How might Catholic colleges and universities draw from their unique missions to educate and act together in response to the pressing needs of the environment? Honoring the fifth anniversary of "Laudato si," this article argues that Pope Francis's notion of ecological conversion and his bold conviction that the "cry of the earth is…

This essay explores Jacques Maritain's philosophy of education as a means to better understand Pope Francis's recent promotion of a "Global Compact on Education," and in particular Francis's commitment "to make human persons in their value and dignity the center of every educational program." After situating Maritain's…

Current trends in disaffiliation and declining enrollment in Catholic schools raise difficult questions about the perceived value of Catholic education and the Catholic Intellectual Tradition (CIT). Following the work of theologian David Tracy, the author makes a case for engagement with Christian "classics" as a promising means not only…

In 2016, as the Catholic Church celebrates an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, the Dominican friars celebrate their 800th Jubilee year. Recent meetings of the Biennial Colloquium of Dominican Colleges and Universities have discussed the virtue of mercy as it pertains to its educational mission. If the Dominican Movement can be characterized by the…

"Ex corde Ecclesiae" (1990) continues to be the normative teaching of the universal Church twenty-five years after it was promulgated by Pope John Paul II, and its "Application for the United States" (2000) remains in force as particular law. Minimalist interpretations have emphasized the requirement of the…

For many American Catholic universities, mission and identity are shaped by the charism and charismatic traditions of the founding religious congregations. But the use of this language raises several questions in the face of changing dynamics in higher education, the church, and society. Is the language of Lasallian, Vincentian, Dominican, or…

A survey and interviews completed by peer ministers at Catholic colleges and universities in the United States from October 2012 to February 2013 reveal that the interviewed student ministers are engaging peers in interreligious dialogue. The research corroborates the premise that the promotion of interreligious relationships is important to this…

The early pontificate of Francis has been marked by substantial changes in the style of papal governance and teaching. Francis's engagement in dialogue with members of the media corresponds to a willingness to foster meaningful dialogue among the bishops and to use teaching documents to raise questions rather than answer them. At the Extraordinary…

Adaptation of a keynote speech delivered at the annual 2008 Rome Seminar. "Conducted and coordinated by ACCU senior staff and the staff of the Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas in Rome, the seminar offers a unique inside look at the Vatican and an inspiring experience of the Eternal City's spiritual treasures. Included are in-depth conversations…

This article develops themes that were outlined in a keynote presentation at the "Seeking the Light, Sharing Our Gifts, Returning a New Way" symposium for campus ministers at Catholic colleges and universities, held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on January 3-6 2008. It proposes that collaboration among faculty, campus ministers, and student affairs…

Divided into three parts, this article first describes the impact that historical and sociological factors, especially the weakening of the Catholic subculture and the recent development of "emerging adulthood", have on Catholic colleges and universities. The second part is a discussion of the typical approaches--both strengths and weaknesses--of…