Boroughs, Philip L., S.J.

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epublications@Marquette

Conversations on Jesuit Higher EducationVolume 45 Article 14April 2014Shared Values, Creative Vision: A PresidentRespondsPhilip L. Boroughs S.J.Follow this and additional works at: http://epublications.marquette.edu/conversationsRecommended CitationBoroughs, Philip L. S.J. (2014) "Shared Values, Creative Vision: A President Responds," Conversations on Jesuit Higher Education: Vol.45, Article 14.Available at: http://epublications.marquette.edu/conversations/vol45/iss1/1434 ConversationsT he recent meeting ofAJCU presidents,board chairs, provin-cials, representativerectors, and Fr. Adolfo Nicolásat Loyola University Chicagowas significant for its context,content, and consequences.This meeting was thefirst time that the boardchairs of the 28 schools ofthe AJCU had met together,and their presence alongwith Father General’s visitsignificantly energized ourgathering. The assemblymade very clear that whenthe presidents and boardchairs convene the majorityof the leadership of Jesuitinstitutions is now in thehands of the laity. It is alsomade clear that we have along way to go before thereis greater gender and racialdiversity among our leader-ship. I appreciated havingmy board chair, KevinCondron, with me so thatpower of the experience andthe wisdom of the generalwere being heard and latercould be shared by morethan one person uponreturning to Holy Cross. Wehave subsequently decidedthat the focus of ourSeptember board meetingwill center on our Catholicand Jesuit identity. I was alsopleased to meet KipCondron, Kevin’s brotherand board chair of theUniversity of Scranton. Kevinand Kip are the first brothersto serve simultaneously asboard chairs of a Jesuit col-lege and university. While the provincialsand Father General met sep-arately during the first ses-sion, the higher educationparticipants wereled through a guided medita-tion and group reflectionbased on the SpiritualExercises, a new experiencefor many but one that waswell received. We soonunderstood its relevance asFather Nicolás’s presentationemphasized our respectivecalls to be spiritual and hero-ic leaders. Given the uncer-tain context of higher educa-tion today and our difficultfinancial realities, the rapidlydiminishing number ofJesuits on our campuses andthe growing number of laypresidents, as well as thepending mergers of ourUnited States provinces, I sus-pect that manyof us were initial-ly surprised thatFather Generalbegan by talkingabout spiritualleadership ratherthan the practicalimplications ofthe realities weface.By the timeFather Nicholasended his pres-entation, how-ever, and chal-lenged us to dis-cern our futureas institutions,as the AJCU,and as soon tobe reorganized provinces,his intent was evident.Making the difficult decisionsneeded to ensure that Jesuithigher education in theUnited States continues to beviable and transformativewill require ongoing discern-ment based on detachment,indifference, and freedom.These prerequisites cannotbe assumed but, he implied,will come only as the resultof a more rigorous appropri-ation of Ignatian spirituality.In our highly individualizedculture, where even Jesuitinstitutions are used to com-peting among themselves forstudents, resources, andrankings, Father Generalseemed to suggest that ourfuture existence as the AJCUwill depend on how commit-ted we are to being a moreintentional community ofshared values and creativevision willing to face difficultrealities together.Father Nicolás ended hispresentation with a simple andhumble request of our boardchairs. He asked them to sharewith our provincials and presi-dents how their recruitment ofemployees could help us inthe recruitment of Jesuit voca-tions. Not only is the future ofour Jesuit colleges and univer-sities dependent on ourlay/Jesuit collaboration; butapparently so is the future ofthe Society of Jesus itself.  ■Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., hasbeen president of the Collegeof the Holy Cross sinceJanuary 2012; before thathe was vice president formission and ministry atGeorgetown. He has servedon the boards of theUniversity of San Franciscoand of the College of theHoly Cross.Shared Values, Creative Vision: A President RespondsBy Philip L. Boroughs, S.J.John Lewis, chair of the University of Detroit Mercy board of trustees, Dr.Antoine M. Garibaldi, president of the University of Detroit Mercy, Fr. TimothyKesicki, S.J., provincial of the Chicago-Detroit Province of the Society of Jesus,and Father Nicolás. Photo courtesy of the AJCU.00621_conversations #26   12/13/13  5:38 PM  Page 341Boroughs: Shared Values, Creative Vision: A President RespondsPublished by e-Publications@Marquette, 2014

Shared Values, Creative Vision: A President Responds

https://epublications.marquette.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1866&amp;context=conversations

Shared Values, Creative Vision: A President Responds

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