On Georgetown

[David Gregory, of St. John's University School of Law, sent me the following message:]

Dear Michael,

So, as an at best infrequent skimmer of the MOJustice, at the beginning
of the academic year I thought I'd see what some forthcoming conference
highlights might be.

I see quite a bit of discussion on the MOJ blog re: your alma mater,
Gtown, and the current issues re: the Campus Ministry.

Having deposited my one and only child last weekend at Gtown (premed,
Gtown Class of 2010, double major in biochemistry and philosopy, with
sights set on an MD/PhD in bioethics (or, so he thinks----it is a long
way from 'here to there'!!!!) (and a grad of Regis HS, Class of 2006),
and having sat through a weekend of  orientation and welcomes, I must
say I was very impressed with the outstanding emphasis on Ignatian
principles throughout the orientation weekend. The Jesuits with the
office of Mission and of Ministry were stunningly impressive (and I am
not easily impressed). The few questions from parents about the current
issues re: the Protestant component of the C. Ministry were direct, and
were handled with great insight and decency (or so it surely seemed to
me).

My son reports that the Catholic Mass at 11:15 PM every evening on
campus is among the most moving and reflective liturgies he has thus far
experienced (and he has been to some pretty amazing liturgies, from Mass
with Pope JPII to the Catholic Worker to Opus Dei).

My impressions, thus far, is that the Gtown C. Ministry is doing superb
work, and with exquisite and enlighted ecumenical sensitivity to all (I
am always on alert for the ecumenical dimensions, since my father was a
non-Christian Cherokee and my wife is Jewish) (I was a bit surprised,
however, in that there was no mention in all of the orientation events
with Campus Ministry about the 450th and 500th year anniversary events
re: e.g., the death of Ignatius, etc.)
_______________
mp