This deeply reflective experience is based on the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius and allows us to withdraw from all things that clutter our heart and mind and opens us to greater intimacy with ourselves and God. In seriously taking its role to preserve and enhance the Jesuit and Catholic character of Loyola University Chicago, University Ministry offers pastoral presence and care to students living in residence halls through the Residence Hall Chaplains. Presently, there are eleven adult professional chaplains living in eight residence halls as part of the cooperative effort between University Ministry and the Department of Residence Life in building an wholistic university educational program. The primary role of the residence hall chaplains is to encourage and promote the happy, healthy, and holy life of each resident student. Welcoming all students from a diversity of backgrounds and religious tradition, the chaplain encourages the development of the whole person within the university environment by assisting with integration of classroom and life learning, text book and experiential knowledge, with reflection on this experience, learning and knowledge.
Chaplains are available for conversations, pastoral counseling, social and recreational activities.
In addition, the chaplains also facilitate connections between students in the residence halls and University Ministry's broad spectrum of programs including liturgical and sacramental worship, community service, retreats, etc. A primary concern of residence hall chaplains is the development of adult communities among the resident students which foster communication, respect and care on a variety of levels. To this end, the residence hall chaplains work closely with the residence life staff, particularly the Area Coordinators, Graduate Assistants and the Resident Assistants, communicating regularly, supporting and participating in mutual programs, and generally acting as members of a common team. Chaplains work with residence hall staff in situations of crisis, such as when there is an illness or death in the family, or when students experience adversely tensions and stress in university life. Perhaps the greatest contribution of the residence hall chaplains to Loyola's residence hall communities is their gentle, credible, calming and pastoral presence in the midst of the often hectic and always changing milieu of university life, encouraging all Loyolans to grow as persons of faith on this human journey.