Timothy L. Porter, who in 1964 became the second African American to graduate from Loyola Blakefield, is picture with his family at the schools “Black, Blue and Gold” exhibit, which commemorates Black alumni (photo: Donovan Eaton).

At Loyola Blakefield in Maryland, Black alumni pave the way for future students

by J.D. Long García March 16, 2022

Kenneth Montague became the first African-American student at Loyola in 1956. He “opened the door for others to follow.”

Third graders enjoy an outdoor physical education class at Tomsk Catholic School in Siberia. The school educates students from kindergarten through 11th grade (photo: Janez Sever, S.J.).

Faith, Jesuit School Spotlight

The Jesuits run Russia’s only Catholic secondary school, where love is shown more in deeds than in words

by Thomas M. Simisky February 17, 2022

My new motto has become, “Preach the Exercises always; when necessary, use words.”

Joseph Ross is an English teacher at Gonzaga High School in Washington, D.C. (photo: Gonzaga High School).

Faith, Jesuit School Spotlight

A vibrant poetry program guides Jesuit high school students in their search for empathy and justice

by Ciaran Freeman January 20, 2022

Joseph Ross, an English teacher at Gonzaga High School in Washington, D.C., says poetry requires us to look deeply at the world around us.

Faith, Jesuit School Spotlight

‘It isn’t Latin or Greek I’m teaching, but how to think’: Memories of a formative Jesuit educator

by John W. Donohue December 16, 2021

As a young teacher at Canisius High School in Buffalo, N.Y., John W. Donohue, S.J., worked with Thomas J. Jones, the senior member of the lay faculty: “From him I was to learn more about the practice of teaching than from any book or course in education.”

Fordham Prep students collect donations for the Great Ignatian Challenge in 2019. The annual holiday food drive, which now takes place at 15 Jesuit schools, also raises money for financial assistance programs at thge participating schools. (Christopher Lauber/Fordham Prep)

Faith, Jesuit School Spotlight

The Great Ignatian Challenge turns a Thanksgiving food drive into a (friendly) Jesuit competition

by Maurice Timothy Reidy November 15, 2021

Jim Rowen discusses the genesis of the Great Ignatian Challenge, a yearly competition among Jesuit high schools to see which institution can bring in the most donations for local charities.

Nativity Mission Center, pictured here in the 1970s, was founded by the Jesuits in 1971 on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The center is now part of a coalition of 49 schools across the United States that follow its model for educating underserved children. (Photo courtesy NativityMiguel Coalition.)

Faith, Jesuit School Spotlight

Daniel Pérez had a transformative experience as a Nativity student. Today he leads their national coalition of schools.

by J.D. Long García October 14, 2021

Mr. Pérez is now the executive director of the NativityMiguel Coalition, a national network of faith-based schools that follow the Nativity model for helping children prepare for rigorous high school curricula.