2008 Woodie Awards
Jesuit scholastics study at SLU
Adam Tamburin
Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: News
Saint Louis University was founded in the Jesuit tradition, but issues of legal wordplay and business decisions have caused some in the University community to question the relevance of this tradition in contemporary times. A handful of Jesuit leaders and ideals remain speckled across SLU's campus as reminders of the institution's founding principles.
Jesuit priests occupy a few prominent administrative positions, the University's mission statement repeatedly evokes Jesuit ideals, every student is required to take theology courses and Jesuit scholastics-men who hope to one day become Jesuit priests-come from across the country to study and pray at SLU.
Jesuit scholastics, not to be confused with the diocesan seminarians, are Jesuits usually in their 20s or 30s, who are studying for the priesthood.
The Bellarmine House of Studies, along with the College of Philosophy and Letters, offers scholastics a chance to study the required amounts of philosophy and theology before moving on to work, study theology and, later, be ordained.
The scholastics wear vestments typically associated with priests, but they take several classes alongside undergraduate and graduate students.
Ronny O'Dwyer, S.J., and Robert Murphy, S.J., two scholastics currently studying in the College of Philosophy and Letters, said that walking alongside students is an important aspect of their studies at SLU, one of three Jesuit universities in the country that offer such philosophical training.
"I think [studying here] plays into one of St. Ignatius' trademarks: to work alongside those that you minister to," Murphy said.
O'Dwyer is engaged with the student body at an especially visible level as the Student Government Association's representative for the College of Philosophy and Letters.
David Miros, Ph.D., archivist at the Midwest Jesuit Archives and professor in SLU's department of theology, said that the presence of the scholastics on campus is an integral part of their learning experience.
Jesuit priests occupy a few prominent administrative positions, the University's mission statement repeatedly evokes Jesuit ideals, every student is required to take theology courses and Jesuit scholastics-men who hope to one day become Jesuit priests-come from across the country to study and pray at SLU.
Jesuit scholastics, not to be confused with the diocesan seminarians, are Jesuits usually in their 20s or 30s, who are studying for the priesthood.
The Bellarmine House of Studies, along with the College of Philosophy and Letters, offers scholastics a chance to study the required amounts of philosophy and theology before moving on to work, study theology and, later, be ordained.
The scholastics wear vestments typically associated with priests, but they take several classes alongside undergraduate and graduate students.
Ronny O'Dwyer, S.J., and Robert Murphy, S.J., two scholastics currently studying in the College of Philosophy and Letters, said that walking alongside students is an important aspect of their studies at SLU, one of three Jesuit universities in the country that offer such philosophical training.
"I think [studying here] plays into one of St. Ignatius' trademarks: to work alongside those that you minister to," Murphy said.
O'Dwyer is engaged with the student body at an especially visible level as the Student Government Association's representative for the College of Philosophy and Letters.
David Miros, Ph.D., archivist at the Midwest Jesuit Archives and professor in SLU's department of theology, said that the presence of the scholastics on campus is an integral part of their learning experience.
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