Students at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia wanted to honor their school’s Jesuit heritage. In response, they organized the first Jesuit Appreciation Day in late January. The theme for the day was “Leadership and Success: The Jesuit Impact Through Education.” The day’s events drew 150 students, faculty, and alumni.

The day featured a series of lectures by six Jesuits and three lay colleagues, dinner, and Mass. Among the topics discussed were: “What Would Ignatius Do?” and “The Renaissance Person.”

Jesuit Father Joseph Feeney, professor of English, spoke about how the Jesuit ideals of intellectual integrity helped him cope with doubts he had about his faith, and how discussions with his Jesuit high school teachers helped to shape his relationship with God.

“If you have a doubt, think of it as a difficulty of believing, not a removal of faith," advised Father Feeney.

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