St. Aloysius Church



INTRODUCTION

Gonzaga’s mission statement proclaims, “As Jesuit, we are inspired by the vision of Christ at work in the world, transforming it by His love, and calling men and women to work with Him in loving service of the human community.” This statement reiterates the fundamental religious and social beliefs of the Catholic and Jesuit traditions. Nowhere are those traditions more evident than in the sublime architecture and artwork on the Gonzaga campus. Crosses adorn church spires and buildings, statues of saints grace the grounds, and crucifixes are prominently displayed in every classroom. But how does this prominent display of religious symbols impact people’s perceptions of Gonzaga’s campus and thus the school as a whole?



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Statues



LADY WALSINGHAM-VIRGIN MARY

The history of Our Lady of Walsingham dates back to 1061 England. A Saxon woman, Richeldis de Faverches, was instructed by the Virgin Mary to build a shrine that represents the Annunication of Mary where the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary. The statue of Our lady of Walsingham is located by the Jesuit House on the campus of Gonzaga.


ST. ALOYSIUS GONZAGA

Gonzaga was founded by Italian Jesuit, Father Joseph Cataldo and officially opened its doors in 1887. The name for this university derived from Saint Aloysisus Gonzaga the patron saint of children and youth. Father Cataldo found it appropriate to name the university after St. Aloysius who was known for his love of prayer and fasting. A statue of Saint Aloysius is located in front of the Admissions Building on campus.


NAIL IN THE HAND

The Jesuit Catholics believe Jesus was nailed on the cross and this image is represented on a crucifix located in every class room. In addition to the Crucifix’s there is a large statue of the hand of Christ with a nail in it which represents the hand of Christ reaching upward. This statue is a reminder of the Jesuit beliefs for everyone who sees the art piece.

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Crucifix


CRUCIFIXES

Similar to the “empty” cross, the crucifix is typically associated with the Catholic denomination; however, other branches of Christianity, such as the Lutheran church, use the crucifix as well. In contrast to the “empty” cross’s meaning of victory in Christ through the resurrection, the crucifix highlights the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus as well as the victory achieved. The Catholic faith uses the crucifix instead of the cross because they believe the crucifix reiterates the Scripture that states “we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles” (1 Corinthians 1:23).

At Gonzaga, a crucifix is displayed at or near the front of every classroom and lab. The crucifix is also found at various locations around campus in art, statues, and even stained glass.

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Interviews with the Gonzaga Community

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Production Team 8&9


CONCLUSION

While visiting the Gonzaga campus the presence of Jesuit religious beliefs can not be denied, this community, however, prides itself on being inclusive rather than exclusive. There are twenty-four different faiths on the campus and 700 students attend various religious services. To accommodate the multiple belief systems, Gonzaga has created an avenue of worship for students who are Muslim, Jewish, and those who embrace other denominations of Christianity. Although the Jesuit order is apparent, students are encouraged to practice their own beliefs and grow stronger within those beliefs.

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