This study looked at the impact of Ignatian spirituality and Ignatian pedagogy on staff in student-facing units at Jesuit colleges and universities. It also explored how leaders of student-facing departments and divisions operationalize components of Ignatian spirituality and pedagogy to create an Ignatian organizational culture. Qualitative data were collected through multiple semistructured interviews with nine leaders of student-facing units at Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States. Key findings were organized into four thematic sections. The findings map onto different components that derive from, or are connected to, Ignatian spirituality and pedagogy. The thematic sections are: (a) leadership’s commitment to human excellence; (b) subsidiarity; (c) showing the way to God through the spiritual exercises and discernment; (d) cura personalis and a commitment to well-educated solidarity off and on campus. These findings create a framework for leaders and student-facing staff to consult for engaging more meaningfully with Ignatian values in their attempts to build strong and positive organizational cultures for their units. Recommendations for addressing obstacles and opportunities are provided for staff leaders of student-facing units throughout the Jesuit network in the United States.

This thesis drew upon the resources of philosophical hermeneutics to construct a conceptual framework for understanding the process of educational change. The experience of a particular case of change was then analysed from the perspective of the hermeneutic change agency framework. The conceptual framework for the thesis was developed from the writings of Hans-Georg Gadamer and also from writers who engaged with Gadamer, most notably, Paul Ricoeur and Jurgen Habermas. The retrieval orientation in Gadamer's hermeneutics was balanced by the critical analyses of Ricoeur and Habermas. Gadamer's notion of the 'fusion of horizons' was presented as the culmination of the change process: a fusion between the horizon of the change text, and the horizons of the change process participants. The thesis explored the potential of hermeneutic strategies such as play and conversation as a means to animate a hermeneutic form of change agentry. The case investigated in this thesis was a change process comprised of four strategies conducted over the years 1980 to 1996 at a Jesuit school located on the east coast of Australia. The change strategies aimed to promote the Jesuit ethos of the school and hence have been described in this thesis as 'ethos strategies'. The purpose of the thesis was not to evaluate the success of the ethos strategies, it was to explore how insights derived from philosophical hermeneutics could illuminate an analysis of the lived experience of a particular case of change. The subject matter of this thesis is timely because many Catholic schools are currently in a period of transition from a leadership exercised by Religious (nuns, brothers or priests) to a leadership exercised by lay people. The thesis situated the ethos programs in their theological and demographic contexts by presenting relevant theological developments from the Second Vatican Council and by describing the sharp decrease in the numbers of Religious personnel available to work in the schools. The teacher response to the ethos programs was considered in the context of the many practical difficulties associated with the scheduling of teacher development programs in fast-moving and busy schools. Although this thesis was particularly focused on change strategies that were conducted in the context of Jesuit education, the thesis is more generally situated in the research literature on educational change. The hermeneutic orientation of this thesis highlighted the elements of understanding, interpretation and meaning, and these elements are given some prominence in the more recent research literature on the change process. The complexity of change and the cultural dimension of the change process has been emphasised in the most recent educational change research literature and these themes have also found expression in this thesis. Participant observation, document analysis and qualitative interviews were used as data collection strategies for the case study in this thesis. The researcher was actively involved in the events investigated in the case study, and a case narrative was developed from the researcher's experience as a change agent responsible for implementing one of the change strategies at the case site. The case narrative was written in the first person and from the perspective of the researcher as a change manager. The methodology of the research was grounded in the hermeneutic insight that understanding and tact lies at the heart of the research process, rather than procedure and method. Hermeneutic research relies upon a capacity to identify and respond to the question that is presented by the expression of life being understood. Change agentry was presented in this thesis as unfolding in a middle space between the familiarity of current practice and the unfamiliarity of the new world that a change process seeks to open up. Hermeneutics has long understood that that interpretation would be impossible if the expressions of life were totally alien and unnecessary if there was nothing alien in them. A hermeneutic approach to change agentry seeks to discover points of commonality and points of challenge between the world of current practice and the world that the change process would open up. This thesis points to the tactful and dialogical dimensions of change agency when it is considered from the vantage point of philosophical hermeneutics.

Thesis advisor: Karen Arnold / U.S. Jesuit Catholic universities are called not only to be excellent academic institutions but also to carry out a mission to educate and form “students in such a way and in order that they may become men and women of faith and of service to their communities” (Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, 2012, p. 3). This formative goal calls Jesuit institutions to engage in practices that provide students with experiences that support the continued growth of a strong and engaged religious faith. Based on the American Association of Colleges & Universities’ nine high impact practices and seven additional Jesuit Catholic high impact practices, this study investigated the relationship between individuals’ engagement in these specific high impact practices and their middle adult religiosity or strength of religious faith. In this research, 483 alumni from 16 Jesuit colleges and universities reported high levels of religiosity in middle adulthood, as measured by the Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire (Plante & Boccaccini, 1997b). Descriptive statistics and OLS multiple regression analysis showed a statistically significant, positive relationship between adult religiosity and participants’ engagement in Jesuit Catholic high impact practices as undergraduates, both across practices and specifically associated with participation in the Jesuit practice of the Examen of Conscience. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2020. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Educational Leadership and Higher Education.

In this paper I explore what Catholic feminist Ignatian spirituality can contribute to the conversation between faith and culture, conversation that is too often muddied by vague and superficial argument and by an ‘us’ vs ‘them’ attitude driven by extremes to which the majority do not belong. The secular and the religious spring from a common past, though they exist now within the nova effect of spiritualities available today in our modern Western or North Atlantic, “secular 3” world. The 500-year-old Ignatian Exercises can be a coherent voice speaking in the cacophony of the contemporary context especially when a feminist lens is used to expand them in a more comprehensive way by applying classic feminist thought on anthropology, names of God, embodiment, and the ontological centrality of relationship to human existence. This application of a feminist hermeneutic helps us explore human reality more fully – a reality that is “irreducibly plural and not merely hierarchically dualistic.” This, in turn, helps us communicate the Exercises and a truer, deeper Christianity, than contemporary conversation typically allows. I map out the basic structure and purpose of the Exercises and offer examples of a feminist retrieval of a variety of meditations and contemplations from the “weeks” of the Exercises to illustrate how this retrieval does not negate traditional interpretation of scripture but expands it for the benefit of all – Christian and non-Christian alike. The Ignatian Exercises address questions we all ask – they help one to “play the game of the truth of existence” and to reach both inward and then outward toward neighbor and world. The bridge I am attempting to build between faith and culture is made up of the Exercises as a grounded answer to the yearning in this unbelieving world that is, nevertheless, still haunted by belief. The feminist lens is the car that drives us over that bridge.

Thesis advisor: David Hollenbach / Solidarity as spiritual exercise: a contribution to the development of solidarity in the Catholic social tradition By Mark William Potter Director: David Hollenbach, S.J. ABSTRACT The encyclicals and speeches of Pope John Paul II placed solidarity at the very center of the Catholic social tradition and contemporary Christian ethics. This dissertation analyzes the historical development of solidarity in the Church's encyclical tradition, and then offers an examination and comparison of the unique contributions of John Paul II and the Jesuit theologian Jon Sobrino to contemporary understandings of solidarity. Ultimately, I argue that understanding solidarity as spiritual exercise integrates the wisdom of John Paul II's conception of solidarity as the virtue for an interdependent world with Sobrino's insights on the ethical implications of Christian spirituality, orthopraxis, and a commitment to communal liberation. The dissertation probes the relationship between spirituality and ethics in general, and Ignatian spirituality and Catholic social teaching, in particular. My analysis of solidarity in the encyclical tradition (Chapter 1) provides an historical overview of the incremental development of solidarity in the writings of successive popes and ecclesial councils from Pius XII through Paul VI. In considering the unique contributions of John Paul II, I turn first to the theological and philosophical formation of Karol Wojtyla and the sociopolitical context of Poland (Ch. 2). My analysis then turns to a consideration of Pope John Paul II's social encyclicals (Ch. 3), with the goal of offering a definition of solidarity that integrates his intellectual formation and social context with the development of solidarity in the official social tradition. Next, I examine the development of solidarity in the writings of Jon Sobrino, first through an analysis of his intellectual and spiritual formation in the revolutionary context of El Salvador (Ch. 4), and then through an analysis of his unique theological contributions to the topic (Ch. 5). Based on Sobrino, I offer an articulation of solidarity as spiritual exercise as an original contribution to the development of solidarity in the Catholic social tradition (Ch. 6). / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2009. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Theology.

No description available.

This project explores the origins and spiritual impact of Black Super Shero Syndrome on Christian women. It proposes that Black women embrace creative communal contemplation to move from spiritual floundering to spiritual flourishing. Grounded in research on African American contemplative spirituality, Black women’s spirituality, and Ignatian spirituality, the project adapts the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius Loyola to create a Black Super Shero Sabbath Retreat that explores themes of healing, surrender, communion, community, rest, and sabbath to inspire and equip Black women to move from unhealthy Black Super Sheroes to Beloved Daughters of God. / 2026-07-24T00:00:00Z

Submitted by JOSIANE SANTOS DE OLIVEIRA (josianeso) on 2017-08-07T12:14:32Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Christiane Miranda Sisson_.pdf: 17015780 bytes, checksum: 0adcec1f0baa0bd6ae938551c65691ee (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-07T12:14:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Christiane Miranda Sisson_.pdf: 17015780 bytes, checksum: 0adcec1f0baa0bd6ae938551c65691ee (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-04-27 / Nenhuma / A presente pesquisa investiga práticas pedagógicas, incluindo currículo e avaliação, da Educação Infantil do Colégio Anchieta de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, a partir de observações do cotidiano, confrontando-as com as diretrizes presentes em dois documentos básicos orientadores das escolas jesuítas no Brasil – Pedagogia Inaciana e Projeto Educativo Comum – e com reflexões baseadas nas concepções teóricas acerca da criança e da infância na contemporaneidade, com destaque para as ideias de Manuel Jacinto Sarmento e Maria Carmen Barbosa. Além disso, por meio de questionários e entrevistas envolvendo profissionais que atuam ou já atuaram na instituição, bem como através de antigos registros encontrados na secretaria da escola, a pesquisa traz à tona elementos significativos que auxiliam a compreender o contexto deste específico setor ao longo dos anos. O processo analítico desenvolvido conduz às considerações finais, sugerindo a necessidade de maior coerência nas práticas pedagógicas observadas em relação tanto aos princípios prescritos nos documentos orientadores quanto às concepções contemporâneas de infância. Outra conclusão importante indica a imprescindibilidade urgente de revisão do currículo e dos modos de elaborar o planejamento e a avaliação, em especial quanto ao excesso de objetivos e tarefas propostas, evitando o uso acelerado do tempo e favorecendo maior protagonismo das crianças. Tais considerações supõem, igualmente, revisão e aprimoramento das práticas de gestão a fim de assegurar coerência ao conjunto da proposta anchietana de educação infantil. / This research investigates pedagogical practices, including curriculum and evaluation, in child education of the Colégio Anchieta at Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, based on observations of daily routine, comparing them with the guidelines presented in two basic documents guiding the Jesuit schools in Brazil – Ignatian Pedagogy and Common Educational Project – and with reflections based on the theoretical conceptions about children and childhood in the contemporary world, with emphasis on the ideas of Manuel Jacinto Sarmento and Maria Carmen Barbosa. In addition, through questionnaires and interviews involving professionals who work or have already worked in the institution, as well as through old documents founded at school office, the research discusses meaningful elements that help to understand the context of this specific sector over the years. The analytical process developed leads to the final considerations, suggesting the need for greater coherence in the pedagogical practices observed in relation to both the principles prescribed in the guiding documents and the contemporary conceptions of childhood. Another important conclusion indicates the urgent need to revise the curriculum and the paths to elaborate planning and evaluation, especially with regard to the excess of objectives and tasks proposed, avoiding the accelerated use of time and favoring a greater role of children. These considerations also imply review and improvement of management practices in order to ensure coherence in relation to the Anchietan proposal of child education.

[pt] Em Uma teologia de fronteira: a missão da Companhia de Jesus junto aos migrantes e refugiados, procuramos mostrar a evolução do conceito de missão na fronteira dentro da Companhia de Jesus e como ela enxerga hoje essa missão. Inicialmente, fizemos um trajeto pela história das Congregações Gerais da Companhia, desde o Vaticano II, para, em seguida, analisarmos a eclesiologia do papa Francisco, jesuíta, a fim de mostrar nela a influência da visão inaciana de missão. A partir daí, estabelecemos um paralelo entre as opções missionárias do papa e as da Companhia. Devido à urgência do tema, analisamos apenas a fronteira caracterizada pelo drama dos migrantes e refugiados. Francisco trouxe a questão dos migrantes e refugiados para o centro do pensamento da Igreja e a Companhia de Jesus tem priorizado a ação junto a esta fronteira, através do Serviço Jesuíta aos Refugiados, fundado pelo padre Arrupe em 1980. Para o papa, não existe crise de refugiados e sim uma crise de solidariedade, de recusa de homens e mulheres em abrir suas portas a estes irmãos necessitados. Por isso, ele nos conclama a acolher, proteger, promover e integrar estas pessoas, através de uma cultura do encontro no lugar da globalização, da indiferença e das políticas de rejeição e medo. Da mesma forma, a Companhia de Jesus entende hoje sua missão junto a esta fronteira através do SJR como uma oferta de esperança para as pessoas em total desemparo, como resposta a Jesus Cristo, que disse: Eu era estrangeiro e vós me acolhestes (Mt 25,35). Para concluir, fizemos uma leitura teológica do percurso por nós empreendido, buscando responder à pergunta de Deus em Gênesis 4,9: Onde está o seu irmão? / [en] In A theology of frontier: the Society of Jesus mission towards migrants and refugees, we intend to discuss how the Jesuit concept of frontiers of mission evolved over time and how the Society of Jesus understands it nowadays. First, we studied the history of its General Congregations since Vatican II. Then, we analyzed how Pope Francis s vision of mission, as a Jesuit, influences his ecclesiology. From this point on, we established a parallel between the pope’s missionary choices and those of the Society of Jesus. Due to the urgency of the matter, we focused our analysis only on the work of Jesuits with migrants and refugees, their most dramatic frontier. Pope Francis brought the issue of migrants and refugees to the center of the Church concerns and the Society of Jesus has put special emphasis on their actions with this frontier through the work of the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), founded by Father Pedro Arrupe in 1980. For the pope, there is no such thing as a refugee crisis. Actually, according to him, the world is facing a solidarity crisis when men and women refuse to open their doors to their brothers in need. That is why he urges all of us to welcome, protect, promote, and integrate those in need and by doing this replace the globalization of indifference and the politics of rejection and fear by the culture of encounter. Similarly, today, the Society of Jesus understands his mission in this frontier, by means of the work of the JRS, as an offer of hope for those who have been abandoned by all, as an answer to Jesus Christ words I was a stranger and you welcomed me (Mt 25, 35). As a conclusion, we look at the path we have covered in this work from a theological perspective as we try to answer God s question in Genesis 4, 9, Where is your brother?

[pt] Na presente pesquisa, o objetivo é apresentar uma contribuição da espiritualidade cristã para a redescoberta do sentido da vida. O estudo está estruturado em três partes. Na primeira, foram analisadas a Modernidade e Pós- Modernidade com seus desdobramentos, desafios e provocações para este tempo. Adentrou-se também na temática da espiritualidade, propondo-a como uma via de abertura ao transcendente, apresentando uma definição de espiritualidade cristã e o perigo de uma espiritualidade intimista. Na segunda parte, foram abordadas a espiritualidade inaciana e seus fundamentos basilares, analisando-se parte por parte o Princípio e Fundamento, suas contribuições e aplicações para os dias atuais. Na terceira parte, o foco foi para a atualização da espiritualidade inaciana por meio de parte da reflexão teológica de Karl Rahner e de alguns documentos do Papa Francisco. Ambos apresentam, na prática, algumas contribuições que a espiritualidade de Santo Inácio pode oferecer. Por esse caminho, propôs-se a contribuição da espiritualidade cristã para a redescoberta do sentido da vida, tendo como referência principal uma de suas vertentes: a espiritualidade inaciana. / [en] In this research, the objective is to present a contribution of Christian spirituality to the rediscovery of the sense of life. The study is structured in three parts. In the first one, Modernity and Post-Modernity were analyzed with their consequences, challenges and provocations for this time. The theme of spirituality was also explored, proposing it as a way of opening to the transcendent, presenting a definition of Christian spirituality and the danger of an intimate spirituality. In the second part, Ignatian spirituality and its basic foundations were addressed, analyzing the Principle and Foundation, its contributions and applications for the present days, part by part. In the third part, the focus was on updating Ignatian spirituality through part of Karl Rahner s theological reflection and some documents of Pope Francis. Both present, in practice, some contributions that the spirituality of St. Ignatius can offer. In this way, the contribution of Christian spirituality to the rediscovery of the sense of life was proposed, having as its main reference one of its aspects: Ignatian spirituality.