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In this edition:
- President's Post
- Monthly Community Impact Award
- Certificate Programs at Boston College
- More from the AJCU Network
President's Post
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays
Last week our family made our annual pilgrimage to the local Catholic elementary school to
hunt for our Christmas tree. Upon arriving, my 8-year-old son, dashed into the manmade tree
farm and made a b-line to the center of the trees where there stood a massive Blue Spruce -- seemingly as wide as it was tall. Standing in front of the towering tree, Ben declared “This is it!” to which my wife and I quickly replied, “No, it is not!” We then started a tour of the
alternatives and it became immediately evident, we had arrived late -- only Charlie Brown
Christmas trees remained. Begrudgingly, we returned to the hulking tree and said, “We’ll take
it”. Today, the tree wonderfully dominates our living room and my daughter named it
Hagrid -- after the warm and massive character from Harry Potter. Every morning, when I walk
down the stairs and light adorned Hagrid, I can’t help but smile and laugh. The tree has
become a wonderful source of enjoyment for our whole family.
As we move towards our Christmas and holiday breaks, my hope for you all is that you might
extravagantly embrace all the little (big) things this season can offer. Despite all the limitations
and challenges of celebrating these days in the midst of a pandemic -- perhaps even as a result of some of them -- these days can be used in ways that rejuvenate us (and help make us whole).
The author Aisha Ahmad -- who has spent many holidays in trying conditions -- suggests the key to a rejuvenating holiday during a pandemic is embracing the break and making a plan. She offers a whole host of suggestions for how to rest and invest in oneself: a physical challenge, a digital detox, service and connecting with family old friends through phone calls and letters. Most importantly, she suggests rejoicing in the imperfection of it all.
As we approach this break, I hope that you may prepare in simple and yet extravagant ways to invest in yourself. And I hope that your time celebrating the holidays will be peaceful, rejuvenating and sprinkled with small (and large) doses of grace.
Dave Johnson, Ph.D.
Xavier University
JASPA President
Monthly Community Impact Award
We continue to recognize members of the JASPA community who are creating innovative ways to integrate our Jesuit values into student affairs work on their respective campus. The purpose of the JASPA Community Impact Award is to highlight a program, service, publication, or institutional commitment that embodies the values of Jesuit higher education. Awardees are selected monthly to showcase best practices integrating Jesuit mission and identity to inform our student affairs work.
Click here for the nomination form for the November Community Impact Awards. Nominations are due on Friday, December 18, 2020.
Certificate Programs at Boston College
Boston College's School of Theology and Ministry offers three 18-credit certificate programs in spirituality studies: Certificate in Ignatian Spirituality, Certificate in Spiritual and Pastoral Care, and Certificate in Christian Spirituality. These are primarily geared toward individuals who do not have a master's degree in theology, but who are looking to integrate spirituality and/or pastoral care into their work.
Click the following links to learn more:
If you have any questions, please reach out to Anthony Russo, Assistant Dean for Graduate Enrollment Management, at russoak@bc.edu with questions!
More from the AJCU Network
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