A three-year agreement has been signed between the Jesuits of Canada and the University of Sudbury.
The University of Sudbury is a bilingual and tri-cultural institution founded in 1913 by the Jesuits as the Collège du Sacré-Coeur.
Although no longer owned or operated by Jesuits, the University is deeply rooted in its Jesuit tradition of academic excellence in the humanities and the holistic formation of women and men in service of others.
The agreement was signed during the annual visit of the Provincial Superior of the Jesuits of Canada, Fr. Erik Oland, SJ.
“Signing this agreement connects us to local, national and global Jesuit networks, enriching not only the University of Sudbury but also the Laurentian Federation,” said Fr. John Meehan, SJ, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Sudbury.
“We look forward to working with local community partners to educate thoughtful global citizens and servant leaders who have a passion for social justice and reconciliation.”
The agreement will enable the university to deepen links with local communities as well as a global network of some 200 Jesuit postsecondary institutions, including 27 Jesuit universities in the United States.
“Grateful for our rich legacy in Northern Ontario, we are linking our students to a global network, collaborating with member institutions as they focus on leadership formation, environmental and economic justice, inter-religious dialogue, and peace and reconciliation,” Meehan said.
“In the Canadian context, this highlights reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, building on the foundational work of our Indigenous Studies program, one of the first in Canada.
“In the Jesuit humanistic spirit, we seek to find truth, beauty and goodness in all cultures, traditions and spiritualities, creating a safe and nourishing space for dialogue between students of various backgrounds and beliefs.”
