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Fostering a Culture of Ignatian Discernment and Formation: The Example of Loyola High School

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“I believe in the mission and vision of Loyola High School; I have experienced  that a Jesuit Catholic education excels at shaping young people,” says Marcelle DeFreitas, President of Loyola High School. She is fully committed to promoting not only a well-rounded education for students but also a culture of communal discernment and ongoing formation for the lay staff.

In this article, Ms. DeFreitas explains how Loyola High School is integrated into the network of Jesuit works in Canada and around the world through both apostolic planning and Ignatian practices, despite the challenges faced along the way. Like other Jesuit institutions Loyola High School is committed to fostering a culture of communal discernment and ongoing formation for all staff members, not just educators. This approach, supported by Ignatian practices, strengthens Jesuit values in this apostolate and offers insights into apostolic planning and ways to integrate Ignatian practices into the classrooms and activities at the school.

How would you describe the current governance model of Loyola High School as a member of the Jesuit network? How are you part of the Jesuits of Canada?

The owners of Loyola High School are the Jesuits of Canada.

Our governance model consists of a Board of Governors with 12 independent members, appointed by the Jesuit Board of Directors. The Board of Directors composed solely of Jesuits, appoints the Board of Governors, who oversee the President. The Board of Directors meets every other month, and Father Len Altilia, SJ, chair of the Board of Directors, attends every Board of Governors meeting (and he is the chaplain of the school). He is deeply involved in decisions regarding policies through the Governance, Ethics, and Nominations Committee.

I report to the chair of the Board of Governors and together we work with the committees of the board to ensure Loyola’s ongoing success.

Father Jacques Nzumbu, s.j., a Jesuit and member of Loyola’s Board of Governors, shares his knowledge of unethical mining practices in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Photo: Loyola High School, Montreal

Every year, Fr. Provincial meets all the key people in the building — leaders, staff and students— to ask them questions and engage them in conversation. At the end of that day, he informs the President whether, in his estimation, Loyola continues to meet the standards of  a Catholic Jesuit school. At Loyola, we sign a sponsorship agreement every five years with the Jesuits of Canada. Through a thorough review process, we reaffirm our commitment to being  a  Jesuit Catholic school.

At Loyola, we sign a sponsorship agreement every five years with the Jesuits of Canada. Through a thorough review process, we reaffirm our commitment to being  a  Jesuit Catholic school.

We are proud to be members of the Jesuit Schools Network, which offers invaluable professional learning opportunities for our educators. Our teachers actively participate in conferences focused on vital topics such as the environment, equity, inclusion, and belonging. The Network has developed the “Standards & Benchmarks for Jesuit Schools in the 21st Century,” a comprehensive framework that encompasses all aspects of school governance—academic, faith-based, facilities, and more. These standards guide us in maintaining our identity as a Jesuit Catholic institution.

The support we receive from the Jesuits of Canada has been instrumental in our journey, ensuring that Loyola embodies the values of Jesuit education. Our meaningful partnership with the Jesuits strengthens our community, and we are grateful for our strong connection with the Provincial Superior. Together, we are committed to fostering an enriching environment for our students and upholding the Jesuit mission.

Is your staff involved in Ignatian spirituality and leadership? And the students?

We ensure that faculty and staff participate in leadership formation and Ignatian spirituality.

New employees attend a two-day formation program in August. Our goal is to ensure that every interaction within the building supports the development of the whole person, starting with our employees.

photo : Loyola High School, Montreal

We also have three Ignatian retreats each year. Typically, the process is framed in a spiritual conversation. It’s a discernment process that follows a cyclical pattern. At our last staff meeting each year, we conclude with an examen, which is intended to bring our year of prayer as a community to a place of reflection and affirmation of our faith.

We also have a weekly examen: all students and staff pause their activities to reflect on the past week. Daily prayers and morning mass in the chapel ensure that we are in each other’s prayers every day.  Additionally, we have a school mass every month with all the students and teachers, usually celebrated by a Jesuit. Ignatian practices are woven in our culture and nurture our community by bringing reflection and purpose to everything we do.

Ignatian practices are woven in our culture and nurture our community by bringing reflection and purpose to everything we do.

We teach everybody that having faith, believing in God, gives you firm ground to stand on. And for teenagers that is important in a world where the ground is always shifting, and they are not quite sure where their values lie.

What is your apostolic planning process? Do you face any challenges in these areas?

I have been given a mandate that I must fulfill within the five years and I have just finished Year 3. This mandate includes several key objectives, such as the enrollment of girls at Loyola (which has been successfully achieved) and renovating the 1977 gymnasium without incurring debt and on schedule (also completed). In addition, the mandate is also about modernizing the school’s human resources policies, developing  policies, and fostering a very competent and forward-thinking leadership team. Enhancing equity and diversity within the school is another important aspect of my mandate.

photo : Loyola High School, Montreal

To maintain my apostolic planning, I submit my goals annually to my Board Chair, and we check in every three months on my progress. The goals are aligned with the Universal Apostolic Preferences and the Standards & Benchmarks for Jesuit Schools in the 21st Century. Everything is connected to the Four C’s of education —compassion, competence, commitment, and conscience —emphasizing that this is      a collaborative effort.

To maintain my apostolic planning, I submit my goals annually to my Board Chair, and we check in every three months on my progress.

Yes, there have been challenges. For example, when I first arrived, there was resistance to bringing girls to Loyola, as several were resistant about change. I took the time to meet individually with each staff member, asking them what they love about Loyola, what they felt needed  to change, and how they could help. This process took months, but I gathered their insights and presented them back to the team, promising to honor their affection for the school. Over time, we gained support, and the transition has been successful. The staff and students have embraced the change, and it now feels like a seamless part of our community.

Do you think taking time for these one-on-one meetings was worth it?

Absolutely. It provided me with perspectives I wouldn’t have otherwise known. Every person sees the school differently, and understanding their viewpoints has been invaluable.

Slide
Key Takeaways for Jesuit Apostolate Leadership:

•

Cultivate a Culture of Communal Discernment: Encourage regular Ignatian practices like the examen and retreats to foster reflection and mission among staff.

•

Invest in Ongoing Formation: Offer formation programs for all new team members, ensuring that everyone—from administrative staff to leadership—appropriates and embodies Jesuit values.

•

Engage Lay Staff Deeply: Promote a culture where lay partners are actively involved in the mission, embracing Ignatian spirituality as a core part of their work.

•

Regular Reflection and Apostolic Evaluation: Align apostolic planning with Universal Apostolic Preferences and conduct regular evaluations to ensure the apostolate remains true to its Jesuit identity.

Slide
A Tradition of Service, by Adam Pittman, SJ 

Loyola High School is one of six schools in Canada that are officially sponsored or endorsed by the Jesuits.

Some Jesuit schools are owned and operated by their respective Jesuit provinces. In such cases, the school is sponsored and under the direct authority and oversight of the Jesuits. In other cases, partnerships are formed with institutions that champion our values, pedagogy, and Ignatian formation. These partnerships involve collaboration between the endorsed school and the Jesuits—offering guidance, support, resources, and inclusion in one of the largest global networks of schools.

The link between these schools and the Jesuits of Canada is rooted in their mission

and values inspired by Jesuit principles: a commitment to academic excellence, promoting justice, service, and reconciliation, and developing ethical and compassionate leaders.

But at the heart of Jesuit education lies something even more profound—an inspiration drawn from the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Jesus, the ultimate teacher and servant leader, modelled compassion, humility, and selflessness in everything he did. His example serves as a guiding light for all Jesuit educators, reminding us that true greatness is found in serving others, especially the most vulnerable and underserved.

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