Open to individuals from any area of the university, the cohort programs have reached employees in roles as counselors, custodians, and chemistry professors, from those who have worked at Gonzaga for 2 months to 20+ years. No matter one's position or length of service, participation in the formation cohort program is an opportunity for personal and professional growth aligned with Gonzaga's mission.
The cohorts offer an in-depth exploration of the history, values, and practices of Jesuit higher education, Ignatian Spirituality, and the Catholic Intellectual and Social Traditions. These topics are explored not just in theory but in relation to one's own role at Gonzaga. Participants build cross-campus community, develop mission literacy, connect Gonzaga's mission to their work, participate in a half-day place-based immersion, and experience Jesuit practices of reflection.
The cohort formation program is spread across four semesters, with slightly different schedules for faculty and staff as outlined below. Faculty and staff participate in the Manresa Collective (capstone year) together.
In 2024, we recognized seven faculty and sixteen staff members as Mission Advocates who completed the program in full. Since 2020, more than seventy faculty and fifty staff have participated in the formation cohorts.
The Faculty Mission Formation Program is a 4-semester program spread across 3 academic years
Part 1: Ignatian Mission Formation Program (IMFP)
Meets weekly for 9 weeks in Spring Semester
Explores the foundations of Gonzaga’s mission with emphasis on one’s role as teacher-scholar.
Topics include: St. Ignatius & Ignatian Spirituality, Jesuits & Jesuit education, Ignatian Pedagogy, and justice in the Jesuit tradition.
Part 2: Arrupe Seminar
Meets weekly for 9 weeks in Fall Semester
Open to faculty who have participated in IMFP
Features critical reading of and conversation about formative texts related to Catholic and Jesuit higher education. Since seminar discussions invite connections to one’s discipline, experience, and the proximate context at Gonzaga, some topics may vary annually.
Capstone Year: Manresa Collective
Offered annually, begins in Fall Semester for a full academic year.
Meets weekly for 6 weeks in the fall semester with mission coaching in spring semester Open to faculty who have who have completed IMFP and Arrupe as well as staff who have completed Cardoner The cohort program culminates in a capstone year oriented toward action. Participants design and implement a mission project of their choosing which intentionally integrates their learning into some aspect of their work. Manresa includes: an introduction to discernment, scaffolded project development, mission coaching, and short presentation of one’s project.
Mission Advocates
Faculty and staff “graduates” are recognized as Mission Advocates who continue to animate Gonzaga’s Catholic, Jesuit and humanistic mission across campus in deep and creative ways.
The Staff Mission Formation Program is a 4-semester program spread across 2 academic years
First Year: Cardoner Mission Formation Program
Meets approximately 2x/month for one academic year starting in the fall semester.
Explores the foundations of Gonzaga’s mission with connections to one’s work. Participants experience the Ignatian Examen.
Topics include: St. Ignatius & Ignatian Spirituality, Jesuits & Jesuit education, Ignatian Pedagogy, and justice in the Jesuit tradition.
Capstone Year: Manresa Collective
Offered annually, begins in Fall Semester for a full academic year.
Meets weekly for 6 weeks in the fall semester with mission coaching in spring semester
Open to staff who have completed Cardoner and faculty who have completed IMFP and Arrupe. The cohort program culminates in a capstone year oriented toward action. Participants design and implement a mission project of their choosing which intentionally integrates their learning into some aspect of their work.
Manresa includes: an introduction to discernment, scaffolded project development, mission coaching, and short presentation of one’s project.
Mission Advocates
Staff and faculty “graduates” are recognized as Mission Advocates who continue to animate Gonzaga’s Catholic, Jesuit and humanistic mission across campus in deep and creative ways.