Bust out the maroon and gold and show some school pride; it’s Loyola Week here on campus.
Loyola Week is a seven-day event of activities and exhibits presented by the Jesuit Center and the Student Government Association that focus highly on the university’s Jesuit foundation.
“Our Jesuit heritage is what makes us unique as an institution and this is the week we celebrate it as a community,” said the Rev. Ted Dziak, S.J., vice president for mission and ministry, in a news release.
Loyola Week has been the product of months of hard work done by a special committee made up of students, faculty and staff and headed by Katrina Weschler, Jesuit Center Fellow.
As a Jesuit institution, Loyola bases its principles on the teachings of St. Ignatius of Loyola, who founded the Jesuit order.
Loyola Week is an attempt to help the university community get back in touch with its Jesuit roots while having a lot of fun along the way.
“Loyola Week is a celebration of our Jesuit, Catholic heritage and a time to celebrate the mission of our university.
It is a time to reflect on the past, educate current students about Loyola’s founding, and to re-commit ourselves for the future of the institution, guided in Ignatian ideals, principles and values,” said Mark Harrington, assistant director of Co-Curricular Programs and Loyola Week committee member.
Throughout the week, activities designed to connect students with the university’s Jesuit identity and mission have taken place, including All Saints Day Mass, Dinner with the Jesuits, and the Jesuit Speaker Series, with even more to come.
Saturday will feature the event Wolves on the Prowl, a day of community service to celebrate the Jesuit ideal of helping others.
Still, the planners understand that you can’t celebrate the history, mission and ideals of St. Ignatius without throwing in some good times in between.
Activities such as The Battle of Pamplona dodge ball game, the Concert with a Cause, and the Loyola vs. Tulane pep rally were scheduled to provide a great deal of entertainment and play for the Loyola community throughout Loyola Week.
Loyola Week, which began Nov. 1 with the All Saints Day Mass, will culminate with the Loyola vs. Tulane basketball game on Nov. 7.
David Scheuermann can be reached at [email protected]
