Jesuit Tradtion

Something very interesting and very close to Fordham’s heart happened while the Rams were away on spring break; on March 13^th, we welcomed Pope Francisco into the Church as a celebrated leader and, more notably, an ordained Jesuit. Fordham University is among an elite group of Catholic colleges that are proud to call themselves members of the Jesuit tradition which, for us students, translates into becoming well-rounded students and even better men and women.

Now, technically speaking, Jesuits cannot attain higher office in the Church, so Francisco now identifies with his papal role over his Jesuit identity, but the signs of Jesuit values are present in everything he does. St. Ignatius Loyola began the Society of Jesus back in the 1500’s and based it heavily on the ideals of poverty and servitude. This same air is ever-present at Fordham-- even when outside of a specifically religious environment—as those ideals turn into practice and students get to experience what it is like to be men and women for others.

Whether you’re studying biology or business, visual arts or philosophy, you will have the opportunity to grow as a student, as a person, through the Jesuit model of education. This means that all students get the opportunity to explore a multitude of interests, from theologies of the world to philosophical ethics to advanced history, all with the end goal of making every student as aware of the world as they can be.

Campus Ministry has a strong presence on campus and helps aid in the “AMDG” path of the Jesuits—meaning, “for the greater glory of God”. Fordham and Campus Ministry recognize that this doesn’t necessarily need to be conveyed through Catholicism or even through religion at all, and extend every opportunity to serve the student body however best they can. For some this can mean embracing the core curriculum. For others it may mean exploring the different interfaith traditions celebrated at Fordham. For many, it means taking the Jesuit principles of education and service and entering the world, professional and otherwise, as a people ready to approach their challenges with developed minds and hearts.