Minutes
St. Louis University High School
Ignatian Mission & Identity Committee
February 16, 2006
Attendance:
Thomas Auffenberg, Robert Bannister, Timothy Chik, Thom Digman, Daniel Finucane, Ralph Houlihan, S.J., Michael Marchlewski, S.J., Mark Michalski, Shane Mulligan, Matthew Sciuto, and Matthew Stewart.
Absent:
Thomas Cummings, S.J. and Kate Hochmuth.
The meeting was called to order at 3:15 p.m. with a prayer and reflection offered by Mr. Digman.
Ralph Houlihan, S.J. welcomed all in attendance and requested approval of the August 30, 2005 minutes. Upon a motion made by Dr. Bannister, seconded by Mr. Stewart, the motion passed unanimously.
Fr. Houlihan, S.J. called upon Mr. Chik to give an overview of a pilot faith sharing program entitled the League of Believers. This is a student sponsored program of faith sharing—similar in nature to Christian Life Communities—intended to provide the participants the opportunity to: create friendships with like-minded individuals; reignite faith in teenage participants; allow teens the opportunity to learn spirituality in the Jesuit philosophy; and to create a structure to pass along spirituality to others. A discussion followed. The next meeting of this group is scheduled for November 29th in Room J121 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Mr. Sciuto asked the group to express their thanks to Mr. Chik and Mr. Stewart for the introduction and implementation of the EXAMEN during this school year.
Fr. Houlihan, S.J., called upon Mr. Digman to review the final draft of the foundational or visioning document prepared by the subcommittee regarding the charge of this committee and a supplemental goal statement prepared by Mr. Auffenberg. A discussion followed. Upon a motion made by Mr. Stewart, seconded by Mr. Auffenberg, the Committee unanimously recommended to the Board of Trustees the adoption of the visioning and goal statements for this Committee a copy of which is attached and incorporated into these minutes
A discussion was then held on the creation of a Lenten program for parents. This evolved into a discussion of larger issues including the creation of a parenting program regarding a myriad of issues relating to teenagers and parenting, a short review of some programs anticipated by Mothersí Club and Fathersí Club, and the investigation and implementation of a variety of spirituality and parenting programs. Mr. Laughlin, Mr. Sciuto, and Mr. Stewart agreed to look in to these matters.
A discussion was then held on addressing a long range plan for the invitation, education and practice of spirituality among the various constituencies at SLUH. Mr. Laughlin informed the Committee of a survey he is undertaking to attempt to quantify what is being done, who is currently engaged in various programs and ministries, and to identify a series of steps to continue and bolster the good work already underway at SLUH. A copy of the survey is attached and incorporated into these minutes. Fr. Houlihan, S.J. appointed the following subcommittee to work with Mr. Laughlin on this issue: Mr. Laughlin, Mr. Auffenberg, Dr. Bannister, Mr. Digman, Mr. Mulligan, and Fr. Houlihan.
Mr. Mulligan informed the Committee about the student response to the Jostens Companyís representative. A copy of the PREP NEWS editorial is attached and incorporated into these minutes.
Mr. Stewart opened a discussion of
the organization of the chapel and outlind for the Committee impediments he
sees inhibiting full student participation in liturgies and services held
there. A lengthy discussion followed. Fr. Houlihan requested that this topic
be held over until the next meeting.
As the hour was drawing late, Fr. Houlihan, S.J. informed the committee of the remaining meeting date for the 2005-2006 school year:
May 9, 2006
All meetings will commence at 3:15 p.m. in the St. Ignatius Conference Room.
The meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m.
ACTION ITEMS:
1. ALL MEMBERS: Attempt to incorporate the Examination of Consciousness into their daily lives.
2. Mr. Stewart: Chapel history of changes and recommendations.
3. Mr. Laughlin: Convene Long Range Plan Committee.
.
The next meeting
was set for Tuesday, May 9, 2006 at 3:15 p.m. in the St. Ignatius Conference
Room
Foundation Statement
What is the Ignatian Mission and Identity of St. Louis University High School?
The Ignatian Mission and Identity committee, a standing committee of the Board
of Trustees, exists to advise the Board in all matters concerning the Ignatian
Mission and Identity of the school.
St. Louis University High Schoolís identity, as an apostolate of the Society of
Jesus, centers on a vision that Ignatius of Loyola had at La Storta.
In this vision, God the Father placed Ignatius with Jesus the Son as a
companion; Ignatius was to work with Christ in the task of helping souls and
likewise, the Father places us with Jesus Christ in this same work.
This mission and identity is an explicitly Catholic, Christ-centered one, in
the model of the Society of Jesus.
Jesus is there, on the metaphorical battlefield, in the fight against the evils
of our time, calling us to join him in imitating his self-sacrificial actions.
The Ignatian Mission and Identity Committee assumes and
hopes there will be several groups promoting Ignatian spirituality throughout
the SLUH Community (students, teachers, staff, parents and alumni). We consider our primary role to be
encouraging, supporting, educating ourselves about and monitoring the efforts
to promote Ignatian spirituality at SLUH.
Additionally, we envision our role to include the following:
October 20, 2005
Companions in Ministry,
Thank you all for your warm welcome and continuing orientation for my time at St. Louis University High School. As I have known from the terrific reputation you have for your work with the young men of SLUH, I am continually impressed with the level of achievement, commitment and depth this community lives.
As I continue to familiarize myself to SLUH, one important area of my interest involves the planning for the Ignatian Identity of our school. As I stated in my address to open our school year, this ongoing reflection is part of a national reflection occurring for the Society of Jesus on how it continues in its ministry in the United States.
Therefore, and in a very practical way, could I ask you to help in letting me know what your previous experience has been with programs, retreats, conferences or methodologies in the following areas?:
________30 day retreat __________19th Annotation
_________Other(explain) - _____________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________Directed a student retreat
_________Been an adult participant on a student retreat
_________Directed a student service project
_________Directed a student prayer service
_________Assisted with liturgy planning
_________Foundations
_________Go Forth and Teach
_________What Makes a Jesuit High School Jesuit?
_________The Profile of the Ignatian Educator
_________The Profile of the Graduate at Graduation
Name:________________________________________________________________
Thank you very much.
God Bless,
David Laughlin
President
SLUH
editorial Forget Jostens—letís
do it ourselves
During the senior class
meeting on Wednesday, Jostens offered to
bring sophistication and
class to the graduation experience with
products such as bling-bling
tassels for those without graduation
caps, trendy
glow-in-the-dark boxers and loungewear, and most
importantly, profit-making
graduation announcements. With the
total cost of $1.22 for each
announcement and postage and an all but
guaranteed average return of
$25 per announcement sent, Jostens
assured the seniors that
they could come away from graduation with
not only a diploma, but a
healthy profit of $23.78 per invitation.
A recent photo accompanying
each announcement would jog the
memories of distant cousins
and friends who could therefore be
exploited for more money.
So, is this what graduation
is really about, throwing a huge party
with people you donít know
so they can give you the obligatory
check for something that
they canít possibly honestly care about?
We donít think so. We think
that Jostens and their salesman, in
selling students a ìWhatís
in it for me?î campaign, have failed to
encompass the true meaning
of our graduation.
What is one to do? The
school has made an effort from last year
to clean up the language and
content of the Jostens presentation,
and has even looked at
possible alternatives, but the school canít
change what Jostens believes
will sell products, only their consumers
can.
on the one hand, most of us
want to celebrate our personal
struggles and successes
throughout high school; on the other hand,
Jostens does not offer a way
to do so without contradicting, at least
implicitly, what we have
worked towards these past four years. Why
not try something ourselves
and send Jostens the message that we
donít buy into their sleazy
campaign? Why donít we make our own
graduation invitations as a
class? Part of the reason why our class
banner is so symbolic is
because it embodies ideas and memories
of our entire class.
Wouldnít graduation invitations that do the same
be that much more
meaningful?
Most of us would prefer a
simple and heartfelt graduation
invitation that we design
over the foil and ink embossed professionalism
that Jostens offers. If itís
invitations we want, canít we
think of something that we
could do to show Jostens that we canít
be bought with a self-serving
sales pitch?
In response to the Jostens presentations given in
this past week,
we feel it is necessary to express our concern about
the conflict
between Jostensí marketing philosophy and the Jesuit
ideology
The Jesuit teaching of a life of simplicity and that
each person
is called to be an agent for change contradicts the
schoolís practice
of requiring students to attend meetings during which
a company
promotes unneeded consumption. Examples of the nature
of Jostensí
advertising came on Wednesday during the senior
graduation
meeting. During this meeting, Jostens used tactics
such as saying
that if we order a large quantity of graduation
announcements, then
we can make a large profit off our relatives through
graduation gifts
from them. Also, the representative from Jostens told
us that if we
do not feel we should make any purchases for
ourselves, then we
should buy from Jostens because our mothers will
appreciate it.
Since they control the market in which they operate,
competition
cannot prevent them from doing this.
We propose that the student body embrace the Jesuit
ideals
taught in this school and recognize that the needless
consumerism
presented by Jostens violates our core values.
Students can still buy
the basic products in order to celebrate a momentous
occasion; in fact,
many of us who helped with this letter own class
rings. However, as
students of St. Louis University High, we feel
obligated to uphold
our Jesuit and Catholic ideals by not supporting and
not consuming
the added features and trivial items offered by
Jostens.
Justin Vilbig, í06 (main contributor)
Joe Wotawa, í06 (main contributor)
Shane Mulligan, í06 (main contributor)
(Signed) 28 other members of the senior class
