Note: This message was originally sent on May 26, 2023
Last week, Gonzaga was blessed by a visit from Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago and former Bishop of the Spokane Diocese. Cardinal Cupich was in town to assist Catholic Charities
of Eastern Washington with their annual gala “Walk with Us.”
This provided us with a unique opportunity to host the Cardinal for an intimate lunch with colleagues from Catholic Charities, Gonzaga University, Gonzaga Preparatory, St. Aloysius Parish & School and SEEL – the Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life (these last four organizations represent the Jesuit works that serve the regional community). The Cardinal shared his thoughts on the work we partner to do each day:
“Education is the way forward for young people to have opportunity,” he said. “I work hard on education every day because I see the results of it. We work together as the Holy Father has called us to invest in our young people.”
He went on to tell the story of a seminarian who once asked him what it takes to become a successful and happy priest.
“You’ve got to like people,” was his reply. “Eighty percent of success is just showing up, and then you have to work with people in a constructive and respectful way.”
His words resonated in many ways. First, that our work to educate people for lives of leadership and service is more than the transactional “pay-tuition-do-work-get-degree” experience some assume higher education to be. It is a much richer experience than that. It is a way forward—an ongoing journey that provides a lifetime of impact and opportunity.
Second, I thought about how our investments of time, talent, and treasure in the organizations and institutions represented at the lunch are truly investments in people. Yes, they are investments in youth; they are also investments in learners of all ages. These investments carry forward through those who learn to impact people near and far. It’s more than just giving, too—it’s our calling.
Finally, “you’ve got to like people.” In the day-in-day-out operations of a business, school, or whatever work you may do, it can be so easy to get lost in the outcomes, metrics, goals and plans, and forget that those who work as members of our teams are people accompanying us on our own journeys just as we accompany them, too. Cardinal Cupich’s words reminded me of the importance of the environment we create at GU... that our students become leaders and our employees become role models who think through and reflect on how we show up to others – asking, “how might our actions land on this person?” and “am I setting people up to be successful?” Incredibly grateful for the Cardinal’s reminder of the important work we undertake (for our students, employees and our broader community) that how we show up for others is God’s grace... this is leadership... this is living our Mission.