Over the past year, the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (R.S.H.M.) and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange (C.S.J.) have made gifts of $1 million each to Loyola Marymount University. The R.S.H.M. gift supports the Marymount Institute for Faith, Culture, and the Arts, an institution dedicated to preserving the legacy of women religious at LMU and the Marymount tradition of education. Through its interdisciplinary programs, the institute explores the relationship between faith, culture, and the arts. The C.S.J. gift will benefit the C.S.J. Center for Reconciliation and Justice, an interdisciplinary and interfaith space that supports the LMU community’s work for reconciliation and justice by offering a forum for dialogue, a place of education, and a resource for reflective action. Both gifts will be added to the projects’ endowments, supporting them in perpetuity.
In 1973, the historic merger of the all-female Marymount College with the all-male Loyola University resulted in the creation of the new, co-educational Loyola Marymount University. To this day the traditions and values of the Society of Jesus, R.S.H.M., and C.S.J. together form the rich fabric of LMU life. Both gifts were inspired by a desire to honor and celebrate the merger’s 50th anniversary; in the case of R.S.H.M., the sisters also wished to celebrate the 100th anniversary of R.S.H.M.’s arrival on the West Coast and the 175th anniversary of the founding of their religious institute.
“On such a momentous anniversary for LMU, there are no more meaningful gifts than these,” said LMU Executive Vice President and Provost Thomas Poon. “The combined traditions of R.S.H.M., C.S.J., and the Jesuits are what truly make LMU special. As essential resources on campus, the Marymount Institute and the C.S.J. Center help us to fulfill our mission pillar of educating the whole person.”
“We wanted to commemorate and celebrate every partner’s contribution to this exceptional educational partnership in Catholic higher education,” said Mary Genino, R.S.H.M., former Superior, Western American Province, and a current member of the LMU Board of Trustees. “This gift signifies our continuing support of LMU’s vision and mission: providing academic excellence, shaping future leaders, and offering formation for a faith that does justice and contributes to creating a better world for all.”
The R.S.H.M. strive to keep their traditions and legacy at LMU alive through the Marymount Institute, which stresses the dignity of each person and the call to contribute to the “fullness of life for all.” They hope it stands as a reminder of the societal contributions and impact of women and will spur more opportunities for women to excel. As Sister Genino says: “Dialogue and debate are part of the intellectual pursuit. In addressing contemporary social issues and global concerns through the lens of faith and in an inclusive and culturally diverse context, I hope what the institute offers sparks imagination and passion, moving one to respond in ways that bring what is good, right, and beautiful into our world.”
General Superior Mary Beth Ingham, C.S.J. ’73, also an LMU trustee, joined Sister Genino in celebrating their partnership. “Our relationship with the Jesuits and with the R.S.H.M. is a deep friendship that spans decades. C.S.J.’s commitment to LMU’s mission is part of our DNA. Milestones like the 50th anniversary of the merger offer us opportunities to give witness to the power of relationships and to celebrate the wonderful diversity of gifts within the Ignatian spiritual world.”
The C.S.J. Center for Reconciliation and Justice addresses the critical needs of society by “being the change we want to see.” Events sponsored by the center strive to bring people together, provide educational experiences, and address practical action steps. Signature programs include the Hidden Heroes Recognition Awards and the annual C.S.J. Center Symposium, which grapples with current social justice issues.
“Alone we can do little, but together we can achieve great things,” said Sister Ingham. “It is clear to us that the need for reconciliation efforts in our city, our country, and, indeed, in the world, continues to manifest itself. C.S.J. works with others to promote healing, education, awareness, and justice. Justice here has biblical resonance: It refers to right relationships, human flourishing, the promotion of the common good. All of these efforts are sorely needed in our world today.”
To learn more about the history and ongoing impact of the merger that created LMU, watch this LMU On Location video in which Sister Genino and Sister Ingham are interviewed by LMU President Timothy Law Snyder, Ph.D. You can also make a gift here to honor and support Marymount and C.S.J.’s legacies at LMU.
