SU Welcomes Jesuit Leader from Rome

Seattle University recently hosted a special Jesuit guest from Rome, Joseph Christie, S.J., president of the International Association of Jesuit Universities (IAJU) and Secretary of Higher Education for the Society of Jesus. This was Father Christie’s first visit to SU and it offered him the opportunity to meet new President Dr. Maura B. Mast, along with SU’s new Arrupe Jesuit Community Rector, Alejandro Olayo-Mendez, S.J.

While here Fr. Christie learned about the many ways SU lives out its Jesuit mission and how it builds strong partnerships with Jesuit institutions around the world.

In addition to meeting with campus global engagement leaders, several faculty members and leaders in academic and student affairs, he visited the Sundborg Center for Community Engagement, the Indigenous Peoples Institute and the Institute for Environmental Justice and Sustainability. Additionally, he received a customized tour of the award-winning Chapel of St. Ignatius from Jerry Cobb, S.J.

Fr. Christie expressed his appreciation learning about SU’s Jesuit university partnerships in Latin America, Asia, India and Africa. There was also a conversation about the IAJU’s plans to develop a Center for Peace and Reconciliation in Hiroshima, Japan.

There are a range of ways that Seattle University may be able to contribute to the development of the new center, including faculty research and scholarship, as well as student involvement by way of faculty-led study tours, among other possibilities. Geographically, SU is one of the closest North American Jesuit universities to Japan. SU also has a longstanding partnership with Sophia University in Tokyo, which is helping to launch the new center, providing a solid foundation for SU’s engagement.