CAMPUS MINISTRY & CHRISTIAN SERVICE : THE HEART OF FORDHAM PREP
TOP : Fordham Prep ’ s Christian Service Immersion partnership with Appalachia Habitat for Humanity in Scott County , Tennessee is over 20 years old .
BOTTOM : For six years , Prep students have participated in the Great Ignatian Challenge — a friendly competition among several East Province Jesuit schools to collect food for local pantries during the holiday season .
St . Ignatius taught us that love speaks louder in deeds than in words . The students … embody Ignatian principles and beliefs . I am inspired by their commitment .”
– Jim Rowen ’ 82 , Great Ignatian Challenge creator
LIFELONG DESIRE FOR A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND HELPING OTHERS
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N TRUE IGNATIAN FASHION , reflection is a critical component to the Prep ’ s Service Program . At the end of the first semester of the 2021 – 22 school year , Morris asked her class of seniors to reflect on their service projects thus far .
“ I asked the students ‘ Who would you pick to replace you at your service site once you ’ ve completed your requirement ? What kind of qualities do you want them to have ? Do you present those qualities to the people that you ’ re working with ?’” she recalled . “ And they were excellent in their responses . ‘ I want somebody who will be patient and flexible . Someone who is really giving and will listen to people ,’” Morris remembered the students replying .
An example of the lasting impression Christian Service has on students who have graduated from Fordham Prep is Jim Rowen ’ 82 , creator of the Great Ignatian Challenge . The challenge engages several schools in the Jesuit East Province in a friendly competition to collect food for local food pantries during the holiday season .
“ St . Ignatius taught us that love speaks louder in deeds than in words . The students at these fifteen Jesuit schools embody Ignatian principles and beliefs . I am inspired by their commitment to be women and men for others ,” Rowen said in a press release detailing the results of the challenge .
Kravatz noted that Fordham Prep students are still waiting for space at one of the local agencies , P . O . T . S ., in order to have the remaining perishable foods delivered . 2021 was Fordham Prep ’ s sixth year participating in the challenge , during which 65,000 pounds of food was collected to help feed the hungry .
“ For the first time ever , we collected so much food from the Great Ignatian Challenge that we ’ re still in the process of giving it away . We still have 40,000 pounds to be delivered , and much of that food is fresh , so P . O . T . S . can ’ t take it all at once ,” Kravatz stated .
These acts of service , intertwined with Fordham Prep ’ s dedication to helping students grow closer to God , are all integral to developing the qualities of a Jesuit high school graduate at the time of graduation .
Kravatz hopes students take a desire to care for others , “ especially those in need ,” along with them upon graduating from the Prep . He also hopes that “ their eyes have been opened to the many needs and injustices in this world , and that they walk away feeling empowered to do something about them .”
Smith hopes that students also take a relationship with God through prayer . “ If they get that ,” he stated , “ then the rest kind of falls into place . They ’ ll be good people , good citizens , good workers . They ’ ll be loving , caring , and all of the great things we hope for .”
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FORDHAM PREP RAMVIEW