Dear Loyola community,
It is with great joy that I welcome you back to campus after the challenges of the past week. While Hurricane Francine disrupted our routines and caused us to pause many activities, we were fortunate to gather before the storm for Mass of the Holy Spirit, a cherished tradition at Loyola that marks the beginning of our academic year. This gathering reminded us of the strength and unity that define our community, even in the face of unforeseen events.
I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to all those who coordinated for weeks to make this Mass possible, and to those who shared their gifts of voice and dance during the Mass itself. This event truly represents the best of who and what we are as a Catholic community.
I also want to thank those who worked tirelessly during and after Hurricane Francine to care for our students and restore our facilities. Your efforts allowed us to return quickly and safely to our beloved campus, and I am deeply appreciative of your dedication.
As we come back to campus and resume our regular activities, we do so with a renewed sense of purpose. Our community thrives on connection, and this is especially evident when we are separated due to events outside of our control. Now that we are back, let us listen intently and respectfully with open ears and hearts, allowing our community to grow even closer together.
This year brings with it many opportunities, including for many of our students the privilege to vote in a national election for the very first time. Your vote and voice matter. Make a plan to be at the polls and ensure your choice is counted. In this politically charged environment, there are too many opportunities for division and conflict. Let us not fall into that trap of divisiveness.
Loyola is a community rich in diversity—diversity of thought, opinion, experience, and belief. These differences, while powerful, could easily drive us further apart. To be a stronger, closer community, we must lean into what we can learn from each other’s differences. We should not be afraid to share our thoughts openly and engage in conversations with those who hold opposing views. But as we do, let us commit to entering these discussions with openness and respect for the other.
At Loyola, we will create spaces where these difficult but necessary conversations can happen—spaces of trust and mutual respect. Your faculty, staff, and administrators will model this approach in our interactions and gatherings. We must seek to find God in one another, which allows us to love each other and to offer grace when mistakes are made. We must also assume the best intentions of others when entering these spaces of dialogue.
These mutualities—grace, trust, and respect—will help us foster a community of belonging that we can all be proud to call our own. I am confident that, together, we can create an environment where rich learning and discovery take place, and where tremendous personal and intellectual growth will occur.
We are one Wolf Pack. Let’s make this a great year through your intentional engagement within it.
Wishing you peace and blessings as we embark on this academic year.
