Philadelphia schools — what about Saint Joseph’s?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can understand how someone who is not Catholic might hear the words "Jesuit core" and incorrectly assume they are all religion classes (if you didn't listen the words that followed describing regular core classes); or hear "daily mass is held" and assume is was expected or highly used (btw many non-religious colleges also offer daily Mass in the Catholic center; very few lay Catholics under the age of 80 attend daily Mass); or understand that Campus Ministry is a small group of people who organize the optional religious activities of a campus (and most colleges have a variety of campus ministries for different religions, or one that covers them all).

A lot of Catholics do not fully appreciate how much misinformation and disinformation is out there about Catholics generally. I also think that when a large group of people have a shared cultural experience that is not yours, it can be difficult to feel totally comfortable and fit in. It isn't usually fun to be the one who doesn't get the lingo or the inside jokes.

St Joe’s is very Catholic and similar to the University of Scranton in its draw of students. It’s a very fine school. As a Catholic I hope it never changes to be more ecumenical or to apologize for being Catholic

I'm the PP who said my Catholic kids found it "too religious." I agree no private school has to apologize for being too Catholic--or any religion-- but neither does any potential student--Catholic or otherwise-- have to apologize for it not being well-suited to them. But I will say, their website talks about the Jesuit tradition, but didn't convey how actively religious the school feels when you talk to students, go on the tour . Our guide too mentioned mass, campus ministry etc. and all the student panel members mentioned some kind of on-campus religious organization as an important part of their lives. There were people praying in the chapel mid-day when we peeked in etc. When we were at lunch, a table nearby did a formal blessing before eating. All fine--lovely even by my standards-- but it did take my kids by surprise.

What did you expect, an empty chapel? Chapels are for praying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone have info on St. Joe's sober living community?

I just saw the announcement. It’s a new thing this year, so I’d suggest you call the school. There is a modest amount of info about it on the website. I think it’s a great approach; I hope more universities introduce similar concepts. It is a step beyond substance free dorms, as they offer proactive support to students.

[Anonymous]

My son is a sophomore this year. He is doing extremely well in the Haub School of Business. He’s found the alumni and even families of current students to be extremely helpful in his search for finance internships. He is doing a shadowing internship now thanks to those SJU connections.

Honestly, it was not his first choice, but they awarded him significant merit. The business school has the same accreditation as the very top schools, which is important. With the merit, we’re only paying slightly more than the cost of UMCP, yet he has far smaller classes, knows his professors well, and benefits from the community feel of this Jesuit school. We are not Catholic, FWIW.

I would say he has definitely encountered more conservative Republicans than during his school years in DC!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can understand how someone who is not Catholic might hear the words "Jesuit core" and incorrectly assume they are all religion classes (if you didn't listen the words that followed describing regular core classes); or hear "daily mass is held" and assume is was expected or highly used (btw many non-religious colleges also offer daily Mass in the Catholic center; very few lay Catholics under the age of 80 attend daily Mass); or understand that Campus Ministry is a small group of people who organize the optional religious activities of a campus (and most colleges have a variety of campus ministries for different religions, or one that covers them all).

A lot of Catholics do not fully appreciate how much misinformation and disinformation is out there about Catholics generally. I also think that when a large group of people have a shared cultural experience that is not yours, it can be difficult to feel totally comfortable and fit in. It isn't usually fun to be the one who doesn't get the lingo or the inside jokes.

St Joe’s is very Catholic and similar to the University of Scranton in its draw of students. It’s a very fine school. As a Catholic I hope it never changes to be more ecumenical or to apologize for being Catholic

I'm the PP who said my Catholic kids found it "too religious." I agree no private school has to apologize for being too Catholic--or any religion-- but neither does any potential student--Catholic or otherwise-- have to apologize for it not being well-suited to them. But I will say, their website talks about the Jesuit tradition, but didn't convey how actively religious the school feels when you talk to students, go on the tour . Our guide too mentioned mass, campus ministry etc. and all the student panel members mentioned some kind of on-campus religious organization as an important part of their lives. There were people praying in the chapel mid-day when we peeked in etc. When we were at lunch, a table nearby did a formal blessing before eating. All fine--lovely even by my standards-- but it did take my kids by surprise.

What did you expect, an empty chapel? Chapels are for praying.

Plenty of other schools have a chapel that rarely anyone goes in to pray--they hold events there, they have religious services, but they aren't many people independently praying mid-day at a chapel on a college campus. So, yes, at many schools it's an empty chapel, or a music group practicing or working on something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can understand how someone who is not Catholic might hear the words "Jesuit core" and incorrectly assume they are all religion classes (if you didn't listen the words that followed describing regular core classes); or hear "daily mass is held" and assume is was expected or highly used (btw many non-religious colleges also offer daily Mass in the Catholic center; very few lay Catholics under the age of 80 attend daily Mass); or understand that Campus Ministry is a small group of people who organize the optional religious activities of a campus (and most colleges have a variety of campus ministries for different religions, or one that covers them all).

A lot of Catholics do not fully appreciate how much misinformation and disinformation is out there about Catholics generally. I also think that when a large group of people have a shared cultural experience that is not yours, it can be difficult to feel totally comfortable and fit in. It isn't usually fun to be the one who doesn't get the lingo or the inside jokes.

St Joe’s is very Catholic and similar to the University of Scranton in its draw of students. It’s a very fine school. As a Catholic I hope it never changes to be more ecumenical or to apologize for being Catholic

I'm the PP who said my Catholic kids found it "too religious." I agree no private school has to apologize for being too Catholic--or any religion-- but neither does any potential student--Catholic or otherwise-- have to apologize for it not being well-suited to them. But I will say, their website talks about the Jesuit tradition, but didn't convey how actively religious the school feels when you talk to students, go on the tour . Our guide too mentioned mass, campus ministry etc. and all the student panel members mentioned some kind of on-campus religious organization as an important part of their lives. There were people praying in the chapel mid-day when we peeked in etc. When we were at lunch, a table nearby did a formal blessing before eating. All fine--lovely even by my standards-- but it did take my kids by surprise.

What did you expect, an empty chapel? Chapels are for praying.

Plenty of other schools have a chapel that rarely anyone goes in to pray--they hold events there, they have religious services, but they aren't many people independently praying mid-day at a chapel on a college campus. So, yes, at many schools it's an empty chapel, or a music group practicing or working on something.

She didn't say there were "many." She just said there were "people" in it, didn't even say they were students, and she was there on a tour day when there were visitors on campus. Had she said the chapel was packed with student worshipers on a random weekday, that would have been different.

Bottom line: she and her daughter are Jewish, they visited a Catholic college without doing any research, and they made assumptions about it that are clearly wrong.

[Anonymous]

St. Blows

[Anonymous]

Oh God, people are still bickering about St. Joe's? It's a fine school, OP. Go see it ... it's tiny ... you can jam in a tour of Drexel, Temple, or Villanova on the same day. Draw your own conclusions!

[Anonymous]

It’s the same as Villanova, don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:St. Blows

Ok. Strange comment but you do you.