Initiatives and Programs
There are multiple opportunities for faculty and staff to learn about LMU as a Catholic and Jesuit/Marymount university and experience our spiritual heritage. They include:
Mission Day – Major event early in spring semester. It brings together participants from the entire campus community to celebrate the living and growing reality of LMU's mission and identity as a Catholic and Jesuit Marymount University.
Mission Day themes have included topics such as, “Education of the Whole Person”, “Jesuit Education in a Broken World”, “Ethnic Diversity and Religious Identity”, “Service of Faith", and “Companions in Mission” .
The most recent Mission Day was on January 29, 2013. Sr. Mary Beth Ingham, C.S.J. gave the keynote on "Greater than the Sum of All Its Parts: The Catholic Intellectual Tradition at LMU." For more details click Mission Day 2013
Other popular mission and identity programs are listed below.
- Companions in Mission - A year-long program for faculty and staff to gain a greater appreciation for LMU's Ignatian heritage. The program consists of an on-capmus retreat day in September, three luncheon presentations on Ignatian history, pedagogy, and spirituality in the fall; a weekend retreat, and a spring service experience. For more information click on Companions. (Contact rcaro@lmu.edu )
- Faculty-Staff Retreat – An off-campus weekend spiritual retreat on Ignatian themes of gratitude, desire, and service. This year’s retreat will be February 8-10, 2013. No charge to participants. Space is limited; priority will be given to members of the Companions in Mission program and to those who have not previously had the opportunity to participate in the annual retreat. (Contact rroche@lmu.edu )
- Into the Streets – A day-long program at the end of spring semester for student-affairs staff. It’s designed to deepen awareness of the needs of under served communities and provide an opportunity for reflection on faith doing justice. (Contact mary.plumb@lmu.edu )
- Colloquy on Faith and the Intellectual Life – Summer seminar sponsored by Collegium, a consortium of Catholic colleges and universities. Especially helpful for faculty first entering mainstream Catholic higher education. (Contact rcaro@lmu.edu )
- Magis Retreat – Open to faculty and administrators from the nation’s 28 Jesuit colleges and universities, this seven-day Ignatian retreat is sponsored each June by the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU). (Contact rcaro@lmu.edu )
- President’s Institute – Week-long summer seminar for faculty. It’s an opportunity for a deeper understanding of the Catholic character of LMU. Over 200 faculty have participated. Next Institute is planned for 2013. (Contact brico@lmu.edu )
- Retreat for Busy Persons – Approximately 15 faculty and staff from a variety of faith traditions participate each year in this experience of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. It involves weekly meetings for individual direction. (Contact rroche@lmu.edu )
- Western Conversations – Annual weekend conference, mainly for faculty, at which colleagues from the six western Jesuit colleges and universities gather at a host campus for talks and discussions on topics related to Jesuit identity. (Contact brico@lmu.edu
[Updated February 28, 2013]