The Dominican Charism and Higher Education: A Personal Reflection from the Field

Abstract

Providence College is part of a nation-wide consortium of nineteen Dominican colleges and universities. Every two years, one of these schools hosts the Dominican Colleges Colloquium, a conference focusing on how the Dominican charism can be effectively embodied, lived, and promoted in higher education. I have attended two of these colloquia over the past several years and have been enriched and challenged at each. Typically, more than 200 people gather to attend workshops, lectures, and seminars concerning our shared Dominican mission in Catholic higher education. Topics of discussion usually include best practices for enhancing mission, curriculum ideas, student life activities, and resources for ritual celebrations of the founding Dominican communities and saints. This article shares some of the wisdom I have acquired during these valuable gatherings.