Fordham Preparatory School - Ramview Ramview Spring 2018 | Page 21

Strategic Plan Update:
Fostering our Ignatian
Catholic Identity
As the number of Jesuits working in schools has
dramatically decreased over the last 30 years,
ensuring a Catholic Jesuit identity has become a key
priority for schools in the Jesuit network. This is
reflected in Fordham Prep’s Strategic Plan, Igniting
Our Mission, with several key strategic priorities
aimed at fostering our Ignatian Catholic identity.
One of the priorities in the next five years expands
programs to form faculty and staff in the Catholic
Ignatian mission and identity of Fordham Prep. This
year, we introduced the Companions in Mission
Program providing opportunities for faculty and
staff to reflect on the Prep’s mission and deepen
relationships with their companions in our ministry
of education. At present, the program includes a
book club, quarterly gatherings for conversations
about a topic related to our mission, and small
group gatherings to share in the Eucharist and table
fellowship. In addition, all new faculty and staff are
part of a comprehensive five-year Ignatian
formation program.
Naples, Florida
Special thanks to all the alumni and friends of Fordham
Prep who came together in Naples, Florida to meet to
Fr. Devron on March 20. Special thanks to Jim Melican ’58
for serving as host and opening his home to the Prep
community.
Palm Beach, Florida
Fordham Prep President Fr. Christopher Devron, SJ and
Vice President Jose Gonzalez met with alumni on January
30 at The Beach Club in Palm Beach, Florida. We would
like to thank Desmond Heathwood ‘59 for once again
hosting the Palm Beach gathering. Thank you, Desi!
Fr. Devron, Paul McPherson, Kathleen Millard P'93 and GP'22
In the coming years, we hope to expand the
Companions in Mission program to include more
opportunities for faculty and staff to take part in
institutes, retreats, pilgrimages and other programs
which provide direct experiences of Ignatian
spiritualty. Providing lay faculty and staff
opportunities for experiences of the Spiritual
Exercises of St. Ignatius, on which all of our efforts
in a Jesuit school are grounded, will be a critical part
of strengthening our identity as a Jesuit Catholic
school. Funding for these programs is part of a
strategic priority to increase funding for all
professional development programs for faculty.
John Roy '64, Hank White '63, Jim Melican '58
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