Mission and Ministry
Programs

Arrupe Seminar

  • The Arrupe Seminar on the Foundations and Vision of Jesuit Education is a great opportunity, within a lively, interesting discussion with your peers, to deepen your understanding of the Jesuit foundations of Seattle University. Click here for current seminiar schedule.

    The Seminar is designed to promote:

    • Understanding of the Jesuit educational tradition and of Jesuits
    • Assimilation of the knowledge and values of the tradition
    • Application of what one learns and assimilates to the carrying out of one’s role at the University
    • Commitment to carrying on the tradition. It offers an experience that is both scholarly and personal, requiring a significant amount of reading, discussion, and personal reflection, and including presentations by people knowledgeable in the Jesuit tradition.  

    Seminar basics

    • A team made up of one Jesuit and one lay colleague leads each section, presents material, and facilitates discussions. 
    • Visiting experts present some sessions.
    • The Seminar is open to faculty, staff, and administrators who have completed at least one year at the University.
    • It meets approximately every two weeks for two hours throughout the academic year, beginning in October and ending in early May.
    • Two sections at different times are offered to accommodate different schedules.   

    Seminar statistics

    • Since 2004 about 180 SU faculty and staff will have completed the Seminar.
    • About 30 faculty and staff are currently enrolled. 

    Seminar Leaders (past and present):

    • David Leigh, S.J., English
    • Teresa Ling, Albers School
    • Thomas Murphy, S.J., History
    • Catherine Punsalan, Theology
    • Peter Ely, S.J., Theology
    • Mary Bowman, Law
    • Patrick O'Leary, S.J., Faculty/Staff Chaplain 
    • Jodi Kelly, Matteo Ricci College

  • …this seminar has encouraged me to explore research topics related to Jesuit education. I am attending the Colleagues in Jesuit Business Education conference this summer to interact with other Jesuit educators who share similar interests. I am developing a research project to test the impact of Jesuit education on ethics in business. The Arrupe Seminar has changed my view of students; I am committed to forming a relationship with any students who are open to dialogue. I believe a personal relationship between faculty and students helps complete the educational process. I also hope to pass on the concepts of Ignatian spirituality to my students. The beauty of Ignatian spirituality is the inclusiveness and non-judgmental aspects of the philosophy.

    Sarah Bee Accounting

  • I have learned to appreciate the methods by which the Society works. It seems that things don’t happen by chance but rather through a process of discernment, but always looking back to the grand design of Ignatius. I have come to really appreciate the early Jesuits, such as Ricci and di Nobili. They were very courageous and had an amazing ability to work within a culture while acknowledging and using the richness of that culture in their work.

    Marilyn Price College of Nursing

  • The Arrupe Seminar provided for me a more thorough understanding of exactly what it means to walk the path of Ignatian spirituality. I gained many insights into both Ignatian spirituality and Jesuit educations. One clear insight for me was how Ignatian humanism bolsters living life for others while offering optimism in the work of justice. In doing this, there is an emphasis on looking to find the kindred spirit in those different from us. This is something that I feel is very important in my role of being an educator to all of our students. To know that what I find to be my own personal beliefs and approach resonates and is, in fact, the stated mission of the institution that I work for gives me an extremely powerful sense of confidence in my role here at Seattle University.

    Romando Nash Division of Student Development