In an effort to educate students about the Jesuit heritage and ideals, Loyola University celebrated Loyola Week from Sept. 29 to Oct. 3.

Greg Fontenot, finance and pre-med senior, helped organize Loyola Week. “We came up with activities that we thought students would enjoy and help them learn what makes Loyola a Jesuit school,” Fontenot said.

The planning for Loyola Week began in the summer and continued all the way up to the week it’s held. Part of the planning was deciding what activities to run that would make students learn and enjoy the celebration.

“We always kept the students in mind when thinking of what events to run, trying to appeal to multiple student organizations and students on campus, and I feel like we’ve done that,” Fontenot said.

The people in charge of the activity are satisfied with the attendance in the activities run so far.

“It’s been great. I’ve been really excited, even from the Ecumenical Service where we had over 30 people there. All the events have been very well attended, and the people who have been there have been very energetic, asking questions to the panelists,” Fontenot said.

Among the activities held was a “Fast-a-Thon” on Monday. According to Fontenot, this activity was one of the most important ones because it promoted openness and inclusion within the community.

“Our Jesuit heritage isn’t only centered on a Catholic faith. One of the pillars of our Jesuit education is openness to other faiths, other ways of life. It deals with inclusion. We are all in this world together,” Fontenot said

The Ecumenical Prayer Service was organized to promote tolerance and acceptance of other faiths. The service had Jewish people, Hindus and Catholics together discussing how they are all similar despite being from different religions.

Loyola Week ends Friday Oct. 3 with a carnival.

“From the theme of diversity, we are having a Caribbean barbecue with a reggae band in the Residential Quad, and there will be a lot of activities for students to participate in,” Fontenot said.

This activity is going to be co-sponsored by the Student Government Association and Residential Life. Along with Fontenot, Ashley Shabankareh, SGA Vice President and music education senior, helped run the project.

Eduardo Gonzales can be reached at [email protected].