women, particularly St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, have played in the history of the Church. Other events such as the Opening Liturgy and Christmas on the Hill provide members of the community with opportunities to express their uniqueness, gifts and talents.
Throughout all its celebrations ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ joyfully acknowledges the presence of God found in the goodness of life and all of creation.
“My favorite thing about the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ community is how welcoming it is to people of all faiths. The chapel is always unlocked, and Sunday Mass is open to everyone. The faculty and staff are genuinely concerned for the well being of the students, and interested in being part of their lives outside of the classroom.”
Serving Community
As a Catholic institution, ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ treasures its strong history and commitment to community outreach and service to others. In the spirit of its founders, the Sisters of Charity, the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ community uses knowledge, skills, and talents to bring about the transformation of the world. Academic programs, Campus Ministry, student organizations, and athletic teams all provide opportunities for students, faculty and staff to experience, reflect upon and act from a commitment to justice, mercy, and compassion in the light of Catholic Social Teaching.