Farewell from Ralph Metts, S.J.

FAREWELL

As I wrote the words, “farewell,” the song that Carol Burnett used to close her shows jumped to mind.

I’m so glad we had this time together

Just to have a laugh or sing a song

Seems we just get started and before you know it

Comes the time we have to say, ‘So long.’

Although I do not remember many songs and you certainly do not want me singing, the sentiments of the song sum up well my feelings as I bid farewell after my twenty two years of service for JSEA, first with the Commission on Research and Development (CORD) and then as vice president and president of JSEA.

For me, the past twenty two years have been a remarkable time. I have been privileged to watch JSEA grow and develop. I remember when I first joined JSEA back in the late ‘80’s. When there was a summer CORD workshop, we would anxiously watch the registration numbers to see if we would make the break even number of fifty participants. There were times that the CORD staff would have to plead with schools to add just a few more people to the workshop so that we would be able to run it. That stands in mark contrast to the 500 plus participants for the last Colloquium and current same job conferences with over a hundred participants. Both clearly illustrate the growth of JSEA over these past twenty plus years as it worked vigorously to strengthen the mission of Jesuit secondary education.

But, enough of the past! My title, “Fare Well,” wishes JSEA, especially each of you who are the JSEA at work in the daily ministry of Jesuit secondary education, continued growth and success. I believe to do that we cannot dwell or live in the past, but must fearlessly survey the future and embrace its frontiers with a “holy boldness, a certain apostolic aggressivity” that GC 34 encourages.

So, I want to share what I believe are some significant 21^st century frontiers for Jesuit secondary education. Specifically, I want to encourage you, in Ignatian fashion, to reflect on what lies ahead for education in general and Jesuit secondary education in particular.

1. How will Jesuit education enter into the world of the “I generation” so that it forms students in the values espoused by Jesuit education as previous generations of Jesuit educators have done over the nearly past five hundred years with the unique generations they encountered?

2. How can Jesuit education remain affordable to maintain a wide spectrum of economic diversity?

3. What will a Jesuit school look like with very limited or possibly no Jesuit presence in the school?

4. As Jesuit presence decreases, what further programs will be needed to continue to form faculty and staff so that they continue the ministry of Jesuit secondary education just as effectively as now and the past?

5. What will school look like ten years from now? We have all heard this refrain over and over again, but we are now in the age where the technology grows exponentially each year. Just pull out your cell phone, particularly a smart phone, and look at all the features that you now rely on. Think for a moment of what you did to get the same information five years ago that you can now get almost instantaneously. How is and will the technological advances that lead to ever increasing rapid access to information change what will and will not happen in the classroom?

6. What will be the role of online and blended online/classroom learning in 2016 or 2021?

I am sure that you will add your additional challenges. But, as I depart, I want encourage you to remain true to your Ignatian roots. Ignatian educators always reflect on the Ignatian questions of what “have we done, are we doing, and more can we do (the magis)” to further the mission of Jesuit secondary education. If we, the current generation of Jesuit educators tackle the challenges of our 21^st century frontiers, we will follow in the footsteps of centuries of Jesuit educators who have preceded us in confronting the frontiers of their ages. We will continue to form students of “competence, conscience and compassion,” “men and women for and with others.”

As I take leave, I place you in the very competent hands of Jim Stoeger, S.J., who with the JSEA staff as well as all of you, will face the challenge of addressing the above questions and others yet to arise. Know that, since you have been an integral part of my ministry and life these past twenty two years, that you will always be in my thoughts and prayers. I pray that each of you will “FARE WELL” in your ministry of Jesuit secondary education!

Ralph E. Metts, S.J.

President