Catholic Tradition

Jesuit and Catholic Attitudes of Heart

Reverence, Gratitude, Forgiveness, Generosity, Fidelity, Compassion, Hope

Jesuit and Catholic Values as Articulated at Saint Peter’s

Discernment of Spirits:

• Through self-knowledge to freedom
• Paying attention to the movements of the heart
• Values and intellect together

Cura Personalis:

• Care of the whole person
• Dignity and value of each person
• Education of the whole person
• Solidarity with others
• Men and women with and for others

Finding God in All Things:

• Contemplatives in action
• Stewards of creation
• Global perspective
• Intellectual curiosity
• The bedrock of Jesuit education

Magis:

• “For the greater glory of God”
• Freedom to choose
• Excellence and rigor in all things

“Men and women with and for others”:

• Solidarity and equality of all people
• Dignity of the human person
• Social nature of the human person
• Care of creation
• Service: love shown by action

Service of Faith and Promotion of Justice:

• Faith is a verb, lived in our acts of justice
• Act justly: respect the demands of right relationship
• Promote the common good
• Preferential option for the poor (Mt 25)
• Critical thinking and effective communications
• Life-long commitment to service

Catholic Principles and Values

• The Dignity of the Human Person
• Equality and Solidarity of All People
• Social Nature of the Human Person
• Political and Economic Rights and Responsibilities
• Promotion of the Common Good
• Preferential Option for the Poor
• Promotion of Peace
• Care for God’s Creation

Jesuit Values

• A Sense of the Giftedness of Creation
  (World-affirming / Find God in all things)
• Dignity and Value of Each Person
  (Person-centered / Appreciation of diversity / Solidarity)
• Development of the Whole Person
  (Humanistic education / Responsible decision-making)
• Call to Human Excellence
  (Academic rigor / Development of gifts and talents)
• Action-oriented
  (Compassionate service / Agents of change for a better world)

Ideals of Jesuit Education

• Pursuit of Excellence
• Respect for the World, Its History and Mystery
• Learning from Experience
• Contemplative Vision Formed by Hope
• Development of Personal Potential
• Critical Thinking and Effective Communication
• Appreciation of Things both Great and Small
• Commitment to Service
• Linking Faith with Justice
• Special Concern for the Poor and Oppressed
• International and Global Perspective
• Discerning Mindset: Finding God in all Things

Jesuit Education Is…

• Instrumental:
  (…not an end in itself, but a means to the service of God and others.)
• Student Centered:
  (…adapted to the individual as much as possible, to nurture an independent and responsible learner.)
• Characterized by Structure:
  (…with systematic organization of successive objectives and systematic procedures for evaluation and accountability.)
• Flexible:
  (… freedom is encouraged and personal responsibility and self-direction expected; the teacher is an experienced guide, not primarily a deliverer of pre-packaged knowledge.)
• Eclectic:
  (…drawing on a variety of the best methods and techniques available.)
• Personal:
  (…the whole person is affected, with the goals of personal appropriation, attitudinal and behavioral change, and overall excellence.)

 Petrean Pledge

As a Petrean, I embrace the values that foster the human respect and integrity needed for people to live, work, study and interact as a learning community at Saint Peter’s College.